Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 258, James Armstrong, Continental Va.

Page 1

Service
Continental VA

Armstrong, James 
Nancy

Number
R. 258

Page 2

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 4th July 1838 entitled “An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.” 

State of Tennessee
Overton County

On this 22nd day of May 1840 personally appeared before me Carr Pyrtle, a Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of said County being a Court of Record, Nancy Armstrong, a resident of the State of Tennessee and County of Overton aforesaid aged seventy-three years, the 2nd September 1839, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of congress passed the 4th July 1838 entitled “An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows.” That she is the Widow of James Armstrong who was a Captain in the Revolutionary War according to the best of her information and belief he entered the service same time in the year 1778. She is of the opinion that he was attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. Abram Penn, he continued in the Army until some time after the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in which hath he was severely wounded in the leg which made him a cripple the rest of his life. He left the Army in the late part of the summer or former part of the full 1784, being unable from said wound to serve any longer. She has no hesitation in saying that he served in all more than two years, she thinks about three years from information her old age and the great laps of him has erased most of the circumstances from her memory.

Page 3

And most of the old people who laid at that day having died and she has no person with whom to converse to refresh her recollection, therefore she cannot give a full and particular history of the matter. That her said husband served in the Army of the Revolution for more than two years is certain and that he was badly wounded that she knows of no documentary evidence of his service, except she is informed his name appears on the Records at Washington. He entered the service in Henry County in the State of Virginia. Whether her said husband was enlisted or drafted or a volunteer she does not no [know]  but refers to the muster rolls she states that Henry County as the residence of her said husband at the time he entered the service.      
She further declares that she was married to the said James Armstrong on the 17th January 1782 Henry County, State of Virginia. That her husband James Armstrong died on the 15th day of March 1819. That she was not married to him previous to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January seventeen hundred and ninety four that is at the time above stated.    
She has no record account of the marriage except in the family Bible which is in the hand writ of James Armstrong and various other persons as she believes which is here exhibited here as part of the declaration. Letter A: This record was made a few years before the death of said James Armstrong. She states that she lives about twenty miles from Livingston, the place of holding court.

Page 4

that owing to old age and consequent bodily infirmity she can not with out a great degree of [unreadable] attend court. That she never married after the death of said James Armstrong       
Sworn to the day and year above Nancy Armstrong her mark  witness Carr Pyrtle a Justice of the Peace for Overton County 

State of Tennessee Overton County Personally appeared Patrick H Armstrong before me Carr Pyrtle a Justice of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of said County and made oath in due form of law that declaration [unreadable] P. H. Armstrong   
Carr Pyrtle a Justice of the Peace for Overton County

Page 5

State of Tennessee Overton County I, Carr Pyrtle, a Justice of the Court of Pleas Quarter Sessions, do certify that the foregoing declarant Nancy Armstrong with whom I am acquainted from old age and bodily infirmity is not able with any degree of conscience to attend court. Carr Pyrtle, a Justice of the Peace for Overton County

    
State of Tennessee Overton County    
This day personally appeared before Patrick Pool, a Justice of the peace for said County, Landon Armstrong a respectable man and made oath in due form of law that he is the son of James Armstrong, whom he always understood was a Captain in the Revolution army and that the said James Armstrong departed this life on the 18th day of March 1819. This he positively knows to be a fact for he attended his funeral and kept a record of the time the said Nancy Armstrong, his widow, never married after the death of her said husband  He states that he was born on 18th December 1791. That William Armstrong, Belsey Armstrong, John Armstrong, and George Armstrong are his brothers and sisters, all older than he is boy son of James Armstrong and said Nancy Armstrong. Affiant has always understood that his father and mother married in January 1782.

Page 6

He has not the least doubt that it is the true date of their marriage. Affiant further states that his father was badly wounded in the leg, which caused him to be under the [unreadable] of using a staff as long as he lived   always understood that he got wounded at the Battle of Guilford      
Sworn to and subscribed the 26th May 1840. Landon Armstrong    
Patrick Pool, Justice of the Peace     
State of Tennessee Overton County     
Personally appeared John S. Daugherty before me Doak H. Capps, a Justice of the Court of phase and Quarter Sessions and made oath in due form of law that he was acquainted with James Armstrong in his lifetime. That Nancy Armstrong, the foregoing declarant, is his widow    that she has never married since the death of her said husband.    he states that the said James Armstrong was a highly respectable man and it was always reported and believed among his acquaintances that he served in the Revolutionary War, and affiant has no doubt that the fact was so. John S. Daugherty    
Doak H. Capps   Justice of the Peace for Overton County this 28th of May 1840

Page 7

State of Tennessee
County of Overton } 
I  John S. Daugherty Clerk of the County Court of said Overton County hereby certify that Carr Pyrtle and Patrick Pool and Doak H. Capps are Justices of the peace as above, and that the foregoing Signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office this 29th day of May 1840    
John S. Daugherty Clerk of Overton County Court

Page 8

Liten  A.   [677]
FAMILY RECORD
MARRIAGES
James Armstrong Sr. was married to Nancy Lanier on the 17 day of January 1782.
Betsey Armstrong was married the 12th Day of February 1802
John Armstrong married the Sept 10th 1812
Hugh F. Armstrong was married the 17th day of November 1815
John Armstrong was married
George Armstrong married July 7th 1811
Landon Armstrong was married 13th Nov 1809
MARRIAGES
James Armstrong Jun [Junior} Married Sept 3th 1812
Polly Armstrong [unreadable] January 23rd 1817
Nancy Armstrong Jun [Junior] Decr 20th 1815
Daughter of James and Nancy Armstrong 
George Armstrong to Sally Fouch November 7th 1824
Robert Armstrong was married the 19th of January 1826
Hugh P. Armstrong to Elizabeth Poindexter 10th August 1828
Micajah L Armstrong  A. B. Overstreet April 3 1828
Pyle Armstrong to [unreadable] Gamewell April 4th 1833
86  4R

Page 9

[678]   
FAMILY RECORD. BIRTHS. 
James Armstrong was born the 17th day of March 1758. 
Nancy Armstrong Sept 2nd 1766 
Wm. Armstrong Dec. 18th 1782
Elizabeth Armstrong March 18th 1785     
Jno Armstong March 3rd 1787      
Geo Armstrong April 4th 1789     
Landon Armstrong December 18th 1791     
James Armstrong Jur May 2nd 1794     
Hugh Armstrong July 27th 1796      
To 
Nancy Armstrong [Jr.] May 25th 1799 
Polly Armstrong Sept 13 1801 
Micajah Armstrong Aug 13th 1805       
Robert Armstrong Oct 2nd 1807 
Cathrane Armstrong was born Jany 1st 1797 
Patt Armstrong was born December 27th 1864
Elisabeth Cross was born January 8th 1823
BIRTHS
Wm. Armstrong Goerge son was born Sept 3rd 1812
Andrew Armstrong April 14 1814
Armstead Armstrong Jany 13th 1816
Amanda M. Armstrong was born October 4 1816
Hugh F. Armstrong’s daughter
Franklin Armstrong dcd Novs 25th 1809
Maclin Cross Born 31st March 1803
William Cross son of J. B. E. Cross April 16th 1807

Page 10

[679]
FAMILY RECORD.     
BIRTHS. 
Mary A. Armstrong, daughter of M.L. and R B Armstrong was born August 22nd 1830      
Nancy M. Armstrong, daughter of B L Armstrong was born August the 26th 1826     
Polley Armstrong, the daughter of R L  Armstrong was born August the 20th 1830    
Mahalad Armstrong December 5th 1810     
Mary Jane Armstrong July 10th 1834 Daughter of Pyle and M. E. Armstrong
George W. Armstrong March 21st 1836     
Andrew I. Armstrong Born August 9th 1837      
Thomas Jefferson Armstrong was born March 19th 1839     
DEATHS
William Armstrong Deceased July 16th 1784     
James Armstrong Deceased March the 15th 1819 in his 61st year       
Kelly Armstrong Deceased 25 April 182 in 23 year      
James M. Armstrong Deceas Sept 1st 1841 
Patsy Armstrong the 6th Novr 1821
Hugh Armstrong Sr. Decd 29th April 1824
Wm. Armstrong Sr. Deceased 28th December 1824
George Armstrong Decd Oct 6th 1827

Page 11

[680]
FAMILY RECORD
DEATHS.
Rebeca B. Armstrong Deceased March 30th 1832 in her 22nd year of her age
Polly Armstrong, the daughter of Robert Armstrong and Susannah, Deceased July the 29th 1832
Nancy Armstrong Deceased December the 30th 1832 in her 34th year, wife of H. C. Armstrong

Page 12

State of Tennessee
Overton County
On this the 8th day of March 1842, personally appeared before me Carr Pyrtle, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, Nancy Armstrong who was born September the 2nd Seventeen hundred and sixty six, and after being duly Sworn for that purpose on her oath makes the following amendment, to her original Declaration, heretofore made (and as she supposes, now is on file in the War Office of the United States, and made in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the United States passed July 7th 1838. She states that since making her original Declaration, that she has understood, in formed and believes that her deceased husband, James Armstrong, Enlisted as a soldier in the State of Virginia in the Second Regiment in the Virginia Continental Regiment, that he engaged service in the first of March, as she believes in the year 1777 and served in Col. Gregory Smith’s Regiment the full Term of three years under Capt. Hudson, and was discharged in Williamsburg in March 1780, it is further believed and suggested by her that her said husband, was enlisted by or served with Captain Capt. Thomas Bressie. She also states that she has

Page 13

Always been informed and so believes that her said husband served as a Captain, and as is now believed was a Militia Captain in service of the United States served in the militia Service and was engaged in the Battle at Guilford. She further states that she has understood from her first acquaintance, with her said husband that he was a Revolutionary character and that the same has been so understood in the places where he has resided since by his intimate acquaintance. She further states that she was married to the said James Armstrong on the 17th day of January one thousand seven hundred and eighty two in Henry County, State of Virginia. Her maiden name was Nancy Lanier, the marriage ceremony was celebrated by John Newman, a Baptist preacer [preacher], her said husband was a member of the Virginia Legislature in she believes in the year 1791, was Respected Esteemed as a Revolutionary man of confidence and Esteem and such was his general character.     
That she continued, the wife of the said James Armstrong until the 15th day March, one thousand Eight hundred and nineteen, at which day he died in Overton County State of Tennessee, that her said husband is buried on the farm where declarant now lives. She further

Page 14

that she has not intermarried since the death of her said husband, but that she continues to be the widow of the above mentioned James Armstrong. That she now resides in Overton County aforesaid that she was not married to the said James Armstrong prior to his leaving the service, but afterward to wit, on the 17th day of January one thousand seven hundred and eighty two, as abovementioned.     
The Declarant prays that her Declaration together with all the evidence in the case may be Examined, and that the claim may be admitted, for all that may be proved to have been performed and if any part of the claim be not sufficiently proved that the amount proved be not delayed, reserving her Right to claim the Remainder if in fact she ever can be able to supply the proof &c      
Nancy Armstrong her mark    
Sworn to and subscribed the day and date above written before me. Carr Pyrtle, [J P]

Page 15

October 8, 1853
Letter in case of James Armstrong, deceased 
Monroe Tenn February 5th 1851
Free
Armstrong

