Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,406, Levi Browning, N.C.

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Service
N.C.

Browning, Levi

Number
S.2406

Contents

Carded

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[left side of page]
12.402
North Carolina
Levi Browning
of Halifax in the State of N.C-
who was a Pr: in the .....commanded
by Captain....of the Regt commanded
by Col Sewell in the N.C-
[illegible] for 7 months-

Inscribed on the Roll of N.Carolina
at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of Apl 33
and such E.B. Freeman
Halifax N.C

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833                 46.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4Sept-              11.66
                                                                          $58.32

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Nathaniel Rice Clerk,
Book E Vol 6  Page 34

[right side of page]
Death not in A.B.

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Levi Browning
Certificate
8529

Entered

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State of North Carolina ⎬ Court of Pleas & Quarter Sitting
Halifax County August Term 1832
On this 20th day of August AD 1832, person ally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas & Quarter sessions for the County of Halifax now sitting Levi Browning, a resident of Halifax County & State of North Carolina, aged 74 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 he entered the service of the United States States under the following named officers and served as herein stated, viz: 
he volunteered in the service about the 19th July in the year 1780 in Halifax County under Capt Frank Jones,
Turner Mason Lieutenant & John Green Engsign , Col Ben Sowell, William Brickell in lieutenant Col. of Gen Sumner officers, marched to South Carolina as reinforcement for Gen Gates but did not reach the main army until after Gates's defeat - returned to Ramsay's mill in North Carolina, then marched to Six  Miles creek beyond Charlotte in North Carolina , afterwards returned home with a detachment to attend the sick,- was in service about 4 months but never receive at any regular discharge. In the year 1780 he was drafted under Capt Theophilus Thomas, in Halifax County, North Carolina and remained in service in said County about three months and was discharged by order of Gen Jones & Gen Burke, but never received any written discharge - he was born in the County of Southampton State of Virginia. I have a Record of my age at Home

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he hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his names is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any state . Levi Browning (his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.  Mr H Pattaway Clk

We Miles Smith a Clergyman residing in the County of Halifax, state of North Carolina and George Green residing in the same County and State, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Levi Browning who has subscribed  and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be 74 eyars of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood in which he resides to have been a Solider of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion. Miles Smith  George Green (his mark)

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open court.  Mr H Pattway Clk

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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 solider, and served as he states.. And the Court further certify that it appears to them Miles Smith who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident of the county of Halifax State of North Carolina, and that who  George Green has also signed the same is a resident in the same county and State and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Thos Johnston  [Illegible]  Jno T. Clanton

I Mark H Pettway, Clerk of teh court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions (for Halifax county State of North Carolina, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Levi Browning for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my office, this 20th day of August A.D. 1832.  M. H. Pettway Clk
By J [illegible]

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State of North Carolina
Halifax County}

Levi Browning the declarant in the annexed application, a man of credibility came before me Rice B. Pierce  a Justice of the Peace for Halifax County in the State of North Carolina being duly sworn deposeth and says that he was living in the County of Halifax and State of North Carolina, when he entered the service, was called out in the  North Carolina line, and Volunteered: the company that I was in met in an old field near Halifax town, from there we marched and camped at Rocky Swamp, from there we marched to the Court House in Franklin County, then were marched and camped at the So. side of Crab Tree Creek in Wake County, (near where Raleigh now is), where our company was joined by a number of other company- Capt. Frank Jones commanded our company I recollect some of the companies that joined us was commanded by Capt. Carter, Capt Bunn and Capt James Richards- have no recollection of any other officers except Col. Sewall and Col. Wm Brickell- and a Capt Clanton commanded the company from Warren County- from Crab Tree we marched as fast as we could to Pedee in South Carolina for the purpose of reinforcing Genl Gates for which purpose we were first called into service- when we [illegible] reached Pedee on the next morning we first heard of Genl Gates defeat.- from Pedee Cols Seawell and Col Bricknell marched us to Ramsays Mill where we staid some some time in camp: Genl Sumner then took the command and marched us by Chatham Court House No. Carolina, to the six mile Creek the other side of Charlotte Court House NoC. Where we remained till we heard the British was very near us, when we retreated through Salisbury No. Carolina the British pursuing us and would have overtaken us if the Light Horse had not have retarded their march, we continued retreating till we halted on this side of Salisbury on the Adkin (Yadkin) river, in camp I was taken sick and remained then sick upwards of one month, I was then sent home with a detachment to attend the sick- I never applied

