Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1903, Charles Gent, Ga.

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Service
Ga,

Gent, Charles

Number
S.1903

carded

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7061
Tennessee (west)

Charles Gent
of Robertson Co. in the State of Tennessee
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain Clark of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Rachlan in the Georgia mil. 
for 2 years from '76

Inscribed on the Roll of Tennessee
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 28 day of Febry 
1833 and sent to
Hon. John Bell H of Reps. [House of Representatives]

Arrears to 4th of March 1833     $160.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833   40.00
$200.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk,
Book E   Vol. 7   Page 79

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11861

Chal. Gent

Tennessee

from 1776 private
2 years $80

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Brief in the case of Charles Gent
County of Robertson in the State of Tennessee (Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  [handwritten] Court

2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [blank]

3. How old is he?  [handwritten] 78

4. Stae his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[column headings with handwritten notes shown for each]

Period.  In 7775 [blank] 1776 enlisted Vol. says he served through the whole war
Service. Years, Months, Days. [1775] not stated [thereafter] 1. 6 [then] 1 [then] not stated
Rank. As a provate [entire period]
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen. McIntosh, Clark
Capt Clark, Col Coleman, Col La Mar, Capt Clark, Capt Gunnel, Capt Nelson, Col Coleman, Col Dooly, Col Cunningham

 5. In what battles was he engaged?  [handwritten] "Kettle Creek" , one or two Indian fights

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?   [handwritten] Georgia

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, incidental evidence, or by the rolls?   [handwritten] living witnesses

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authenication? and if so, in what respect?  [handwritten] not properly attached

X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

[signed] Chas. W. Torrest

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Declaration made by Charles Gent in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832.
State of Tennessee
Davidson County. Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County & State aforesaid. On the first day of August 1832 personally appeared before the Court aforesaid Charles Gent a resident of Robertson County in the State aged Seventy-eight 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 of the 7th June 1832.
That he entered the militia service of the United States before the Declaration of Independence to suppress the Indians, in the State of Georgia under Captain Clark (afterwards a General in the militia Service) in the Georgia line, under the following named officers to wit General L. McIntosh, Col. Commandant John Coleman & Lieutenant Colonel Zachariah LaMarr. The applicant states further that he entered the militia service a private soldier at the commencement of hostilities between the country and the British & Indians and continued in said militia service for the term of eighteen months – previous to the expiration of said term of service Captain Clark was promoted to Col. and Daniel Gunnell [sic, Daniel Gunnells] elected Captain under whom the applicant served until the expiration of said eighteen months. In Wilkes County in the State of Georgia the applicant recollects that about five miles from Peters borough situated in the fork of Broad River & Savannah River he was in one engagement with the Indians, and under the following circumstances. In the month of August in 1776 as well as applicant recollects – General McIntosh detailed Captain Clark's company

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to guard some goods which were to be brought into the fort Loggy where the troops were then barracked near to Peters borough – from Jacob Patterson & Richard Woods, to protect them from spoliation by the Indians – and as said Company proceeded after getting about five miles from the fort they were attacked by the Indians in considerable force an 
engagement took place in which no decisive defeat to either party took place, the Indians being much the strongest – both parties retreated. The applicant well recollects that during the engagement three of the Americans were killed and three wounded – of the killed Jacob Patterson was one, Giles Tiblet & Peter Davis the other two-- of the wounded Captain Clark was one having been shot in the knee, Job Hinton and James Smith were the other two – upon our return to the scene of the 
engagement there were three of the Indians found dead upon the field; How many more wounded he does not know as the Indian custom is to take away the dead & wounded if possible – it was supposed many of them were wounded; another Indian was found dead about three miles from the place of engagement – from Fort Loggy Captain Clark's Company was removed to Clark Creek, where a fort was built called Clark's Station-- at which place Captain Clark's company was again engaged with the Indians where three of the men were killed and the Indians proved victorious and the company sought the protection offered by the fort. The applicant was then discharged by enlisting under William 
Wilson a Captain in the Regular Service or Continental line – for one year as a light horseman. John Coleman was the Colonel. The duty of the Company to which he was now attached consisted in guarding the back Settlements

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and aiding at times in defending the outposts; he labors under the 
impression (though time and age have weakened the minuteness of his recollection) that he was then in the Continental line, he was in no battle during this term. About sixteen days before his year was out Colonel Coleman called the men together, told them verbally that they were at liberty, and that he would give them their regular discharges whenever they would apply. The Colonel soon after took sick and died & the applicant never got his discharge in the regular form. Soon after this the British, aided by the Tories and Indians became troublesome & dangerous, so much so that the frontier settlements of Georgia broke off their forts and settlements and many of them went to the forts in South Carolina. Applicant then became a volunteer under Captain Gunnells and he served for a long time in the petty but dangerous warfare of the day; He was in an engagement against the Tories at a place called “Kettle Creek.” The battle was very warm & lasted near four hours. The Tories were commanded by Col. Boyd [James Boyd] & Col. Moore– General Clark of Georgia with Colonel John Dooly & Colonel John Cunningham under him commanded the American troops. It was said that General Clark had several horses shot under him during the fight, though this 
the applicant only speaks of from the reports of the day. In the same Captain's company, the troops being still under General Clarke but the names of his other field officers not now recollected, applicant was at the first Siege of Augusta. The Americans succeeded in taking Grayson fort and as he believes would have succeeded in compelling the British from 
the place altogether if a strong reinforcement to the enemy's Army had not compelled them to retire. He well remembers that on the occasion of this siege the Americans fought the British and Indians three days & nights and there