Mr. Samuel Long, P. M.
Albany, Kentucky
 
J. F. Cullen present

Page 16

Mr. Samuel Long
Monroe, Tennessee 
February 2, 1857
Dear Sir,
Yours of 27th Jan was duly received and I now reply the petition for my mother for services rendered by my Father in the War of the Revolution. I have no doubt it is a just claim. Mr. Robert A. Dabney undertook for me to get it but failed as there did not appear to be any record of it in the war office and the evidence was very aged and perhaps was not prosecuted as it should have been done.
My Father was born in the State of Virginia on the 17th March 1758 and was married to my mother in Henry County Virginia about the year 1783 our Recollection of what we heard of his services is very imperfect I have heard him frequently say he was in the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, and that Micajah Lewis was killed, a great favorite of his. It is my understanding the he entered the service as a private but was promoted to a Captain. I know of no testimony to prove this fact but there is [Illegible] in Maddison County in this State who was well acquainted with him 40 or 50 years ago. John B. Cross, who married my sister in 1800 and Col. Abel Willis who I have no doubt [heard] him say a great deal about the War of the Revolution.
I will immediately write to them and forward you their answer, perhaps old man Rabourn of this

Page 17

County may [know] something about it as he came from the same country where my Father was raised. There is some evidence which I never thought of until t day the 5000 acre Tract of land at the mouth of Wolf was granted to my father by the State of North Carolina in 1791. Upon Warrants issued all or in part to my Father for revolutionary services which land warrants supposedly could be found in the land office at Railly N.C. There can be a great deal of evidence obtained that it was reputed and believed in the neighborhood in which he lived that he was a soldier of the Revolution.      
I have frequently heard him say he was wounded in the leg by ball in the battle of Guildford and have often seen the wound at times, he complained verry much of his leg from my earliest recollection until his deth [death] he died on the 15th March 1819 and is buried at my Brother Obeus River.     
My agreement with my mother was to give her one half of whatever could be got and I will give you one half of the other you being all Expense and Trouble if you wish to under take the   Rite me shortly   Yours    Landon Armstrong

Page 18

H. B. my brother has sent to the Pention [Pension] Office Two Declarations one for the pay of Captain, the other as a Private, it might be will to send on and get copies of them.     
I no a man who lives in Hawkins County in this State by the name of McCraw who was further well acquainted with my father 60 or 65 years ago. He may no something of his services he is about 80 years old and when borned his father and mine lived neighbors. If you undertake upon the Terms proposed [unreadable] mail and I will immediately write to him and forward his answer.     
My wagon will go to Butters Thursday for [unreadable] we think there will be a boat up. Respectfully yours [unreadable],     
Landon Armstrong

Page 19

No. 16

Page 20

State of Tennessee Grundy County } Set      
Be it remembered that on this fourth day of November, in the year 1832 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, duly Commissioned and qualified, William Armstrong aged seventy four years a resident of Grundy County Tennessee, who being duly sworn says that James Armstrong who died in Overton County, in the year 1819, was his uncle, that he recollect, well that he intermaried [married] with Nancy Lanier, in the County of Henry Virginia some time between the year 1882 1886, but cannot say the particular year, affiant states that his uncle James Armstrong resided about three miles from his father, and lived a bachelor, untill he married, that his uncle frequently carryed him home with him, and would carry him back when he wanted to return home, he further states, that he well recollects, when his uncle, intermaried with Nancy Lanier, that the infare [affair] was held at his fathers, and he well recollects, the kind of horse old Mr Lanier her father rode, he was a sorrel horse with a flare mane and tail, he further states that they resided in Henry County until the County was divided, when he fell in Patrick County, where he resided until about the year 1794 or 5. when he moved to Hawkins County Tennessee where he resided until about 1801 or 2 when removed to Overton County Tennessee where he and settled near the mouth of Wolf river, where he resided until his death in 1819. In the year 1808 this affiant came to the State of and resided in Overton County Tenn. about four years    one year of the time in the family of his uncle. When he came to Overton

Page 21

County he found his uncle and aunt living together as man and wife, which they continued to do until his death.    this affiant further States that during his stay with his uncle, he frequently heard him talk of his services in the revolutionary war particularly when he would be drinking a little, he would talk about one Micajah Lewis who was a great favorite of his, and who was killed in the Guilford battle, and for whom Micajah L Armstrong his son was named- I well recollect the horse that my uncle road while he was in war he was a large five looking bay horse and a great charger.  I have seen Robert Armstrong, charging fences with him to show what a fine charger he was-- I have frequently heard my uncle say, that the reason why the locators, called Wolf River, Spring Creek was, that came down the river from what is now called Spring Creek, and on their way saw a great many fine springs from which they called the creek spring Creek in their Location, Said Nancy Armstrong the applicant for a pension is the Identical widow of my uncle James Armstrong and is still living on a part of the land on which my uncle died, as affiant is informed and believes. Affiant states that he is entirely disinterested in the [unreadable] of the said Widows application for a pension. I do further state that I have heard my uncle say he was a captain in the army and belonged to Lees Legion -    
Will Armstrong    
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 4th day of Novr 1852, by Wm Armstrong whom I am personally well acquainted and know him to be a man of strict

Page 22

Omit    
Veracity, that his said affidavit was written and signed by himself and I believe him to be of the age stated therein. Given under my hand. Carter Scruggs, J. P.      
State of Tennessee Grundy County } ss     
I, William P. Barnes, Clerk of the County Court of said County, certify that Carter Scruggs, whose signature appears to the foregoing certificate, is an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said County, duly commissioned and sworn and that his signature is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 4th day of November 1832. W. P. Barnes, Clerk

Page 23

On this the twenty eighth (28th) day of March A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty three (1853) before me, John Sevier, an acting Justice of with the peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Nancy Armstrong, aged eighty-seven years, a resident of said County and State, who being duly sworn by me says, that as the widow of the late James Armstrong, of Overton County, Tennessee, she has heretofore made application to the Department of Pensions for the pension due her as the widow of said James Armstrong, for services rendered by him as Captain in the Revolutionary War. That during the lifetime of her said husband, she frequently heard him speak of his services in said War and has heard him mention the names of various who served in said War and with whom he was Acquainted. She states that she is unacquainted with the details of her husbands service, and that she gave to the Agents who prepared her Declaration in the names of the Officers about whom she had heard him speak, and they were set down by her agents as his commanding officers. She states that she does not and never

Page 24

Understood the organization of the troops in the Revolutionary service, but knows that her husband always claimed to have been in an Officer in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War.      
She now states as she has previously done that her husband said James Armstrong, always claimed to have been in the Battle of Guilford. That he was reputed amongst his neighbors to have been an officer in the Revolutionary War, and to have been at the Battle of Guilford. That her late husband said James Armstrong, always spoke of his service being in the Cavalry, or horse service,        
She states that she has on diverse occasions during the lifetime of her husband heard him speak of one Micajah Lewis, who she was informed by her husband was an Officer in the North Carolina Militia, and who she understood from her husband, was killed at the Battle of Guilford. That said Micajah Lewis was a great favorite with her said husband, and that her son Micajah Lewis Armstrong, was named after Micajah Lewis. That she has also heard him speak of one William T. Lewis who was

Page 25

Also an officer in said War. That her husband’s brother, Captain William Armstrong, (who she was informed was in said War) named his son William Lewis Armstrong of Overton County, Tennessee after said William J. Lewis.
That the land or a greater portion thereof granted to her said husband for military services in said war by North Carolina is yet in the possession of his and her descendants.
That she is living with her grandson Pleasant M. Armstrong at the mouth of Wolf river in Overton County Tennessee, who has a large portion of the 5000 acre survey, at the month of Wolf river, in early times called Spring Creek, given by the State of North Carolina to her said husband, now in possession.
That the Patent for said land which she has seen opened by the State of Tennessee, but does not now know where the original patent can be found. That she has never lived out of sight of said land since her husband moved to it in the year 1801. That a portion of the time she lived in the opposite side of Obey river on a piece of land purchased by her said husband of Governor Sevier, but which purchase constituted a have of the same between the

Page 26

Forks of Wolf and Obey, said River being a small stream and but little impediment to farming.
That the house built by her husband in the forks of the two streams is yet standing, which was built by her him when he first moved to said 5,000 acre survey, which was situated between the forks of the streams in said survey.
She prays that the Department will immediately take up her case, as she is extremely old and may lose the benefit of the pension to which she is justly entitled, she also says that she has heard her husband say that on Mark Alkins and Samuel Hardeman were killed in the same Battle that Micajah Lewis was killed in.
Nancy Armstrong

Sworn to and subscribed before me by Nancy Armstrong the day and day above written, and I certify that I personally know said Nancy Armstrong, and believe her to be the age stated by her, and that the word “hereon” on the first page, the “War” on the 2nd and “Creek” on the 3rd and the lines immediately above her signature were made before the same, was subscribed and sworn to and that when this Country was first settled it is within my knowledge that Wolf River was called Spring Creek.
John Sevier, Justice of the Peace for Overton County

Page 27

State of Tennessee
Overton County
I, William H. Turner, Clerk of the County Court for said County hereby certify that John Sevier, Esq., whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing and attached certificate is and before whom the foregoing and attached declaration was made is and was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Overton County at my Office in Livingston this 29th day of March A.D. 1853.
William H. Turner, Clerk

Page 28

No 8

Page 29

State of Tennessee
Overton County
On this 23rd day of June A.D. 1832, personally appeared, before me John Sevier an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly authorized bylaw to administer oaths George Christian of said County of Overton, aged eighty three years, who being duly sworn by my says that he was personally well acquainted with the late James Armstrong, that he first knew him in Hawkins County, Tennessee, in the year 1798; that they often hunted game together in the early settling of this country and on one occasion they [spent four days] in the woods together; that they were on very intimate [with one another] and that old Captain James Armstrong used to tell him of his scrapes and skirmishes while engaged in the service of his country during the Revolutionary War. 
He thinks he understood that Mr. Armstrong held an office in the Army but does not know what Grade. The understanding generally was that he had performed services in the War and the affiant never heard it contradicted or disputed. He was a man of good character for honest instinct, in very good circumstances as to wealth and good standing in the community.
Said Armstrong and Nancy his wife (formerly Nancy  )  and removed from Hawkins County Tenn to Overton County Tenn and settled on Obey's river sometime about 1801 or 1802.
He further states that having some business with old William R. Polk of North Carolina about the year 1827 while in conversation to him of he knew Capt. James Armstrong and his brother William and told some anecdotes about them while in

Page 30

the war of the Revolution. He states that said James Armstrong and Nancy, his wife, lived together and were reputed as husband and wife up to the time of his death many years ago, perhaps about the year 1819. Their children’s names are Elizabeth, John, George, James Landon, Hugh, Micajah, Robert, Patrick, Nancy who married her Cousin Hugh C. Armstrong, and another daughter named Polly who married Wm. Wilborn – the other Elizabeth married John B. Cross. He states the Widow of said James Armstrong is still alive, residing on the same farm which she with her said husband removed to and settled on when they first came to the Country and that she is still a widow never having married since her said husband passed.  The understanding of affiant was that Captain James Armstrong’s services in the war were performed in the State of North Carolina.  George Christian   
Witness
John Savier
Saml Long
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 23rd day of June A.D. 1852, and I certify that affiant George Christian is personally known to me, and he is believed to be of the age stated and his statements entitled to full credit. Given under my hand this    
John Sevier, J P for Overton County