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applied for a written discharge, thinking I would get it any time from Capt. Frank Jones who lived only a few miles from me.- done service as a private soldier in this tour four months- Same little line after the British went through Halifax No .Carolina I think in the year 1781: I was drafted as a private solider in the Halifax Militia of No. Carolina under Capt Theophilus Thomas- our company [illegible] near Mr. Songs old on Quankey Creek Halfiax County North Carolina to serve a a three months tower (tour)  all of which tower (tour) we remained in the old field in camps and did not during the three months follow any civil pursuit whatever: I mustered almost every day during the time when our three months expired, Genl Jones and Governor Burke came to our [illegible] and discharged us. Genl Jones did not give me any written discharge thought I could get it from him at any time should it be necessary- I was born on the 16 day of April 1758 as is recorded in a book in which I set down my own age as well as that of my own children- my own age is set down as my father left it registered- I have lived in Halifax County No. Carolina ever since I was a boy- I have no knowledge of any other testimony at this time that I could obtain of prove my seven months service proof and have stated as near as my recollection serves me  [signed] Levi Browning (his mark)
Sworn to and subscribed befoer them this the 11th day of May 1833-
Rice. B. Pierce JP

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State of North Carolina
I Mark H Pettway Clerk of the court of Peas and Quarter sessions for the county of Halifax do hereby certify, that Rice B. Pierce Esquire whose name appears signed to the foregoing certificate. (in his own proper hand writing) is and was at the time of his signing the same an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Halifax duly qualified to act as such and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given all his official acts as such.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Halifax this 11th day of April AD 1833
M H Pettway Clk

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July 25, 1938

BA-J/AWF
Levi Browning
S. 2406 Our

The Quartermaster General
Memorial Branch
War Department
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your request for information relative to Levi Browning who served in the Revolutionary War, and died in the month of January, 1840 in Halifax County, North Carolina, pension number, S. 2406.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in claim for pension, S. 2406, based on the military service of Levi Browning in the Revolutionary War.

Levi Browning was born April 16, 1758 in Southampton County, Virginia. The names of his parents were not given.

While a resident of Halifax County, North Carolina, where he had lived since a boy, he enlisted July 19, 1780, and served four months as private in Captain Frank Jones' company in Colonel Ben Sowell's or Sewall's North Carolina regiment. He enlisted in 1781, served three months as private in Captain Theophilus Thomas' North Carolina company.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832, then a resident of Halifax County, North Carolina.

In 1833 Levi Browning referred to his children but gave no names, and the papers on file in this claim

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contain no further data relative to his family.

The application for headstone for Levi Browning is returned herewith. There was no correspondence enclosed.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

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State of North Carolina
Halifax County } 

William Brewer personally appeared before me Thomas Nevill a Justice of the Peace for Halifax County State aforesaid, William Brewer a  pensioner of the United States, a resident of said county and a credible person who being duly sworn maketh oath that he saw Levi Browning at Ramsays Mill on deep river in said State during the Revolutionary War, doing duty as a private soldier int he army at said mill for several weeks.  William Brewer (his mark)
Sworn and subscribed before me this [illegible] day of April 1833. The words "a pensioner of the United States" being first interlined; Thos Nevell JP

State of North Carolina
I Mark H Pettway Clerk of the Court of Peas and Quarter sessions for the county of Halifax, State of North Carolina do hereby certify that Thomas Nevill whose name appears to the foregoing affidavit or certificate, in his own proper hand writing, is and was at the time of doing the same a Justice of the peace for the county aforesaid; Therefore full faith and credit is due to his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 1st day of April 1833.  M. H. Pettway Clk

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Admit as a private
for 7 months
5  .14..15  .16 and 17

$23.33  P.274

Reburn Thos

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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 Levi Browning which require further proof or explanation.

I.Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  Yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes
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?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes
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?  NO
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  Yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the court given their opinion?  Yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?  Yes
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? Yes

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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? Yes
XII. If the Clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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?
XIV. If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?NO
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?  No
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such and age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  NO
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? NO
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?  5th

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 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 they served two years int he 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 shewn 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.
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 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.
Quere XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has not 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.

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[left side of page]
1912 Feb 17. Hist to 
Mrs. Florence Willcox
1912 May 17 W.D. Faucett
1938 Apr 9 Hist to Mrs
T. Bruton Dunn, Jr. MCS
1938 July 1 his to
Viola V. Smith MCS
1938 July 25 Hist to Meinio [illegible]

[right side of page]
Rev War
2406
INVALID

File No. 2406
Levi Browning
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7, 1832
Index:-Vol. A.  , Page 42.