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lives lost on both sides. The Americans were unsuccessful but they fought bravely. In conclusion the applicant states that he was a citizen of Wilkes County in the State of Georgia when he enlisted, that he faithfully served his country through the whole War of the revolution; he is now old, poor and helpless and desires to avail himself of the bounty of the government. 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. Sworn to and subscribed in open court August 1, 1832.
[signed] Charles Gent, X his mark
Seal [signed] J Henry Ewing, Clerk of Davidson County Court

Personally appeared before said Court on the first day of August 1832 Jesse Hooper4 a citizen of said County of Davidson & made oath to the following facts to wit that he has been acquainted with the within named Charles Ghent from their early youth – that he is himself now 75 years of age – that he has been at his house in Robertson County that he was in the battle of Kettle Creek spoken of in the above declaration with said Gent, that the Tories were Commanded in said battle by Colonel Boyd, that the American troops were commanded by General Clarke of Georgia, Colonels Dooly & Cunningham or Pickens that said battle was warmly contested, that said Gent behaved himself well as a private in said action that his saw three horses said to have been shot under General Clarke on the day of the engagement He also states that he was at the siege of Augusta with said

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Charles Gent

11861

Pension Claim

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Gent at which siege General Clarke commanded the American troops and Colonel Brown those of the British & Tories – that said siege was warmly carried on, and would have been successful had it not been for a reinforcement to the enemy. We fought from Thursday at 10 o'clock until the same time of the day on the next Monday, these were the only two actions in which I was concerned with said Gent, but I served with him almost constantly during the war and he always behaved himself well as a 
soldier. He also states that said Gent enlisted at the same time with himself under Captain Wilson for one year and served out the year with him as stated above. He states that he heard of the fight with the 
Indians above spoken of at or near Peters borough and the account as given above is in accordance with the report of it at the time. He states that said Gent is a man entitled to credit upon oath and is old, infirm and helpless: and was as well as himself a citizen of Wilkes County in the State of Georgia in the war commenced.
[signed] Jesse Hooper
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court August 1, 1832
Test: [signed] Henry Ewing, Clerk of Davidson County Court

State of Tennessee
Davidson County     Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County and State aforesaid
July Term 1839
Said Court do hereby certify that they caused Jesse Hooper the witness produced by the applicant Charles Gent to be examined on his oath publicly in the presence of said court

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That his statements were made with all the apparent candor of truth and that he exhibited to the court the most satisfactory testimonials of a good character. One of the court, Jesse Wharton esquire, states that he has long been acquainted with the witness and that he sustains the reputation of an honest and upright man.
And said court do hereby declare opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatives prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
August first 1832 [signed] E. P. Connell, J. Wharton, Will. Williams
Justices of the court of Pleas & quarter sessions for Davidson County Tennessee

State of Tennessee Davidson County
I Henry Ewing clerk of the court pf pleas and quarter Sessions for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Charles Gent for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said court to be also affixed at office in Nashville on this first day of august A.D. 1832.
[signed] Henry Ewing

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Rev War     1903

INVALID.

file No. 1903
Charles Gent
Pri Ga. Line

Act: June 7, 1832
Index: - Vol. A, Page 139

[Arrangement of 1870.]

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Brief objections to the admission of Pension claims, of answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Charles Gent which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? [handwritten]   Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?   [handwritten] No

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? [handwritten]   No

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

V. *Hase 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 he is entitled?  [handwritten]  Yes

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

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

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  [handwritten]  Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? [handwritten]   Yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device of inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  [handwritten]  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 relatives to his revolutionary service?
[in handwriting] No

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
[in handwriting] No

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?
[in handwriting] 

XIV. [drawing of a cross/ plus sign] If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military services, 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 witness or witnesses?
[in handwriting and crossed out] The Court has not
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulation direct?

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?
[in handwriting] Yes

XVI. [drawing of a cross/plus sign] Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 
[in handwriting and crossed out] No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
[in handwriting] 1.2.7 Not answered

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. R. 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 [line to fill in] year [line to fill in] months, and [line to fill in] days, I served as a [line to fill in] For [line to fill in] months and [line to fill in] days, I served as a [line to fill in]; 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 with 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 in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of 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 where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an imbodied 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 office, 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 office, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
[symbol of a pointing finger] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of offic, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character hand signature of the certifying officer. should accompany the papers.

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The National Archives
Bounty Land Warrant Record Card
Division of Veterans' Administration Service

Name Gent, George
Grade Private
Line Crane's Continental Artillery (Massachusetts)

Warrant Number 4378
Acreage 100
Issued June 29, 1