Page 31

State of Tennessee
Overton County

I, William H. Turner, Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid, certify that John Sevier, whose name appears in the foregoing certificate, is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and sworn, and that his said signature is genuine.
Given under my hand and seal of office, at my office in the town of Livingston, County aforesaid this 23rd day of June 1852. 
William H. Tumer, Clerk

Page 32

State of Tennessee Overton County } ss     
On this the 31st day of March A.D. 1853, before me R. N. Coffee, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County & State, personally appeared Col. Landon Armstrong, aged sixty two (62) years, a resident of said County and State, to me well known, who being duly sworn says, that he is the son of the late James Armstrong, of Overton County, Tennessee, and of Nancy Armstrong, widow of said James, who is an applicant for a Pension for services rendered by the said James Armstrong during the Revolutionary War.      
That he has on diverse occasions heard his father speak of his services in said War, and that he was generally reputed and believed to have been in said War. That he has heard him speak of having been in the Battle of Guilford, and of our Micajah Lewis being killed in said Battle and that said Lewis was as this affiant understood a Major at the time of his death, Said Lewis was a favorite of said James Armstrong and he named a brother of this affiant after said Micajah Lewis. He has often heard him speak of Col. William Tyrrell Lewis who said James also mentioned

Page 33

As having been in said War, this affiant has always understood
that his father was in the Legislature of Virginia from Patrick or Henry County in the year 1791, and recollect this as the date from the fact that in said year this affiant was born and has often heard them say that his father was absent when he was born.
Said James Armstrong moved from Patrick County, VA, to Surry County, NC, and this affiant is not positive which, to Hawkins County, Tennessee, about the year 1794, and from thence about the year 1802 to Obeys River, at the month of Wolf River on the 3,000 acre tract of land located by him by a North Carolina Military Warrant as this affiant has always understood said James Armstrong sold portion of said survey but retained a portion thereof up to the time of his death which occurred in the 13th of March 1819.
His mother has lived on and in sight said land from said year 1802, up to the present time and the title and possession of a portion thereof has never passed out the family.
Landon Armstrong

Page 34

Sworn to and subscribed before me by Col. Landon Armstrong day and date above written, and I certify that his statements on this or any other subject are entitled to full credit, that I well know Col. Armstrong know that his character for veracity is as fair as that of any man and that I believe him to be the age stated by him.
R. N. Coffee, Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee
Overton County
I, William H. Turner, Clerk of the County Court for said County hereby certify that R. N. Coffer whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing certificate is and was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace for said Overton County duly commissioned and qualified and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Overton County at my Office in Livingston this 2nd day of March A.D. 1853.
William H. Turner, Clerk

Page 35

No. R. 258
Rejected 
Nancy Armstrong

Page 36

The petition of Nancy Armstrong praying to be placed the Pension Roll, widow of Captain James Armstrong of the War of the Revolution.
January 22, 1846. Referred to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions
Revolutionary Pension
Hon. H. J. Seaman, HR

Page 37

Widow says in ‘81 he received a wound and was a cripple for life, in ‘91 was in member of the VA Legislature. Received Land in Virginia ’95, in North Carolina ‘83

Page 38

7118    
Nancy Armstrong, Widow of James of Tennessee      
Hon. H. L. Turney June 15 1840 - Registry of Virginia Land office June 19, 1840 – 00 June 29 1840 -  Secy of State of Va  July 8 1840 – Hon H. L. Turney Decr 17 1840 – R. A. Dabney Mch 31 1842 – Hon A. Cullum May 9 1844 – 00 Jany 13 1846 – 00 Jany 17 1846 – H. L. Seaman Dec 22 1846 – R. Smith Aug 18 1848 – G. A. Caldwell May 16 1851    L. H. Savage May 16 1851 – Long &. Maxey Sept 16 1852 – 00 Decr 18 1852 – 00 Jany 11 1853 – Secy Interior June 6 1853 – Long & Maxey  June 11 1853 – J. C. Brent Sep 9 1853 – J. F. Callan Oct 21 1853
258
July 7 1838

Page 39

J. C. Brent Sep 4 1853  
J. F. Callan  Oct 21/53
Nancy Armstrong Widow of James 7.118   Tenn   
 Hon H.L. Turney June 15 1840 
Reg" d’d. off. Richmond Va June 19 1840 
S. H. Parker Reg off Va. June 29 1840    
W. H. Richardson Secy of St Va July 8 1840     
Hon H.L. Turney Dec 17 1840     
R A Dabney March 31 1842     
Hon A. Cullum May 9 1844     
Hon A. Cullum Jany 13 1846     
Hon A. Cullum  Jany 17 1846.    
H.J. Leaman Dec 22 1846     
R. Smith Aug 18 1848     
G.A Caldwell May 16 1851     
L H Savage May 16 1851     
Long & Maxey Sep 16 1852 -    
Long & Maxey Dec 18 1852    
Long & Maxey Jany 11 1853    
Secy Int June 6 1853.     
Decision of office affirmed, 
Let [letter] to Long & Maxy June 11 1853,   
Act July 7 1838 (Over)

Page 40

Nancy Armstrong
James
Tennessee
Suspended
Letter 15 June 1840 Hon H. L. Turney
Letter 19th June 1840 to the Register of the Land office at Richmond, Virginia
Letter to J. H. Parker Register of Land Office, Richmond, Virginia, [Illegible] 
Letter to W. M. Richardson Secretary of State of State of Virginia 8 July 1840
Letter to Hon H. L. Turney 17 December 1840
Act of 7 July 1838 
(Over)

Letter: 31 March 1842 Received A, Dabney, to Hon. A. Cullom
May 9, 1844
Letter to Hon. A. Cullom January 13, 1845
Do to same January 17, 1846
Do to Hon. H. J. Seaman H.R. December 22. 1846
Letter to Hon. R. Smith  August 18th 1848
Letter Hon G. A. Caldwell March 16 1857
“J. H. Savage”
Long and Maxey, September 16, 1852
Same December 18, 1852

Page 41

H. L. Turney
house of Representatives 
Reexamine this case and write letter to the Land Office at Richmond, where there is evidence of Armstrong’s service. Then report to Mr. Turney again.

Page 42

Decision of the Court of Pensions approved
See Secretary’s opinion written.
Letter to Long & Maxey 11 June 1853

Nancy Armstrong, widow of James, Tennessee

Hon H.L. Turney June 15 1840
Registry of Land Office, Richmond, Virginia, June 19, 1840
J. H. Parker, Registry of Land Office, Richmond, Virginia, June 29, 1840
[Illegible] July 11, 1840 
Hon. H. L. Turney December 17, 1840
T. A. Dabney Mch 31 1842
Hon. A. Cullum May 9, 1844
Same May 13, 1846
Same May 17, 1846
H. J. Seaman December 12, 1846
R. Smith August 18, 1848
G. A. Caldwell, May 16 1856
J. H. Savage [Unknown Date]
Long and Maxey September 16, 1852
Same December 18, 1852
Same May 11, 1853
July 7, 1838

Page 43

Nancy Armstrong
of James
Tennessee
May 10

Page 44

No. 13

Page 45

Henry County, State of Virginia
Be it remembered that on this the 17th day of September in the year 1852 personally appeared me Josiah W. Hereford, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified,  qualified Mrs. Elizabeth Stone of the age of eighty five years a resident of the County of Henry and State of Virginia, who being first duly sworn says:
1st Question: What do you know respecting the marriage of Nancy Lanier to James Armstrong?
Answer: I was at the wedding of Nancy Lanier and James Armstrong I remember to have at dinner at old Mr. Lanier the day that they, Nancy Linear and James Armstrong, ware married, and saw them together many times after they were married
2nd Question: Did you see them married?
Answer: I cannot say that I saw them for the reason that there was a large company and I was not quite grown but I was invited to the wedding. I went with my sisters and others to the wedding and saw them go to bed together. 
And she further states that she is not interested in the result of the application of the aforesaid Nancy Armstrong 
Elizabeth Stone

Page 46

Sworn and subscribed to before me by the affiant Elizabeth Stone the day and year first before written. And I further certify that I am personally well acquainted with Mrs. Elizabeth Stone and that her statement is entitled to full faith and credit and that I believe her to be of the age stated by her. Given under my hand and seal the day and year first before written. 
Josiah W. Hereford, Justice of the Peace
State of Virginia
County of Henry 
I, Jeremiah Griggs, Clerk of the County Court for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Josiah W. Hereford whose genuine signature appears above is and was at the time of signing the same a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn and that all of his official as such are entitled to full faith and credit and that the said County Court is a Court of Record having general jurisdiction.
Given under my hand and seal of office at office this 4th day of October A.D. 1852.
Jeremiah Griggs, Clerk

Page 47

State of Virginia County of Henry } ss Jeremiah Griggs Clerk of the County Court for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that diligent search has been made among the records of my office for the record of the marriage of James Armstrong and Nancy Lanier and that no such record can be found   
Given under my hand this 4th day of October 1852- J  Griggs  clk

Page 48

Nr. 11
November 1852

Page 49

Albany Kentucky Nov. 13th 1852   
Hon James E. Heath  
Comr. Pensions Sir, 
Accompanying this you will find an Amended Declaration of Nancy Armstrong widow of James Armstrong, also Power of Attorney to us from Mrs Amstrong, Deposition of William Armstrong of Grundy County, Tennessee, of George D Christian of Overton County, Tennessee and of Elizabeth Stone of Henry County Virginia, together with the Clerk’s Certificate of Henry County that no record exists of the marriage, This together with the proof heretofore filed by us, by letter of 1 date August 11th 1832, completes the proof in this case.     
We briefly present the case thus:  The certified copy of the Record of payments made to James Armstrong under the seal of Wm. J. Clarke Comptroller of Public Accounts, State of North Carolina, of date June 17th 1852, exhibits the payments made to and Armstrong during the Revolutionary War , as also his grade at the different period of service, and the length of service , and the branch of service

Page 50

in which he was engaged, as well as his Regiment;     
The Depositions of Elizabeth Stone William Armstrong, George Christian and the certificate of John Sevier prove the marriage, and that it took place long prior to 1794.   The Depositions of Armstrong and Christian prove also his service, corresponding with the record, identify him beyond doubt,    
We would most respectfully urge the Department to take up this case immediately and pass upon its merits.     
We do not desire to be considered importunate or impertinent by the Department, but believe that we have presented this case in so clear a light, that there cannot be the shadow of a doubt resting upon it.     
It has been before the Department for a number of years, and the therefore respectfully urge that it be now taken up and finally disposed of.  
We have the honor to be Very Resp. Your Svts.
Long & Maxey 
Attys for Nancy Armstrong

Page 51

Know all men by these presents that I, Nancy Armstrong of the County of Overton and State of Tennessee, have this day nominate constituted and appointed, and by these presents, do nominate, constitute, and appoint Samuel Long and Sam Bell Maxey, of the County of Clinton and State of Kentucky, my true and lawful Attornies, for me, and in my name, to prosecute my Pension Claim which I hold under the existing laws of the United States, against the Government thereof. I hereby authorize my said Attornies jointly, or either of them separately, to collect and file in the proper Department at Washington, all such information as in their judgment may be necessary in order to the liquidation of said claim. They have full powers in my name, hereby given, to prosecute said claim in such manner as in the opinion may be best calculated to effect the aforesaid objects and whereas, I have heretofore granted other letters of Attorney for the purposes aforesaid. 
Now know all men by these presents that I hereby revoke, and [Illegible], and set aside all letters of Attorney or instruments of writing, by whatever name known or designated having for their object the liquidation and granting by the Government of the United States to me, a Pension as the widow of my late husband James Armstrong Deceased for services rendered said Government during the Revolutionary war, by him the said James Armstrong Deceased. 
If my declaration or declarations

Page 52

Now on file in the Pension Department or which may have after be filed, do not fully set forth my claim to a pension as above, they are authorized to prepare for me an [illegible] declaration which shall more fully embrace all the facts in the case. And the powers hereby granted to the said Long and Mexey, are, by it hereby [illegible], to be exercised as they may see fit, either jointly or separately, as occasion may require, or circumstances demand. I hereby proclaim this my irrevocable Power of Attorney, and [illegible] all and singular the acts of my claim attornies, done for me, and in my name. For the purposes aforesaid. And in case said United States Government should grant me a Artifice of Pension, Then my claim Attorney are authorized for me, and in my name, to receive the same. In testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and seal. This 12th day of July 1852.
State of Tennessee Overton County, this day personally appeared Nancy Armstrong, before me when given [illegible] of the acting Justice of the peace for said county and acknowledge the above power of attorney for the purposes there in contained. This 12th day, July 1852. John Sevier

Page 53

State of Tennessee
Overton County
I, William H. Turner, Clerk of the County Court for said County hereby certify that John Sevier, Esq., whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing certificate is and was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace for said Overton County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit is due to all his official acts as such.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Overton County
at my Office in Livingston the 23rd day of July 1852

William H. Turner

Page 54

State of Tennessee
County of Overton

Be it remembered that on this, the seventh day of November A.D. 1832, before me John Sevier, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County and State, duly Commissioned and qualified, Mrs. Nancy Armstrong age eighty six years, a resident of Overton County and State of Tennessee, who being duly sworn by me, on her oath makes the following amended Declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of any act or acts of Congress under which she may be entitled to a Pension.
That she is the widow of James Armstrong, deceased, late of Overton County and State of Tennessee, who as she is informed and verily believes was a soldier in the War of the Revolution; that in October of the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy six (1776) he held the Office of Cornet, and in the same year or early in the year one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven was promoted to the Office of Lieutenant which he held until as late as the year seventeen hundred and seventy nine (1779) and was promoted to the rank of Captain, that he was

Page 55

In the Dragoon service and was in Lees Legion and was as she is informed and believes in the Battle of Guilford, that she has frequently heard her late husband said James Armstrong speak of his service whilst in the army] during the Revolutionary War, that she was married to said James Armstrong in Henry County State of Virginia in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty two (1782) in January, by a minister of the Gospel of the Baptist [illegible] named John Newman, that her late husband Hames Armstrong died in Overton County in the State of Tennessee, on the place where declarant now lives on the fifteenth (15th) day of March one thousand eight hundred and nineteen (1819) That after their said marriage they resided in Henry County, Virginia, until that Counted was divided, when they fell in Patrick County, VA that about the year 1794 they moved to Hawkins County, Tennessee when about the year 1802 they moved to Overton County, Tennessee where said James Armstrong lived until his

Page 56

Death, and where she Declarant yet lives. That the place on which she lives and where her late husband James Armstrong died was a 5,000 acre survey granita to her late husband by the State of North Carolina. That her maiden name was Nancy Lanier. That she has never intermarried since the death of her said husband James Armstrong. She makes this as an amended Declaration to the one heretofore filed by her, and now states that some of the facts set forth in the Declaration were not known to her at the time she made her former declaration. She now prays that the Pension Department may immediately take up her case and [illegible] upon it. Nancy Armstrong.
State of Tennessee, Overton County. On this the eleventh day of November 1852, before me personally appeared Nancy Armstrong and made oath in due form of law that the statements contained in the forgoing Declaration are true,& I further certify that  I am formally well acquainted with the Declarant and believe that she is the age stated

Page 57

by her in said Declaration, which was read to her in my presence before the same was signed by her. Given under my hand this date above written, I further certify that I hereon[illegible] knew Captain Hames Armstrong husband of Declarant ever since November 1807 till the time of his death which was in the year 1819 and have known and have lived a neighbor to Mrs. Nancy Armstrong the Declarant from Nov 1807 up to the present time, and that her name to the Declaration was written at her request by Col Landon Armstrong. John Sevier
State of Tennessee for Overton Country. Overton County. I, William H. Turner clerk of the County Court within and for the county and State aforesaid, do certify that John Sevier Esq whose genuine signature appears to the forgoing certificate is and was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county & State duly Commissioned and qualified that the signature purporting to be his is genuine and that his Official acts are entitled to full credit. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand & affied my seal of Office at Livingston this 12 day of November 1852. W.H Turner. clk

Page 58

Nr. 4
[Illegible] March 1842
Record from R. A. 
Dabney March 31, 1842

Page 59

State of Tennessee Overton County. On this the 8th day of March AD, 1842, personally appeared before me Carr Pyrtle, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County. George Lanier, a resident citizen of said county aged fifty three years his statements being entitled to full credit and on his oath states that he has been intimately acquainted with James Armstrong and his wife Nancy Armstrong for from about fifty years past, and that he has always understood him the said James Armstrong to have been a man that had rendered services in behalf of the freedom of his country in the Revolutionary war, affiant further States said James Armstrong was known and called Col Armstrong and was a man of Extensive acquaintance and was generally known and reputed as being a Revolutionary soldier and an officer. 
Affiant also further states that said James Armstrong and his widow Nancy was husband and wife from affiants earliest recollection and that she said Nancy Armstrong is now the widow of said James Armstrong, affiant is the near neighbor of Mrs. Armstrong, having had continued acquaintance with her up to this

Page 60

This period of time
George Lewis

Sworn and subscribed the day and year above written before me.
Carr Pyrtle, Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee
Overton County
I, Carr Pyrtle, a Justice of the peace in and for said County aged forty eight years, hereby certify that I was acquainted with the character, of Col. James Armstrong, the deceased husband of Mrs. Nancy Armstrong, the now applicant for a Pension, from my earliest Recollection, and certify that he was esteemed and Reputed as a Revolutionary soldier in Henry County State of Virginia. I was also acquainted with said James and his wife in Overton County, Tennessee for about two years before his death and state that the said Col. James Armstrong, is now reputed to have been a Revolutionary character, and I understand the same to be the general understanding of the old acquaintances of said Soldier. I further certify that his said wife, is now and has remained his widow never ever since. I further certify that from

Page 61

Investigating this claim I believe I believe the Declaration to be true, and that she is unable to attend Court from bodily infirmity and extreme old age given under my hand this 8th day of March AD 1842.
Carr Pyrtle, Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee
Overton County

I, John S. Daugherty, Clerk of the County Court of Overton aforesaid certify that Carr Pyrtle is a Justice of the peace as above and that the foregoing Signatures purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name at office in Livingston this this 9th day of March A.D. 1842.
John S. Daugherty, Clerk of Overton County Court

Page 62

Albany NY     Oct 18th 1852     
Sir: We enclosed you a short time since, Pow. Att. [Power of Attorney] from Nancy Armstrong, together with the proof of her late husband James Armstrong’s service.     
We now enclose you the Pow. Att. which we collected that proof and again must respectfully urge that Department to inform us at as early a date as the rules will remit what proof if any is lacking if any to substantiate said claim,     We do this not with any desire to be troublesome to the Department but on account of the Claimants extreme old age and believing that a thorough investigation will show the justice of her claim. 
We have the honor to be respy Yr Svts     Long & Maxey  
James E. Heath Comr Pensions

Page 63

[Blank Page]

Page 64

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES     
State of Tennessee, Overton County } ss   
On this the twenty ninth day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifty three (1853), before me William P Lacy an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State foresaid, duly commissioned and qualified personally appeared George Christian aged eighty four (84) years, a resident of Overton County, Tennessee, who being duly sworn says that he was personally well acquainted with the late James Armstrong of Overton County Tennessee and is well acquainted with his widow Nancy Armstrong who is as he is informed an applicant for a Pension for service rendered by said James during the Revolutionary War. That in the year 1798, the said James Armstrong came from his then residence in Hawkins County to the mouth of Wolf River which empties into Obey River, in the County of Overton aforesaid for the purpose of surveying and locating a 5000 acre warrant, granted him by the state of North Carolina.      
That this affiant together with several others and amongst them said Armstrong Surveyor Henry Rowan and William Hill and John Latham chainbearers

Page 65

Accompanied him for the purpose aforesaid; that this affiant understood said warrant to be for military service. That said Armstrong did locate and take possession of said 5000 acre of land and held possession thereof or a portion thereof up to his death, and that a portion of said grant is yet in the possession of the descendants of said Armstrong. That he knows well Mrs. Nancy Armstrong widow of said James and that she has lived at the mouth of said river on and near said original survey ever since said James moved thereto. At the time the location was made it was remarked that what was then called Wolf river had been called Spring Creek. Col Armstrong said it would be easy to prove this, we [illegible] this material at the warrant called for the mouth of Spring Creek and I noticed the necessity of it in identifying the land. I know that said James Armstrong was reputed to have been in the Revolutionary and was so informed by the late Col William Polk of Raleigh NC who was also in the Revolutionary War as this affiant has been informed. That said James Armstrong with his family moved and settled on said 5000 acre survey about the year 1802 and lived at the mouth of

Page 66

Said river and in possession of said survey or a portion thereof up to the time of his death, where his widow has lived ever since a part of the time on a purchased & attached thereto.   And further  [unreadable] he has no interest in said application. 
George Christian. 
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
Sworn to and subscribed before me by George Christian the day and date above written and I certify that I well know said affiant and that his character in all respects stands as fair as any man in the County of Overton the words “a part of the time on a piece purchased & attached thereto” interlined before the same was signed. I further certify that I believe the affiant to be of the age stated by him. 
W.P.Lacy JP for Overton County. 
State of Tennessee Overton County I William H. Turner, clerk of the county court for said county hereby certify that W. P. Lacy Esq whose genuine signature appears to the forgoing certified is and was at the Acte Thereof an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid duly. Commissioned and qualified and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official act as such. The testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and office the seal of said county at my

Page 67

Office in Livingston this 29th day of March A.D. 1853.
W. H. Turner, Clerk

Page 68

No. 529
James Armstrong
5000 acres
Ex Recorded
Granted No. 4780 for 5000 acres issued June 12th 1813 to James Armstrong.
Granted
Fee: 1.00 Cents

Page 69

Duplicate State of North Carolina No 529 John Armstrong entry officer of claims for the western lands. To the surveyor of said lands- Greeting you are hereby required as soon as may be to lay off and survey for James Armstrong-a tract or parcel of land containing five thousand acres lying on the north side of Obey river at the mouth of Spring Creek. Beginning below the mouth of the creek running up the creek and river for compliment observing the directions of the act of assembly in such care made and perceived for running out lands. Five Just and fair plan of such survey with a proper certificate annexed to each- you are to transmit with this warrant the secretary’s office without delay. Given under my hand this 10th July 1784 
Jno Armstrong E. T. 
Nashville June 26th 1807. J. Winchester President of the Board of Commissions for West Tennessee Attest R McGarock CLK I do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true & correct copy of duplicate warrant No 529 as appears from the records now on file in my office. Given under my hand at office in Nashville. This the 26th day of March. 
Jno Frizzell Reg Midd Tenn
By B. N. Clements D. R.

Page 70

No. 12
November 1852

Page 71

Know all new by these presents that I Nancy Armstrong of the County of Overton and State of Tennessee have constituted and appointed and by these present I constitute and appoint Samuel Long and P B Maxey both of the County of Clinton and State of Kentucky my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name to demand at the City of Washington and investigation of my right and claim to a Pension on my account of Military services in the Revolutionary War, rendered by me late husband James Armstrong, and more particularly for services rendered by him as Colonel Lieutenant and Captain in Lees Legion during said War and to do all things necessary to establish my said claim and when the same shall have been done, my attorneys who are hereby invested with full power of substitution or their legally constituted agent or attorney in the premises are hereby authorized to receive the certificate which may issue to me in satisfaction of my demand and claim aforesaid and the act or acts of my attorneys hereby appointed, or either of them  or then legally constitute attorney in the

Page 72

Premises, shall be as binding as if done by me in proper person and whereas I have heretofore executed Power of Attorney to various persons to demand an investigation of any claim aforesaid. I hereby revoke, cancel, and annul all and singular the Powers of Attorney heretofore executed by me in reference to my claim aforesaid save those heretofore granted to any Attorneys hereby appoint and I hereby specially revive the Powers of Attorney heretofore execute by me to them in the premises and I hereby [illegible] and demand of the Pension Office and the Commissioner of [illegible] to correspond and exclusively with my attorneys aforesaid or their authorized agent and to correspond with us other person whatever touching my claim aforesaid and I demand that no attention whatever be paid y the Department to any other person or persons representing themselves as my agent or agents and that all correspondence with any attorney heretofore appointed cease from this date. Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of November 1852 Nancy Armstrong Landon Armstrong PM Armstrong

Page 73

State of Tennessee Overton County 
On this the eleventh day or November 1852 before me John Sevier an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county and State aforesaid  personally appeared Nancy Armstrong well known to me to be the identical person spoken of in the body of the foregoing instrument and who executed and delivered the same and acknowledge said instrument to be her voluntary act and for the purpose therein set forth. Witness my hand the date above written and I further certify that her name was written for her at her request by her son Col Landon Armstrong. John Sevier for Overton County
State if Tennessee Overton Country
I William H. Turner Clerk of the County Court for the count and state aforesaid do certify that John Sevier whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing certificate is and was at the date thereof an acting [illegible] of the Peace in & for said County. I state duly commissioned and qualified that the signature purporting to be his is genuine and that his official act as [illegible] to full credit in witness whereof I hereto set my hand and seal of office at office in Livingston. This 10th day of November 1852. W.H. Turner.

Page 74

Nancy Armstrong
[Illegible Ink Marks]
W. W. Moore
Sparta, Tennessee

Page 75

Know all men by these presents that I Nancy Armstrong of the County of Overton State of Tennessee for Divers Considerations Have this day [unreadable] and appointed William W. Moore of Sparta Tennessee my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to execute my claim for a Pension against the United States for the service of my late husband Captain James Armstrong who was a Revolutionary soldier under the acts of Congress passed 4th July 1836   7th July 1938   February 2, 1848     I hereby authorize the commissioner of Pensions to permit my said attorneys to reexamine my application for a pension and whatever may he found owed me from the government    I authorize my said attorney to ask for and demand from the proper office of the government certificate for the amount that may be fund owed me hereby ratifying & confirming what ever my said attorney may lawfully do in the pensions in as full and ample a manner as though I was present, acting for myself given under my hand and seal this the 27th day of March 1852 Nancy Armstrong her mark [seal]
Test
T Pope
P. M. Armstrong
State of Tennessee Overton County}   on this the 27th day of March A D 1852 personally appears before the undersigned an acting Justice of the peace in and for said county Nancy Armstrong

Page 76

An acknowledge the foregoing Power of Attorney to be her [illegible] and died. S.W. Swindle
State of Tennessee Overton County
I William H. Turner clerk of the County Court for said County hereby certify that S.W. Swindle [illegible] whose genuine signature appears to the forgoing certificate of acknowledgment in and was at the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Overton duly [illegible] and qualified and tat full faith and [illegible] is [illegible] and ought to be given to all his official act as such and  that said Overton County Courts is a Courts of [illegible] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal of said Overton County at my Office in Livingston the 27th day or march 1852 W. H. Turner

Page 77

June 24, 1840
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
City of Washington D.C.

Page 78

James Armstrong is entitled to the proportion of land of the Continental line for the war. 
Sam Coleman

Council Chamber
August 11th, 1795
A warrant No. 4665 for 4000 acres issued to James Armstrong.
11th August 1795
Teste, S. H. Parker Reg. L. Office

To: J. L. Edwards, Esq., Commissioner of Pensions
Sir,
Your letter of the 19th instant was received this day and contents duly noted. The above is a copy from the Records of the Virginia Land Office
I am, Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
S. H. Parker
Richmond V. L. Office June 28th, 1840

Page 79

State of Tennessee No 1789
To all to whom these presents shall come greeting. Knew ye that by virtue of Warrant 529 dated the 10th day of July 1784 and Issued to James Armstrong by John Armstrong Entry Officer of claims for the north Carolina western lands and entered on the 27 day of October 1783 by N….. There is granted by the said State of Tennessee unto the said James Armstrong and his heirs a certain tract or parcel of land containing five thousand acres lying in Overton County in the third district on the North side of Obeys river beginning at thee mouth of Spring Creek otherwise Wolf River running thence up the aforesaid Obeys river. With its several meanders thereof as a natural boundary seventeen hundred and six poles to a cedar on the bluff of said river. Thence north twelve hundred and fifty eight poles crossing the aforesaid creek or wolf river to a [illegible] standing in the head of a steep hollow; thence west nine hundred and ten poles crossing said wolf river twice to two small poles in a flat on the west side of said river; thence south four hundred poles to the beginning surveyed the 11th day of January 1812 by Willian Fleming With the hereditaments and [illegible] to have and to hold the said tract or parcel of land with the appearances to the said James Armstrong and his heirs [illegible] In witness whereof Willie Blount Governor of the State of Tennessee hath hereunto set his hand and caused the great seal of the State to be affixed at Nashville on the twelfth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen and of the independence of the United States the thirst Seventh by the Governors 
Willie Blount
WG Blount Secretary 
James Armstrong is entitled to the within mentioned tract of land 
R Mc Gaock Registrar of West Tennessee
Registered and examined 13 September 1822
The above is a correct copy of the registry of grant No 4780 to James Armstrong also of the certificates therewith registered as the same appears of record in my office in Liver page 282 In Witness whereof I John Kennedy Register for the County of Overton in said State have hereto set my hand and private deal no official seal being [illegible] for this office on the 29th day of March AD 1853 John Kennedy Register

Page 80

State of Tennessee
Overton County

I, William H. Tanner, Clerk of the County Court for the County and State aforesaid do certify that John Kinney, whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing certificate, is and was at the date thereof Register of said Overton County, duly elected and qualified and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his Official acts as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Overton County at my Office in Livingston this 29th day of March 1853.
William H. Turner, Clerk

Page 81

Know all men by these presents that we Samuel Long and Sam Bell Maxey of Albany, Kentucky, have this day constituted and appointed John C. Brent of Washington City, D.C. our true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim to a pension of Nancy Armstrong, widow of James Armstrong of Overton County, Tennessee, for services rendered by the said James during the Revolutionary War. And we hereby authorize the said John C. Brent to demand an examination of the papers now on file in the case, also to file any additional evidence in said case. 

The power hereby conferred by us in the said John C. Brent being vested in us by the said Nancy Armstrong by an unrevoked Bower of Attorney to us from said Nancy Armstrong, now on file in said case, and any act or acts in the premises done by said John C. Brent shall be as binding as if done by us in person.

Given under our hands this 18th day of August 1853.

Samuel B. Maxey
Sam Long

Witness
P. M. Armstrong
J. J. Wood

Page 82

State of Kentucky
County of Clinton

I, S. B. Masey, Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid, do certify, that on the 18th day of August, 1853, the written and foregoing Power of Attorney from Samuel Long and Sam Bell Maxey, to John C. Brent was exhibited to me in my office and acknowledged by the said Long and Maxey, both personally known to me to be the identical persons spoken of in the body of said instrument to be their act and deed for the purposes therein set forth and contained. 
In witness whereof hereto, I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of
Office at Office in Albany this 18th day of August A.D. 1853
S. B. Masey, Clerk 
By R. S. Brame D. C.

Page 83

State of Tennessee
Overton County
On this the twenty eighth 28th day of March A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty three 1853 before me John Sevier as acting Justice of the Peace in aforesaid County & State personally appeared before me Uriah Sherril, aged fifty four 54 years, as resident of said county & state, who being duly [illegible] by me says; that he knew said James Armstrong about forty one years ago, and knew him well from that time up to the time of his death, to well in the year eighteen hundred and nineteen 1819. That said James Armstrong lived at the mouth of Wolf River on Obey River in Overton County, Tennessee up to the time of his death, from the time this affiant became acquainted with him, and was living there when this affiant first knew him.  That during all the time he knew said James Armstrong he [illegible] and acquainted with Nancy Armstrong wife of said James, who is as he is informed an applicant for a pension for services rendered by her said husband during the Revolutionary War. That said Nancy still lives on said [illegible] and has lived there since he first knew her, as portion of the time living and

Page 84

blue feather during the battle & who was shot down, in said battle and was [illegible] from the field by some [illegible] [illegible], and said James Armstrong told his affiant, father, that he helped to bear him off. His affiant is acquainted with Micajah Sevier Armstrong son of said James & that he was named as he has understood for said Micajah Sevier. That he has on various occasion heard his father & said James Armstrong who were near neighbors talk of their services and never heard it doubted that said Armstrong was in the Revolutionary. He has [illegible] that his father together with some of his fathers brothers served in said war in North Carolina under the later Governor John Sevier & his father claimed to have been in the Battle of Kings Mountain under said Sevier and after in several other battles during said war. He further states that he is in [illegible] interested in the request of said Nancy Armstrong’s application for a pension. Uriah Sherrill sworn to and subcubed before me

Page 85

By Uriah Sherill the day and date above written, and I certify that he is personally known to me to be a man of the highest respectability and that I believe him to be of the age stated by him, word John erased & Uriah inserted. John Sevier for Overton County      
State of Tennessee Overton County I William H. Turner clerk of the county court for said county hereby certify that John Sevier Esq whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing certificate and before whom the foregoing affidavit appears to have been made is and was at the acts thereof an acting justice of the peace within and for the county and state aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified and that full faith and credit is due and ought to be given to all his official act as such. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Overton county at my office in Livingston this 29th day of March AD 1853. W.H. Turner.  clk

Page 86

Sir: We this morning received from our agent in Washington a copy of your very remarkable letter of 21st Ult touching the claim of Nancy Armstrong of Tennessee widow of James, for a Revolutionary Service. We should pass by that production notwithstanding its internal evidence of legal accuser and historic research in silence, were it not for the [unreadable] you are pleased to couch in it, against our character as gentlemen and men or sense. We bow in all humility before the “powers that be” and are willing to concede that the elevation, by executive patronage of any man to the high and distinguished post of Commissioner of Pensions qualifies him at once, not only as Professor of History but of manners. But when so Distinguished an Office falls on a favored son of New England, with reputation as world wide as that of Webster Choate or Everette. Our admiration and respect is wonderfully gained but when the mantle of favor has fallen on Connecticut [unreadable] son, we at once acknowledge him Professor of History and Manners and Supreme

Page 87

Judge of wooden writings and small matters generally.    
Altho we proclaim that to the world the greatness of the Commissioner of Pensions there is a lurking suspicion entertained by us (privately) that the wondrous epistle to which this is an answer was not indicted by the Comr. [Commissioner] Himself, but one whose chief glory in that he is a lineal descendant of “Niles Register” & must needs presence intact the glory of his ancestor & his (or its) reputation for learning.    
“You say (on the above quote descendant does for you) that you cannot but express your surprise and regret at their (our) persistence in the attempt to prove that the husband of Nancy Armstrong who made that entry of 5000 acres, received the land as a grant for his Revolutionary services. Her assumption is just as tenable as the attempt to show that her husband was the distinguished Captain James Armstrong of Lees Legion; that it does not plead so charitable an excuse. Without in the slightest degree caring for your “surprise” or “regret” and scorning your innuendo contained in the last paragraph, we reply that if misled in regard to the grant of land or the [unreadable] occupied by James Armstrong during the War for Independence. We have thus been misled by those who furnished us with the information upon which we based our investigation. We were informed by Col. Landon Armstrong son of Claimant, that the tract of land on which

Page 88

His father lived and died, was granted him by the state of NC for military service. We knew that is such were the facts the record would show it. We applied for & obtained the certificate filed. Further we were informed that George Christian an old man of the highest respectability, aided Armstrong in his preliminary survey. We applied to him ascertained that such was the fact & further that his information at the time of that survey & never contradicted was that the grant to Armstrong was a military grant. We took his deposition in accordance with his knowledge of the facts & filed it. Our recollection is that his deposition was taken twice, first to prove the marriage and seconds, the points above. We were told by Col. Armstrong that his cousin William Armstrong of Gundy county, Tenn knew more of James Armstrongs service than any one else. We applied to him and got him to reduce his statements to writing himself, in which he states that in conversation with said James he was informed by him that he was a Caption in Lees Legion. We knew that deposition, together with a number of others proving his reputation for having served in the Rev. War. Now in the name of common sense in then anything strange in our prosecuting the claim with “persistence” having this evidence before us. Not {illegible] and per that there ever anything absurd in his being the same “distinguished James Armstrong of Lee Legion, as the husband of applicant, was as we are informed. A man of fine intelligence, once a member of the Virginia Legislation & how a man of fine property

Page 89

And influence & although he had wandered far from the land of [illegible] & perhaps never read a cope of Niles Register, yet we thought his position here was such as the “distinguished James” might have occupied without discredit. Again you say “For that letter from the Secretary of the State of NC above referred to and now for the first time exhibited, shows conclusively that the agents knew if they are capable of construing the plain meaning of plain language that the land was not awarded for service “but paid for in certificate.” No Professor of manners should under cover official correspondence cast an unwarranted & unprovoked insult upon any even the humblest of his admirers.     
Neither of us have ever been in Connecticut & of course cannot be expected to understand plain meaning of plan language.  The above is a he garbled extract from Secy Hill’s letters. He says no such thing as you have quoted.  The upholder and defender of the Register finally waives his right to point out the gross inconsistencies &  Protean shapes of the case. Altho we never were in Connecticut & never read “Niles” we have heard way back here that Proteus had several shapes if not more & were only “capable” of comparing the decision in your office is this case at different times to that renowned as you prefer “distinguished” Proteus.   Caring but little whether your surprise & regret above, we remain with every [unreadable] of our renewed “distinguished” consideration. Long & Maxey. We will repeat the dose when we think you can bear it

Page 90

Hopkins L. Turney
Washington D.C.

Page 91

Livingston
29th May 1840,
Dear sir,
I send you the declaration of Nancy Armstrong, widow of Col. James Armstrong with a bee to have been placed on the pension list. You will find his name on the muster rolls in some of the departments. This I [have had] correspondence which has shown [to] me between yourself and some of the [persons] in the Department of War. To this case I salute your especial attention and very best extensions. That the claim is mere to means there is no doubt but there is great difficulty in making out a case of the land according to the letter of the [Illegible] preached in such cases without going back to the principles of morality. 
The frail memory of the applicant and the very few names being who were [there] upon the stage at the rate of the transactions to be proven make it almost impossible to comply literally with the requirement of the pension regulations. Your strict attention to this will but add another to the many obligations I am under from past favors. 
Yours respectfully, 
H. L. Turney

Page 92

March 31, 1842
Tennessee [Illegible]
To be mailed at Monroe Overton County Tennessee 

James L. Edwards, Esq.
Washington City D.C.
War Department Pension Office

Page 93

Monroe, Overton County, Tennessee
March 9, 1842

Sir,
Enclosed is the Pension Declaration of Mrs. Nancy Armstrong, widow of James Armstrong, deceased, claiming the Benefit of the Act of Congress passed July 7th 1838.
She has heretofore made a declaration which is now on file (as I suppose) in the Pension Office, in her behalf. 
I have the honor to be your humble servant,
Robert A. Dabney

James L. Edwards Esq.
Washington City DC
War Department
Pension office

Page 94

James L. Edwards, Esq.
Washington City D.C.
War Department Pension Office

Page 95

[Blank Page]

Page 96

No. 7
June 14, 1852

Page 97

State of North Carolina Comptrollers Office I William J Clarke, comptroller of public accounts in and for the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears of record in my office, among the payments made by said State, to sundry persons for Military services in the Revolutionary War, as follows, to writ: James Armstrong 
Book E. page 16 £22 specie  James Armstrong Cornet * Octr 1776
Book E. page 17 £28 S16 specie  James Armstrong Lieutenant
Book E. page 25 £45 S9 specie  Apr 1777
Book E. page 35 £6 S17 specie  May 1777
Book E. page 36 £35 S15 specie  August 1777
Book K. page 58 £12 S9 D2 specie  October 1779
Book F2. page 29 £26 S8 specie 
Book F2. page 45 £6 S14 D2 specie
Book No.2. page 15 £53 S6 D6 specie
Book No.4 page 11 £6 specie
Book No.6 page 13 £47 S12 specie
Book No.6 page 14 £3 specie
Book No.7 page 2 £13 S1 specie
Book No.14 page 43 £60 specie
Journal of commissioner No.36 James Armstrong Lieutenant of Dragoons $308 48/100

Book I, Register of Officers, James Armstrong Captain Lee’s Legion of Cavalry 
Kingston Book page 7 £26 S8 for services as Adjutant   April 1776  
In testimony whereof I have hereunto duly subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office this 17th day of June 1852 Wm J. Clarke Comptroller * A different man from the hudband of the applicant-Her husband was a Virginia man. The cornet was a N.C. Man   See Wheeler’s History of N.C.  12 part p 80

Page 98

[Blank Page]

Page 99

No. 3
July 6, 1840

Page 100

I do certify that James Armstrong Esquire served as a Captain in Lt. Col. Henry Lee's Legion of Virginia Troops, in the Continental service, and served during the war.
Given under my hand this 20th day of July 1795.
George Mathews
Col. of the L. A. 3rd Virginia Regiment

Executive Department Virginia
July 6, 1840
The above is a true copy of a paper filed in this department. 
William H. Richardson [Illegible]

Page 101

$5 to the Georgia Railroad & Banking Company
No. 613 Letter D
Payable at Augusta
Athens 1 Dec 1836

[Illegible]

Page 102

[Blank Page]

Page 103

Raleigh, 24th Feby 1851 
Sam Bell Maxey Esqr. 
Sir, 
your letter of the 5th instant was opened this afternoon. I have been so over run by the business of my office for some time, that I have not been able to attend to letters as fast as they are received. The land granted to James Armstrong in Tennessee, if ever granted, was on an entry made in Colo. [Colonel] John Armstrong’s office, who was entry taker for western land, which entries were paid for in certificates. There was an entry made in the name of James Armstrong for 5000, no. 529, warrant issued 10th July 1784, but no grant issued on it from this state. There is only one James Armstrong on the muster rolls of this state in the Revolutionary War, and he was a Colo.    The letter sent to me with the $5.00 was handed to Major Collins then Comptroller who promised to attend to the case. He has been beaten lately by a Major Clarke, to whom a another letter has been handed on the subject of Major Hughlets claim, who informs me that, he found the necessary evidence in the case and had forwarded it. By whom this last letter was written, I do not now recollect as Major Clarke, the present comptroller, has it in his office.     
Since writing the above, I stepped to Major Clarke’s office, who say it wrote you on the 6th instant. I have had much trouble in the case, without one cent compensation. yours respectfully W Hill Secty.

Page 104

In the case of Nancy Armstrong of Tennessee,  widow of James -  it is admitted that a James Armstrong was Captain in Lee’s Legion of cavalry – It is further admitted that James Armstrong and Nancy Lanier now the widow of James, and the applicant were married prior to the year 1794, but it if said that the James Armstrong who served in Lee’s Legion is not identified as the husband of the applicant
In support of the identity of Mrs. Armstrong proves by various respectable witnesses that her husband had the reputation of having been in the war of the revolultion – She further proves by Wm. Armstrong who committed his statements to writing himself that he recollects distinctly when

Page 105

his uncle James Armstrong husband of the applicant returned the Army & the horse he from brought back with him, & gives the reason why he recollects these circumstances so well- Armstrong was then quite small & facts of this sort would at his early age more indelibly impress themselves upon the mind than at a late period-- He further states that he has often conversed with James Armstrong upon the subject his service in the Army & that of he understood from him that he was a Captain in Lee’s Legion & further that he moved near of years ago to the mouth Wolf River Overton County Tennessee, where he died & where his widow yet lives & that Wolf river was in early times called Spring Creek, & that he has understood that said land transferred him by the State of North Carolina for Revolutionary services.  The records show that James Armstrong was granted by the State of North

Page 106

Carolina 5000 acres of land at the mouth of Spring Creek now Wolf river, which land William Armstrong states the applicant now lives on.    
The Hon. John A. Savage, member of Congress from the District in Tennessee, in which Mrs. Armstrong lives, states that he is acquainted with her, and with her grandson Colonel Pleasant Armstrong. That Col. Pleasant Armstrong lives at the mouth of Wolf river, that he has understood from him that his grandmother (the applicant) lives with him, and that the land upon which he lives came by his Grandfather. If a case could possibly be presented clearer, I cannot see how could be done. Apart from any proof in regard to the land whatever, which is a secondary point in this case, the Records of North Carolina show that James Armstrong

Page 107

Was a Captain in Lee’s Legion, the proof testimony of various witnesses show that James, husband of applicant, was generally reputed through the neighborhood as having Revolutionary service. A witness who frequently conversed with him, details circumstances which show conclusively that he was in the Cavalry service. And still further he has heard him say Lee’s Legion. The case then by the record and collected evidence is proven beyond a doubt, no one contesting his identity. Mrs. Armstrong was married sequent to the war, and therefore had no distinct knowledge of his service further than what she heard from him and gave the names of those officers about whom she had heard him speak, the agents having no other data to govern than made the mistakes which occasioned the suspension. The case being now clearly presented, we pray that it be immediately taken up and passed.
Respectfully
Long and Maxey 
Hon. James E. Heath

Page 108

No 5

Mar 51

Page 109

A List of Entries of Claims for Lands Westward of the [Blank] by Act of Assembly, made with John Armstrong, Entry Officer of Claims for said Lands at Hillsborough the 20th of October 1783.

No. Entry & Caveat on Names
No 529

Warrantees name 
James Armstrong
27th October 1783

No. of Acres
5000

Location of the Lands entered and date of Warrant
In County on the North side of Obeys River at the mouth of Spring Creek. Beginning below the mouth of the Creek, running up the Creek and River for Complement.
Warrant Issued July 10th, 1784



State of North Carolina
Office of Secretary of State
I, William Hill, Secretary of State, in and for the State of North Carolina do hereby certify, that the above is a true copy of an Entry, taken from the or book of Col. John Armstrong, Entry taken for Western Lands.
Given under my hand this 28th day of March 1851.
William Hill 
Secretary of State

Page 110

[blank page]

Page 111

Nancy Armstrong in papers
Suspended Roll
Tennessee

Mr. Anderson

Page 112

Sparta, Tennessee Sept 19th, 1833 
H. P. Johnson 
Sir, I have a Power of Attorney filed in the Pension Office to prosecute the Pension claim of Nancy Armstrong, widow of Capt. James Armstrong of Overton County, Tennessee. I have tried several Agents in Washington and without success I have him [Illegible] to call on you as an efficient agent. This is a rich claim if it can be established. If I should succeed I am to get 33 1/3 per cut on the amount recovered and if you will undertake it and establish it I will give you half of my fees and if you should succeed in this have several cases that has him suspended, that I will turn over to you and divide the fees equally with you, I have the names of same 100 cases of suspended claims in this State that I can procure the [unreadable] for the most of them if I can get those I have those allowance my agents there has had such had such I have a declined getting up any more of that description of claims, write me

Page 113

Fully relative to this claim and if you have any hope of success and it is necessary I will send you a Power of Attorney. I have made the business of prosecuting Pension claims my business and [Illegible] for the last ten years.
Yours respectfully, 
W. W. Moore 
Sparta, Tennessee

Page 114

Blank

Page 115

47, Hon. W. T. Ward
January 31, 1833,
[Illegible] Letter from S. Bell Maxey 
Appealed from decision of Commission of Pensions, in case of Nancy Armstrong. 
Referred to the Commissioner of Pensions for special attention and reports Department of Interior January 31st 1853.

Page 116

Washington,
January 31st, 1853

Hon A. H. H. Stuart: 
Sir,
I respectfully pray an appeal from the decision of the Commissioner of Pensions in the case of Nancy Armstrong of Tennessee, widow of Capt. James Armstrong, late of Overton County, Tennessee.  
I have the honor to be respectfully your obedient servant, 
Sam Bell Maxey

Mr. Maxey is a constituent of mine and the secretary will much oblige me by having the case abovenamed taken up and disposed of without delay.
W. T. Ward

Page 117

Department of the Interior
Washington June 7, 1853

Sir,
Your decision in the case of the appeal of Nancy Armstrong widow of James, an applicant for the benefit of the Act of July 7, 1838, is approved, and the papers accompanying your Report, are herewith returned to you.
I am Sir, very respectfully, your obedient Servant,
R. McClelland
Secretary

The Honorable L. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions

Page 118

House of Representatives
January the 2nd 1846

Sir,
I send you herewith the letters of M. L. Armstrong which I intended to send with my communication to you of the 20th ultimate. 
Very Respectfully, your obedient servant, 
[Illegible]

Response Nancy Armstrong - Dec 23?

Col. J. L. Edwards

Page 119

Albany Kentucky
March 31st, 1833
Commissioner of Pensions:
Sir,
By letter from the Commissioner of Pensions of January last, we were informed that in the application of Nancy Armstrong of Overton County, Tennessee, widow of James [Armstrong], a pension for services rendered by said James in the Revolutionary War; it was necessary to file the Patent to said Armstrong for the 200 acres of land, entered by him at the mouth of Wolf River on Obey river, Overton County, Tennessee, and to show that said land, or a portion thereof, as still in the possession of the Armstrong family and that Nancy, widow of James lives on said land, and that upon filing said proof a Certificate of Pension would issue to her.
We herewith file the proof required, an authenticated copy of the of registered in the Registers Office of Overton County, where the land lies

Page 120

Together with the parole proof required. The Laws of Tennessee require Grants or Patents to be registered in the County when the land is located. The copy herewith filed is taken from said
Office. The Grant issued from the State of Tennessee. In 1806 (I believe) the State of Tennessee was authorized to issue grants upon North Carolina Warrants. 
By State of North Carolina prior to the organization of Tennessee into a State, a tract of country was laid off in the territory of Tennessee, as a military reservation, in which reservation, and was located exclusive upon Military Warrants.
By an examination of said Statute it will be formed that the 5000 acre in grant made to restring is in said reservation. It will be further found that the Warrant therefore issued from John Armstrong’s Office, Entry taken Western lands, and it will be found that his office was established exclusively for the purpose of attending to Military Warrants and Entries.
The record proof of the service on file, the Patent to Armstrong, the [Illegible] proof and exhibits, seem to us to make

Page 121

This case so clear that the Department can have no hesitation in granting Mrs. Armstrong her Certificate of Pension. We have proved everything the Department required of us, and we now most respectfully, but equity request the Department to give us an immediate hearing.
It will be seen by the amended Declaration filed, that Mrs. Armstrong is eighty seven years old, she is confined to her bed, and in all human probability will lose by delay, the laws passed the benefits for the support of the widows of Rev. Soldiers.
This case was carried [out] by appeal to the Secretary of the Interior last winter and if the papers are in that office we respectfully refer this letter and the additional proof filed to that Office. 
We have the honor to be, very respectfully, obedient servants,
Long and Maxey
Attorneys for Nancy Armstrong

Page 122

Nancy Armstrong 
To Long and Maxey,
Power of Attorney

Page 123

State of Tennessee
Overton County

Know all men by these presents, that I, Nancy Armstrong of the County of Overton and State of Tennessee, have constituted and appointed and by these presents do constitute and appoint Samuel Long and Sam B. Maxey both of Clinton County, Kentucky my true and lawful Attornies, irrevocably for me and in my name to receive from the United States Government the Pension Certificate, extra pay, reserved pay, and whatever else may be due me from said U.S. Govt. as the Widow of James Armstrong, deceased, for services rendered by the said James to the Government aforesaid as a Soldier in the Revolutionary War.
And I hereby empower the said Long and Maxey to collect all the evidence, which in their opinion may be necessary for the prosecution of my claim or claims aforesaid, hereby authorizing them to employ an Agent or Agents, Attorney or Attornies under them in the business, ratifying hereby and confirming all and

Page 124

Whatsoever they may legally do or cause to be done in and about the premises.
And upon the obtaining the Pension certificate, Certificate of Back Pay due, extra pay or they are authorized and hereby empowered to draw the same from the authorized agent of the United States for me and in my name.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 22nd day of February A.D. one thousand and fifty-one.
Nancy Armstrong

Witnesses
Thomas M. Armstrong
Nancy Armstrong
Nancy Armstrong

State of Tennessee, Orford County
Personally appeared before me William H. Turner, Clerk of the County Court for said County, Thomas M. Armstrong and Nancy Armstrong subscribing witnesses to the within and above Power of Attorney who being first sworn upon and say that they are acquainted with Nancy Armstrong the maker of said Power of Attorney and that she acknowledged the same to be her act and deed in this presents when the day it bears date and for the purposes therein contained. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Overton County at my Office in Livingston the 17th day of May 1854.
William H. Turner, Clerk

Page 125

Albany, Kentucky,
September 21st, 1853

Sir,
Yours of 12th instant, enclosed copies of Court Pensions Letter to you in relation to cases Nancy Armstrong & Heirs Mary Hughlett, is at hand.
I forwarded a statement of the Secretary of State North Carolina embraced in a letter, in relation to the 5000 acre Land Warrant, granted by North Carolina to James Armstrong, in which he says these warrants were based or issued upon Army Certificates given in lien of money.
This shows how the Warrant was obtained. Now as to identity, this Warrant No. 529, for 5000 acres is in the name of James Armstrong.
This certificate of Entry is in the name James Armstrong and entered by him. The Grant or Patent is in the name of James Armstrong, a description of the land granted therein set forth.
[Illegible] the husband of applicant the man to whom the Warrant issued, who made the location and who received the Patent George Christian swears he was with him when he made the first survey, helped him to

Page 126

Make it when this whole country was a Wilderness, came out with him for that
purpose, knows that Armstrong settled on it and lived on it till his death in 1819, and understood at the time he helped to make the survey that it was upon a North Carolina Military Warrant, and never heard a set up any other title than that conveyed by virtue of this Warrant. 
Records that a portion of the land is yet in the Armstrong family and that the widow lives there yet.
The Register of Overton County where the land is the furnishes a copy of the Patent, from the Records James A. lived and died in that County of the land named in that Patent, which Patent is based on Warrant No. 529.
Now if mortal man can establish identity clearer, we don’t know how.
We send you another letter from Secretary Hill on the subject, which merely shows the same fact exhibited by his other letter we sent you.
Further if you will examine the Statutes of North Carolina from ‘77 to ‘85 (Supreme Court Library) you will see that a certain District of Tennessee was set apart for the location of Military Claims, the boundary of the District is set forth

Page 127

In the act. An examination of the map will show this land to be in that District
In regard to the case of Mary Hughlett, all we have to say is that in guarding the Treasury from fraud, such a thing as fraud may be practiced against individuals by an overscrupulous regard to strict and position annuity by contemporaries. 
We would like to know how many contemporaries a man has living, who was a prominent man (not boy) in the stirring scenes of 70 years ago.
We regard this as simply ridiculous.
The most annexing thing about the whole case is that the Commissioner sees something as fully sinful in Mrs. McColgan, preparing her Decr. to conform to the Records.
She did that thing, she is a conscientious woman and would swear nothing at random. She informed us that her father was a Captain in North Carolina and gave us all she knew above it.
We then took from her a Power of Attorney to call up the records and gained all the information we come before preparing her Decr. with the hope that her claim being so clear would be admitted without hesitation. There is not the shadow of a doubt on our minds as to the identity

Who else claims? Or ever did claim?  How many William Hughlett on the rolls

Page 128

N. C. Mil. One. However, there is a remote possibility of coming up to what Mr. Waldo requires.    
I am informed by Secy  Hill, Secy State N. C. that Charles Bauner Esq of Stokes County, if living, may be able to provide us the information we desire. We will immediately write to him, if he knows anything (if living), we will forward you his statements    
This is the only hope. Finding a contemporary in this Country of a man who served in N.C. in the Revolutionary War. & who knows that he served there is rather difficult in our humble Judgment. 
Respy.  Long and Maxey 
There is a cloud of witnesses testifying that Mrs. Armstrong lives and has lived for forty years on the land described in the [unreadable] L & M
Mr. Elliott informed us that he had proof positive sufficient to establish her case beyond doubt. We have not heard from him or his proof. L & M.      
We open this to say, go to the Secy of Interior, and get a History of North Carolina (which is there) and send us the names of all the members who served in House of Commons with William Hughlett in 1796, 1797, 1798. We will write to all of them in hope that some of them may be living and afford us the information we desire. L & M
ansd Oct 4th

Page 129

June 29, 1840
[Illegible]
James L. Edwards, Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
City of Washington D.C.

Page 130

Virginia Land Office, Richmond, June 26th, 1840
To J.L. Edwards, Esq., Comm of Pensions &c &c &c

Sir,

Your letter of the 24th Instant was received this day.

The testimony upon which the claim to Land was allowed, in the case of James Armstrong, is on file in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. That their will furnish you with the information desired, upon application.

I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, 
S. H. Parker

Page 131

Pension Office
January 11th, 1853

Gentlemen, 
I have carefully examined the claim of Nancy Armstrong, widow of James of N.C. in connection with the additional evidence lately filed by you, and I have to inform you that she has made three declarations in each of which she has stated a different service. There is no doubt but that a James Armstrong was a Captain in the War of the Revolution, but she is not identified as the widow of that Captain. She says in her last declaration that she is now living on part of the land which was granted to her husband, for service by the State of North Carolina.
Let her show this and the claim will be allowed. I refer you to my letter of the 18th December last for full instructions
I am respectfully

Page 132

Your obedient servant. 
J. E. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions

Messrs. Long and Maxey
Present

Page 133

Albany Kentucky, June 25, 1852,
Dear Sir,
We forwarded to the Pension office several months ago a certified copy of a Power of Attorney from Nancy Armstrong, widow of James Armstrong, an officer in the Revolutionary war, and learning, by that other Powers of Attorney have been given to the persons to attend to the prosecution of her claim for a Pension we wish to be informed whether we have been superseded by those more recent powers, or whether we are still to be considered as the agents of Mrs. Armstrong.
If it is necessary we can prove the revocation of the other power.
With much respect, very truly,
Long and Maxey

Page 134

Pension Office, June 15, 1840
Sir,
The papers in the case of Mrs. Nancy Armstrong, the widow of James Armstrong, deceased, have been examined, and they are herewith returned for authentication, as required in Note in the enclosed printed sheet. She alleges that her husband served as a Captain under Col. Penn, being a resident of Virginia, from 1778, until after the Battle of Guilford.
It does not appear that there is any record proof in this office of her husband’s service, which was probably in the Militia. It will be necessary, in order to obtain a pension for his service as a commissioned officer, to produce record or documentary proof of his having been commissioned, and of the service performed. The Militia served in tours of short duration. Each tour of actual service for which a claim is made, should be set forth in the declaration.
The letter of A. Cullom, Esq., is herewith returned.
I have the honor to be, your obedient servant. 
James L. Edwards 

Hon. H. L. Turney
House of Representatives

Page 135

[Blank Page]

Page 136

No. 6

Page 137

Albany, Kentucky August 11th, 1853      
Hon. James E. Heath Commissioner of Pensions 
Sir,      
Accompanying this letter you will find the Certificate Wm. J. Clarke, Comptroller of Public Accounts N.C., showing the record of proof of the services of James Armstrong deceased, in the Revolutionary War; also the Certificate of and Entry of Land at the mouth of Spring Creek, Obey’s River, Overton County, Tennessee, furnished by William Hill, Secretary of State of North Carolina, which land is now in the possession of the Armstrong family, and on which Mrs. Nancy Armstrong, the applicant for a pension as the widow of James Armstrong now lives. We also forward the Power of Attorney of Mrs. Nancy Armstrong

Page 138

The applicant, giving us full power in the premises.
I am informed that two Declaration were prepared and forwarded for Mrs. Armstrong by a Mr. Dabney.
One of these Declarations claim a Pension for her as the widow of a Private, the other as a widow of a Captain.
The record shows that he commenced his service as a Cornet, promoted to Lieutenant and then to a Captain.
If proof of Marriage has not been filed, please inform us, as we have no doubt we can obtain the record proof of it.
We shall also forward you in a few days proof of identity.
We have the honor to be very respectfully appellants, 
Long and Maxey

Page 139

Commissioner of Pensions

House of Representatives
Feb. 5th, 1857

Sir,
I enclose you the letter of Gen. R. Maxey of Kentucky and request to be informed whether the paper he mentions and found in the office.
I am respectfully your obedient servant,
John W. Savage

James A. Heath
Commissioner of Pensions

Page 140

Albany Kentucky April 12th 1853, Sir, Accompanying this please find Affidavit of Col. Landon Armstrong and certificate of the Register of Middle Tennessee, which we desire filed with the application of Nancy Armstrong of Overton County, Tennessee, widow of James Armstrong for a Pension for in services in the Revolutionary War. For the credibility of Col. Armstrong, we refer to the certificate of Hon. John H. Savage, on file in this case, the Justice’s certificate and for his high character to the fact that he was one of the Democratic Electors in Tennessee in 1831.     
On the 31st last, we forwarded to your Office, the Amended Declaration of the applicant Nancy Armstrong, the Patent for the 5000 acre tract and the Affidavits of George Christian and Uriah Sherril. We now file the enclosed as additional evidence. If we have failed to

Page 141

Establish to the points required of us in the letter of the Commissioner to us of January last we desire to know it.     
As mentioned by us in our letter of the 31st last, Mrs. Armstrong is now extremely old and may lose entirely the benefit of the law by delay.     
One of us was in Washington last Winter and was promised that the case would be immediately disposed of upon the filing by us of the proof required in the letter of the Commissioner referred to. We earnestly hope the Department will act speedily and a final decision. Respy Yr Obt Servts     Long and Maxey
Commissioner of Pensions.

Page 142

We forwarded on the 18th last the affidavit of John Groom in the Case of Nancy Wiley of Fentress County, Tennessee, widow of John Riley late Revolutionary pensioner and subsequently in the same case, the Affidavit of Francis Davidson.
We also forwarded on the 31st last the Affidavits of Mrs. Sevier, John Jonell & A. M. Craft & subsequently of the Affidavit of Elizabeth Reneau in the Case of the heirs of Mary Hughlett of Tennessee, widow of Capt. William Hughlett.
We have not been informed whether these papers have been received. All these cases were before the Secretary of the Interior last winter.
Long & Maxey

Page 143

Washington City January 11th, 1853 I certify that I know Mrs. Nancy Armstrong of Overton County, Tennessee, that I have understood from her grandson Col. Pleasant Armstrong that she resided with him at the mouth of Obey’s River, Overton County, Tennessee and that the tract of land upon which said Pleasant Amstrong lives was owned by his grandfather.     
I am respectfully, 
John R. Savage       
J. E. Heath Commissioner of Pensions

Page 144

[Blank Page]

Page 145

No. 16
Additional Evidence
Mrs. Armstrong
Revolutionary [War]
January 13, 1853

Ms. Maxey

Page 146

Washington City
January 10th, 1853
I certify that I know Mrs. Nancy Armstrong of Overton County, Tennessee who is the mother of Col. Lander Armstrong of said County and State, that said Nancy is a very old lady her son the said Landon being in my opinion sixty or seventy years of age. Her grandson Col. Pleasant M. Armstrong being in my opinion about forty years. I make this statements for the benefit of the said Nancy Armstrong who and informed is making application for a pension as the widow of Capt. James Armstrong of the Revolution
I am respectfully yours,
John Savage

M. Heath 
Commissioner of Pensions

Page 147

In 1840 Nancy Armstrong said her husband James Armstrong was a captain, entered service in 1778, in Col. Penn’s Regt., continued in service until after the Battle of Guilford CH where he was severely wounded, remained in service until the Summer of 1781. Says she was married in January 1782. Her husband died in 1819. 
Proof – Rep of L aff of Va shows that James Armstrong was entitled a proportion of land allowed a Captain of the Continental line for the War. 
Secy of Va. shows Jas Armstrong served as a Captain in Lt Col Henry Lee’s Legion of Virginia Troops during the war.     
Comptroller of N.C. shows James Armstrong who was a Lt. of Cavalry and a Capt. of in Col Lee’s Legion of Cavalry.     
Secy of N.C. shows James Armstrong received 5000 acres of land for Rev Services.

Page 148

In 1842 she says her husband enlisted in 1777 and served in Col. Gregory Smith’s Regt. VA some 3 years and discharged in 1780, under Capt. Thomas Bressie. Now she declares he served as is shown by the certificate of the Comptroller of North Carolina.

Page 149

James Tarrant 
Act 1832
Alabama   see index
Served as a Captain in of Militia in Henry County, Virginia under Col. Abraham Penn. His commission is exhibited.

Page 150

Bureau of Pensions,
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
October 13, 1930,
541

Rev. War claim for pension of James Armstrong,  File No. R. 250.
Actual 1 of each page

Mrs. V. H. Gottschalk,
2707 Adams Mill Road,
Washington, D. C.

$1.35		9 Pages

Kindly leave margin of 1½ inch at top of each page and return papers in each case in folder with corresponding name and number.
The word “‘Omit’” written in pencil on those pages which are
not to be copied. 
Chief, Rev.&1812 Wars Section.

Page 151

Commissioner of Pensions
October 13, 1930
Please furnish me photostatic copies (not certified) from the following Revolutionary War pension claims-9 pages, positive and negative of each, from James Parker W. 3587, and 9 pages from James Armstrong, R. 258.

Cash - $4.05
FINANCE DIVISION
BOOK-KEEPER'S DESK
OCT 15, 1930
BUREAU OF PENSIONS

Remitter
Mrs. V.H. Gottschalk
2707 Adams Mill Rd
Washington D.C.

Received payment
$4.05
Antonia W. Ford
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.

Page 152

R. 258
List of pages to Mrs. Gottschalk from James Armstrong.
4 Pages of [Illegible] record – 
Letter of Landon Armstrong - February 2, 1851
Mr. Samuel Long – 3 Pages
George Christian’s Affidavit – 2 Pages
---
List of pages from James Parker: 9 Pages
John Douglass statement January 9, 1850 – 1 Page
A letter which begins “Dear Cousin” written Jan 10, 1850 at Looking glass Prairie, Mod. – 1 Page 
The statement & appointees of agent to receive her pen dated Nov. 28, 1849 in Brown Cole - & reverse side – 2 pages.
Also Ann Turner’s Affidavit. November 20, 1851 Brown Co. – 1 Page
Mr. Parker’s Affidavit, or Letter to Hon. Andrew Ellison 
Ripley, Ohio – December 28, 1853 – 2 Page 
Ann Turner’s Affidavit February 4, 1854 – 1 Page
Power of Attorney - signed by William Packer and Rachel Parker – 1 Page 
9 Pages

Page 153

Revolutionary War Claim of pension of James Armstrong, File No. R. 258.

Actual			1 of each page

Remitter
Mrs. V. H. Gottschalk
2707 Adams Mill Road
Washington D.C

75 cents		 5 pages

Kindly leave a margin of 1½ inches at the top of each page and return papers in each case in a folder with the corresponding name and number. 
The word “‘omit’” is written in pencil on the pages which are not to be copied.
Chief, Rev. & 1812 Wars section.

Page 154

November 20, 1930
Commissioner of Pensions

Please furnish me photostatic copies, uncertified, of five pages of the Revolutionary War pension claim of James Armstrong, R. 258.

Each – 75 cents 
FINANCE DIVISION
BOOKKEEPERS DESK 
NOVEMBER 22, 1930 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS

Mrs. V. H. Gottschalk
2707 Adams Mill Rd.
Washington D.C.

Received payment
75 cents
Antonia W. Ford
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.