Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32,128, John Bodly, S.C.

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(3-1776)
SERVICE
S.C.
Bodly, John
or Bodley
NUMBER
S. 32,128
CONTENTS

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25,899
Alabama
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John Bodly of Jackson Co in the State of Alabama who was a Pri in the Company command by Captain Warford of the Regt. commanded by Col Hampton in the S. Carolina line for 2 Yrs Pr. $80.00
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Inscribed on the Roll of Alabama at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 27th day of January 1832
and Sent to Hon C. C Clay, Ho of Reps
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Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch '34 40.00
[total] $240.00
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by J. T. Sprague Clerk,
Book C Vol. 8 Page 43

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No. 22158
John Bodly
Jackson County
State of Alabama

Admd
by order of the Commpr
2 Ys Pr $80.00

Hon C. C. Clay
Ho of Rep

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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, 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 John Bodly, Jackson County, Alabama

Period when the service was rendered. vol. 1777 Enlis. Enlis
Duration of the claimant's service. Years. Months. Days. 5 [mos.] 10 [mos]. 1 [day] 3 [yrs. Total] 4,3,1
Rank of the claimant. Private " [private] Md. Ranger
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Captain William Warford Capt. Joseph Robins
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Colonel William Warford Col. Henry Hampton Col. Richd. Hampton Genl Sumpter
Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Dints Corner Orangeburg Courthouse Dodgester Cedar Springs Briar Creek Baxes Ferry
Country through which he marched. From Cedar Springs to briar Creek From Bases Ferry to Bridge Buck head Creek to Stono in Ga.
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. about 70 years, not far fr. Cambridge South Carolina District of 96
Evidence by which the declaration is supported. Traditionary

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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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 branch 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 Spies.
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 application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of 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 } ss.
County of
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (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. 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
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given 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 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 soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days 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 it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a 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 application 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 his 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 the 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 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 inquiry 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 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 his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
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(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 such 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 of four months, 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 officer, should accompany the papers.
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 papers 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.
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 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 the seal of office.
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia 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.

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State of Alabama
Jackson County
This 31st day of December 1832 personally appeared in open Court before me Thompson M. Rector Judge of the County Court of Jackson County and State aforesaid now sitting John Bodley resident of the County and State aforesaid aged about seventy 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 the 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated, under Col William W Warford Seignior Capt William Warford Junr. That he entered the service about the year 1777 as a volunteer and served five months in said Campaign and that he was in an ingagement at dirts Corner on the frontier of South Carolina that he then resided in the State of South Carolina not far from Cambridge or ninety Six. 2nd Time he then inlisted in the Regular service of the United States under Col. Henry Hampton and Capt Joseph Robins immediately after his return from the first tour and continued in said service for the term of Ten Months and one day during which time he assisted in taking

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the fort of Tories at Columbia in South Carolina on the Congaree River, he was also at and engagement at Oringeburgh [Orangeburg] Court House with the Tories in which about one hundred and fifty of the tories were then prisoners He was also in an ingagement with the tories at Dadgester in which the tories was defeated and that Col Hampton loss in that engagement was about one hundred men. 3rd That when his time of service inded he joined Col Richard Hampton as a mounted Ranger under General Sumpter in S. Carolina that he continued in said service for the time of three years in which said service he was at the battle of the Cedar Springs in which there was a good many killed on both sides He then marched from then to Bryor Creek in the State of Georgia at which place he was in a nother ingagement in which the loss was considerable on both sides He was also in an ingagement with the British and tories at Boxes Ferry Edisto from then he marched to the farm hold Bridge at which place he was in another ingagement with the Tories in which the tories were defeated From thence he marched to back head a Creek, at whist place and hundred of Tories were killed and then prisoners from Thomas to Stano in Givasaw at which place he was wounded by a Rifle Ball which penetrated through the body From Thomas he was

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was carried in a Waggon to head quarters at Stono at which place he remained untill he recovered from his wound he then remained in the Garrison of said place according said Garrison untill peace was concluded between the United States and Great Britton at which last mentioned place he obtained his discharge from the proper officer which has since been burned with his house That he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify as to his services I hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State of the United States.
1st. Where and in what year was you born
I was born in the County of Anson and State of North Carolina I do not recollect the year in which I was born
2d. Have you any Record of your age and if so where is 
Answer I have none
3rd. Where were you living when called into service where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live
Answer I lived in the District of ninety Six and State of South Carolina when called in to Service. Served the War I lived seven years in York District in South Carolina from York I moved to York district in N. Carolina where I lived

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Six years, thence I moved to Tennessee and lived in Bledsoe County abovut one year Tenn I moved to Jackson County W. Tennessee where I resided one year thence I moved to Overton County Tennessee where I resided Three years Thence I moved to Marion County Tennessee where I resided about four years From thence I removed to Jackson County Alabama where I resided about Twelve month then I removed to Monroe County Tennessee when I lived about four years from that to Marion County Tennessee where I lived about five years Tener To Jackson County, Alabama where I now reside and where I have been now are given
4th How were you called in to service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute if a Substitute for whome
Ansen I volunteered at first and when that campaign was ended I then inlisted and entered as a Regular Soldier for ten month 16.
5th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops you served such Continental & Malitia Regiments as you can recollect and the circumstances of your service
Ansen General Sumpter a Malitia officer Col Richard Hampton a Malitia officer Col Henry Hampton a Regular officer

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Captain Joseph Robins a malitia officer May Bleuford a Malitia officer I can not now recollect the names of any of the Regiments with Regular or Malitia
6th did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it
Ansen I did receive a discharge from Capt Joseph Robins and it was burnt up in my house with every thing I had.
7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present Neighbourhood and who can tistify as to your character for voracity and good behavior, your services as a soldier of Revolution,
Ansen Robert Jones John Higdon Senr Charles Higdon John Higdon Junior John P Flecher
John Bodly his mark X
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 31st of December 1832
Thompson M Rector {P}
judge of the County Court

We John Flecher Joseph Burton and John Bodley residing in the County of of Jackson and State of Alabama do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said John Bodly Sr who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he lives to have been a solder of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
John P Fletcher
Joseph Burton
John Bodly his mark X
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 31st of December 1832
Thompson M Rector J.JCC

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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 they believe the said John Bodley Sr was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the Court further certifies that the said John Fletcher Joseph Burton and John Bodley Jun who Signed the foregoing certificate are all residents of said County of Jackson and is Credable persons and that their statement is intitled to credit
December 31th 1832
Thompson M Rector {seal}
Judge of the County

I Richard B Clayton Clerk of the County Court of Jackson County aforesaid do hereby Certify that the foregoing is the original proceedings in the matter of the application of John Bodley for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and prevate [private] seal there being no seal of office this 31st of December 1832
R B Clayton Clerk
By J T Bradford, DC
{seal}

The above is the genuine signature of Richd. B. Clayton, who is clerk of the County Court of Jackson County, Ala. He has no seal of office, as I believe.
C.C. Clay

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I am also aquainted the Judge, T. M. Rector whose name is subscribed on such within, and with his hand writing. and have not hesitancy in saying that his signature is genuine. and that the two sheets are in his hand writing are genuine.
C. C. Clay
M.C.

[sideways]
Bill Joule
Jan 1st
Free

Hon Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City

[upside down]
Jan. 22 1833
Ala.
John Bodley
22518

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32128
Revy INVALID.
File No. 32,129
John Bodly
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32"
Index:- Vol. 2, Page 46
[Arrangement of 1870.]