[Arrangement of 1870]

Page 18

J. L. Edwards Esq-

Page 19

Halifax N.C.
April 13 1833

Sir,
I herewith send you the declarations of Levi Browning, George Powell, George Green, William Dicken, James Locke and John Lee.

Any communication for them, you will please make through me.
Very respectfully 
EB Freeman

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mm

S2406

Halifax North Carolina
FEby 13th 1912

Sir:
Will you please send me the Revolutionary record of Levi Browning and oblige
Very truly
Mrs Florence Willcox

[stamped]
Pension Office US
D
Feb 14 1912

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[letter head]
Seaboard Air Line Railway
Office of President


New York, N:Y. May 10, 1912

Mr. J. L. Davenport,
Commissioner of Pensions:
Washington, D.C

Dear Sir:

I would thank you to send me the record of Levi Browning which may appear in your files. Place of birth, service, length of same, ages etc.
In fact anything dealing with his war record. I think you will find it in The Revolutionary War records, and he was from North carolina or Virginia.
Thanking you, I am,
very truly,
 W.D. Faucette

address 24 Broad street, care above company.

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1506 Prince Edward Street,
Fredericksburg, Virginia 
April 2, 1938

[stamped]
Received 
Apr 2 1938, 
Mail Sub-Division 
[illegible]
reader #12

Veterans Administration 
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

I would greatly appreciate your kindness if you would please send me the war record of Levi Browning (1776), who served in the Revolutionary War for the colonies' freedom; he was pensioned by the government, lived and died in North Carolina.

The War Department does not have a record of hi, and they informed me that your department would very likely be the one to give me the desired information.

With best regards, I am 

Very truly yours,
Mrs J Burton Dunn Jr

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Halifax N.C.
Route 2 Box 52
June 14 1938

Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs
I wish to get the record of Levi Browning a Revolutionary Solider. He was born in 1758 and came from South Hampton Virginia to Halifax County North Carolina and settled here, and I want to mark his grave, Im a great great grand Daughter.
I'll thank you very much.
Viola V. Smith

[stamped]
Received 
Jun 16 1938
[illegible]
reader #15

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RECORD DIVISION.        3-525.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

S. File 2406        Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C........., 190...

In reply to your request of ....., received.......for a statement of the military history of Levi Browning a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widows- crossed out) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

Dates of Enlistment or appointment. July 19, 1780       1781
Length of service:  4 mos       3 mos.
Rank:   Pvt
Officers under whom service was rendered: Captain Frank Jones     Theophilus Thomas.  Colonel  Ben Sowell or Sewall
State: NC

Battles engaged in.......
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Halifax co. NC- where l. since a boy
Date of application for pension, Aug 20, 1832- Cl. Al.
Residence at date of application, Halifax Co, NC
Age at date of application, b. Southampton, Co, VA Apr 16, 1758
Remarks: children referred to, but names not stated

Very respectfully, 
Commissioner

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July 1, 1938

Levi Browning, S2406
BA-J/MCS

Viola V.Smith
Route 2, Box 52
Halifax
North Carolina

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information relative to Levi Browning who served in the Revolutionary War and lived in Halifax County, North Carolina.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in the pension claim, S.2406, based on the military service of Levi Browning in the Rev. War.

He was born April 16, 1758, in Southampton, North Carolina, where he had lived since a boy, he enlisted July 19, 1780, and served four months as private in Captain Frank Jones' company in Colonel Ben Sowell's or Sewall's North Carolina regiment. He enlisted in 1781 and served three months as private in Captain Theophilus Thomas' North Carolina company.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832, at which time he was living in Halifax County, North Carolina.

In 1833 Levi Browning referred to his children but no names were given and there are no further data relative to soldier's family.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Page 26

April 9, 1938

Levi Browning, S.2406
BA-J/MCS

Mrs.T. Burton Dunn, Junior
1506 Prince Edward Street
Fredericksburg, Virginia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your request for information relative to the Revolutionary War record of Levi Browning of  North Carolina.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in the pension claim, S.2406, based on the military service of Levi Browning.

He was born April 16, 1758, in Southampton County, Virginia. The names of his parents were not given.

While a resident of Halifax County, North Carolina,  where he had lived since a boy, he enlisted July 19, 1780, and served four months as private in Captain Frank Jones' company in Colonel Ben Sowell's or Sewall's North Carolina regiment. He enlisted in 1781 and served three months as private in Captain Theophilus Thomas' North Carolina company.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832, at which time he was living in Halifax County, North Carolina.

In 1833 Levi Browning referred to his children but no names were given and there are no further data relative to soldier's family.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator