Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,369, David Eirwin, N.C.

Page 1

(8-1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Eirwin or Erwin, David

NUMBER
R. 3,369

Born in Penna

Lydia

Page 2

Indiana 26705
--------------------
David Erwin
of Hendricks Co in the State of Indiana
who was a privat in the c---- commanded
by Captain McClung of the reg[imen]t commanded
by Gen Gates in the N Carolina
line for 6 months Pra- Infantry
3      "          "     Cavalry
--------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana
at the rate of 32 Dollars 50 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834
--------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 1 day of May
1834 and Hon John
Tipton U.-.-/
--------------------
Arrears to the 4th of March.                 97.50
Semi-anl. allowance ending 1 Sep.t     16.25
----------
$113.75
{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Dan Boyd, Clerk
Book C Vol. 7 Page 110

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30,474

The application of
David Erwin for a pension
under the Act of Cong[res]s 7 June 1832

Case of Honl John Tipton
Mem[be]r of Congress from Indiana

from 1780 Private
of Inf[antr]y & Cav[alr]y 9 mo.
Pr. Inf[antr]y 6 m    20.
Pr. Cav[alr]y 3 mo.     12.50.
----------
32.50/100

Hon. J. Tipton

[Upside down text] Honl J

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[p. 4]
The State of Indiana }
Hendricks County }

On this 16 day of April 1834 personally
appeared before the honorable Bethuwel [Bethuel] F. Morris
president and Thomas Lockhart & Elijah Anderson
his associates, Judges of the Hendricks Circuit Court
at their April session 1834, David Erwin, a resident
of the County of Hendricks and State of Indiana, aged
seventy four or five years, who being first duly
sworn according to law, doth on his oath make
the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit
of the provisions made by the act of congress passed
June 7th 1832  That he was drafted into the army
of the United States in the Summer of the year of the
battle of Camden and served ^as a private^ in the company of North
Carolina Militia, in a company commanded by Captain
Robert McClain, L--- James Crabtree, other officers
names belonging to the company not now recalled. the
declarant at the time he entered the service resided in
the lower part of Gilford County in the State last aforesaid.
He was drafted for three months, his company assembled
at the time aforesaid near the high Hills of Santee
River. they ranged through the country until the battle of
Camden upon different scouting expeditions. then about one week
[unlegible and crossed out] previous to that engagement his company company [crossed out]
joined the main army commanded by Gen[era]l Gates
near their place of rendezvous, at the high hills
of Santee River, and with his company incorporated
with the main army, moved towards Camden, that the
engagement began about 10 o'clock on the night previous
to the main engagement. that in the morning his comp[an]y
was brought to act in the battle, he had 40 cartridges & fired
about 20 rounds before the militia broke ground, that out
of his company one man was killed & two wounded —
from extreme old age & consequent laps [loss?] of memory, he

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is unable to remember the names of any other of the regular
as well as militia officers with whom he was then
acquainted, & being illitterate has since those events
been unable to refresh his memory w/reading, & for
many years past has been deprived of the opportunity
of conversing with those who knew anything of these
events that transpired at the times referred to & to
which he shall have occasion to mention.

From the before described engagement he returned to
his fathers in Gifford County — who he staid a few
days when he received orders to meet with his comp[an]y
at Bells Mill, 10 miles from his fathers residence,
when they assembled, & in a short time thereafter, he
was with the rest of his comp[an]y, was discharged by
his capt[ain] & received a written discharge from him, which he
has long since lost, having servd  the term of three
months. The day on which the before described battle
took place he cannot recollect, but he remembers
that on his return home he subsisted on "raatt
=en ears" & that it must have been in Aug[us]t or Sept.
[note in left margin: "3 mos"]

2     That in the last of Sept or first of Octr of the
same season after the battle of Camden the declarant
volunteered for three months into a company com[-]
manded by Capt Wm York of the N. Carolina militia,
then residing with his father at the place aforesaid, that he
served these three months as a private, except a
short time he served as a sergeant, not less than
two weeks — The [illegible] officers he has entirely forgotten
The company assembled at one widow McGee & then
marched to Litteral's Barracks, where they remained
nearly three months, when they took a scout up the
[note in left margin: "5 mos"] Deep River until the 5 months expird, when he
rec[eive]d a written discharge from his Capt which he has
long since lost, that during this campaign he was
in no ingagement nor met with no regular troops

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to his recollection.
[note in middle of paragraph, left margin: "3"]
That in the Summer of the year succeeding the battle
of Camden the declarant again volunteered into
the Company commanded by Capt York while
residing in ^the^ place first aforesaid, for three months
to serve as a private in the light house — the
principal object or rather cause of raising this comp[an]y
was to watch a body of disaffectd as Tories
Commanded by one Colonel Fannin [David Fanning] & to which
a brother of this declarant belonged by the name of
John Erwin. Some years older than declarant & who
resided about 20 miles from his fathers residence   the Comp[an]y
assembld at Capt Yorks  He does not recollect any other
officer except one Colonel Daugan was occasionaly
with the Company — They were constantly engaged & in
their scouts or marches the declarant with the comp[an]y
sent down Deep River, [illegible] up & down Far River &
Cain Creek in pursuit of Fannen -- Near the close
of the campaign they came down on one side of deep
River & discoverd Fannen's forces on the opposite bank
there were shots exchanged from each side of the
two forces, but owing to the width of the River at that
place, no harm or injury resulted to either party —
At the close of the expidition he rec[eive]d  a discharge
from Capt York which he has lost, certifying his
faithful service for three months in this last campaign [note in left margin: "3 mos"]

[Marginal note, left: "4"]
That shortly after the termination of the last tour of service
Capt. York informed declarant that he with others of
his Company were about to proceede to the house of [your?]
declarant's brother John who had been associated with Fannen
& to take him a prisoner — and proposs[?] to declarant to go
with a body of men & take him, himself & command the
expidition & thereby save his brother's life & have him sent to
Charleston to be exchanged for some prisoners there confind[?]
who was attachd  to the Cause of liberty — Declarant accepted

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the proposition -- & took a body of men & proceeded to the
residence of his brother, where they arrived in the night
surrounded the house & declarant entered the house &
took him prisoner & he had him deliverd to Capt York
or to some other officer who had him with others sent
to Charlestown for an exchange of prisoners &
he was absent one or two years -- In this last ad---ed the
declarant was not ingaged  but a day or such a
matter

In answer to the interragatoris required[?] by the war department

1 declarant would state that he was born as he was 
inform[ed] by his parents in Pennsylvania but his father 
moved to Gilford County N.C. when he was 3 or 4 years of age
2 He has no record of his age
3 He was living in Gilford County when called to perform 
the several terms of service before described -- that 3 or 4 
years after the Revolution he resided in N.C. thence he 
moved & lived in Georgia, several years -- from thence to 
Kentucky & from thence he moved into Hendricks 
County Indiana where he now resides & has resided 
for the last five years
4 He was as before stated drafted to perform his first 
tour of duty. He was a volunteer as to the others 
as before described
5 The names of officers & the general 
circumstances of his services are stated within 
as near as he can now recollect. His memory 
having almost faild him as to the names of 
his early associates or with those with whom he was 
acquainted in early life for the reasons within stated
6 He rec[eive]d discharges from the 3 terms of service 
which he last as before described
7 That he has no documentary evidence of his 
services & he knows of no ---gman in the county 
or elsewhere who has any actual or traditionary knowledge

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of his services as a soldier of the revolution but
he is well acquainted with Joshua Hadley the only living
witness who has any ^actual^ knowledge of his services as a soldier
of the Revolution & also with Thomas Lockhart one
of the Judges of the Hendricks Circuit Court, & to both of whom
he is well known in his present neighborhood & who can
testify as to his character for veracity — the former can state
facts tending to show his actual service and the latter as well
as the former can testify their belief of the applicants
services as a soldier of the revolution

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present & declares that his name is
not on the pension Roll ^of the agency[?] ^ of any state or territory in
the union

David ^his mark^ Erwin

Sworn & subscribed to the day & year aforesaid 

S. T. Hadley Clerk

I Joshua Hadly hereby certify under my affirmation
that I am about seventy one years of age that I now
reside & have resided for last five years in the same
neighborhood & county with David Erwin with
whom I am well acquainted & who subscribed & swore to the
above declaration, that I believe him to be Seventy
four or five years of age — I would further state that
during the Revolution I resided in Chatham County
North Carolina & in the same neighborhood of John
Erwin brother of declarant who is spoken of
in declarants declaration & to whom I was well known
at that period & I believe I resided about 16 miles from 
the residence of declarants father in Gilford County
to whom I also was well known, but I do not recollect

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becoming personally acquainted with the declarant
during the Revolution but might have seen him
often as I distinctly recollect of being acquainted
with his brother John & the rest of the family, but one
circumstance I cannot mistake, that declarants
father & sister the summer after the battle of
Camden, visited the declarants brother John
who was opposed to the Revolution & was for some
time a Captain of a Company of disaffectd —
that the father of declarant calld at my
father's & I recollect he stated that his son David,
meaning the declarant, had been or was then
engaged as a soldier in the service of the
United States and had taken a strong stand
against the cause his son John had espoused.
I was acquainted with Captain York mentiond
by declarant — I also recollect that Capt
McClain Col Daugan & [illegible] Crabtree
were officers on the part of the U. States — I
recalled that John Erwin was taken prisoner
& sent to Charlestown & was absent one or two
years thereafter — The declarant is reputed and
believed to have been a soldier of the revolution &
of which matter I have no doubt from my
knowledge of the foregoing facts as well as his
general character as such —

Joshua Hadley

Sworn & subscribd to the day &
year first above written

S.T. Hadley Clerk

I Thomas Lockhart one of the associate Judges
of the Hendricks Circuit Court, residing in the
County of Hendricks Indiana hereby certify that
I am well acquainted with David Erwin who has
subscribd & sworn to the above declaration that I
believe him to be seventy four or five years

Page 10

of age, that he is respected and believed in the 
neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier
of the revolution & that I concur in that opinion
sworn & subscribed to the
day & year first above written. Thos Lockhart
S.T. Hadley Clerk

And the said Court do hereby
declare their opinion, after the investigation
of the matter and after putting the interrog-
atories prescribed by the War Department,
that the above named applicant was a Rev-
olutionary Soldier and served as he states.
And the Court further Certifies that it
appears to them that Joshua Hadley who
who has signed the preceding Certificate
is a resident of the County of Hendricks
and is a Creditable person. And that
Thomas Lockhart who has also signed the 
preceding Certificate is one of the Associate
Judges of the Hendricks Circuit Court
and that their Statements are entitled
to Credit.  B.F. Morris Pres[iden]t

I Simon T. Hadley Clerk of the Court of
Hendricks County do hereby Certify that
the foregoin Contains the original proceeding
of the said Court in the matter of the
Application of David Erwin for a Pension
In testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand
and seal of office this 16th
day of April A.D. 1834
S.T. Hadley Clerk

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No  9642
Lydia Erwin
mo of David
Ind
Act. 3 March 43, &
17 June 44

Page 12

State of Kentucky
County of Daviess

Personally appeared before the Undersigned
an acting Justice of the Peace in and for Said
County Lydia Eirwin, a resident of the house
of her son Robert H. Eirwin, in Said County
aged eighty one years, who being first duly
sworn, according to law, doth, on her Oath,
make the following Declaration in order
to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress
of the 17th day of June 1844 in favour of Certain
widows of Revolutionary Pensioners
That she is the widow of the late David Eirwin
who was a Soldier in the Revolutionary War from
Wilkes County Georgia and that said Eirwin
moved into Hendricks County Indiana and
in that County he made application for a pens-
ion for said Service and was pensioned at
the rate of thirty two dollars and fifty cents
per annum; and that said Eirwin and this
Declarant removed from Indiana into
Daviess County Kentucky where Said Eirwin
departed this life on the 20th day of November
1843. She further States that she was married to
the Said David Eirwin in Wilkes County Georgia
on the 18th day of January one thousand
Seven hundred and eighty Seven.
That her maiden name was Lydia Hutchinson
That Since the death of said Eirwin aforesaid
she has never married but is now his widow
Sworn to & Signed, by making
her mark before me
this February 16th 1848

Lydia ^her mark^ Eirwin

James Waltrip, J.P.

Page 13

State of Kentucky } Set
County of Daviess }

Personally appeared before the undersigned
an acting Justice of the Peace in and for
Said County Robert H. Eirwin, who being first
duly Sworn according to law, doth, on his oath
depose and Say That he is then Son of David
Eirwin and Lydia Eirwin and that he was
born in Wilkes County Georgia on the 25th day
of May one thousand Seven hundred and
ninty four and that there were two children
still older than this deponent. This Deponent
's age is recorded in his Bible.

He further States that Lydia Eirwin his
Mother, whose Declaration is on this sheet
of paper, is the identical widow of the Said
David Eirwin, who once drew a pension
and died on Daviess Co. Ky on the 20th
November 1843. And further Say not
Sworn to & Signed
before me this
February 16th 1848

Robert H ^his mark^ Eirwin

James Waltrip J.P.D.C.

I certify that I am well acquainted with
the above Deponents Lydia Eirwin and Robert
H. Eirwin that they are both persons of truth
and respectability and there statements are
entitled to full faith and credit and that
Lydia Eirwin is the reputed widow
of the late David Eirwin.

Given under my hand this February 16, 1848
James Waltrip J.P.

Page 14

State of Kentucky
County of Daviess

At a Court begun and held in Owensboro
in and for Said County on the 13th day of March
1848 the following proceeding was had to wit
"This day was exhibited in open Court the Declaration
of Lydia Eirwin for a pension, Sworn ^to^ and Signed
before James Waltrip Esquire, who is known to this
Court to have ^been^ at acting Justice of the Peace, at the date
of Subscribing Said Declaration, duly commissioned
and qualified according to law and who is at the
date hereof an acting Justice of the Peace, and
that all his Official Acts, as such, are entitled
to full faith and Credit and the foregoing
Signatures purporting to be his, are genuine."

I William B Wall Clerk of Said Court do hereby
certify that the foregoing order is truly Copied
from the records in my office.

In Testimony whereof I have
hereto affixed my Seal of Office
And Subscribed my name this
15th day Of March 1848

William B. Wall Clk
Daviess County Court.

Page 15

FAMILY RECORD.

BIRTHS.
Robert Eirwin was Born
May the 25th day 1794

Biny Eirwin was born
January the 18th day 1796

BIRTHS.
Joseph Eirwin was born
August the 28th day 1815

Rachel Eirwin was born
December the 22nd day of 1817

Ailsey Eirwin was Born
November the 16th day 1819

David Eirwin was born
January the 4th day 1821

James Eirwin was born
March the 28th day 1823

Thomas M Eirwin was
Born November the 8th day 1825

Lydia Eirwin was born
April the 25th day 1827

John Eirwin was born
April the 22 day 1829

Page 16

FAMILY RECORD.

MARRIAGES.
Robert Eirwin and his wife Biny Eirwin 
was married October the first day 1814

Joseph Eirwin and his wife Emily Eirwin 
was married November the 10 day 1839

State of Kentucky 
County of Daviess } Set

I certify that I was 
present when this 
sheet of the Family 
Record was cut out 
of the Family Bible 
the property of 
Robert H. Eirwin

James Waltrip, J.P.

Page 17

[Pen]sion on file in this Bureau. David Erwin   Ref. 3369
LENGTH OF SERVICE.; RANK.; OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN.; COLONEL; STATE
3 mos; Prt; Robert McClain;;N.C.
3 mos; Prt & Stg.; William York;;
3 mos; Prt.; York; Daugan;

Soldier was appointed one of a body of men sent to arrest his brother
John who was said to have been associated with Fanning he took him and
delivered him to his officers by whom he was sent to Charlestown with
other prisoners for exchange.

Battles engaged in, Camden
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Guilford Co. N.C.
Date of application for pension, Apr. 16, 1834. His cl was al.
Residence at date of application, Hendricks Co. Ind.
Age at date of application, Born in Penn in 1759 or 1760
Remarks Soldier married in Wilkes Co. Ga. Jan[uar]y 18, 1787 Lydia Hutchinson. She
applied for pension Feb'y 16, 1848. Her claim was not allowed. Proof of 
marriage not satisfactory.
Children: Robert b. May 25, 1794, married Biny -- Oct. 1 1814: Joseph b. Aug. 28 1815: 
Rachel b. Dec. 22, 1817: Ailsey b. Nov 16, 1819: David b. Jan[uar]y 4, 1821: James b. Mar. 27, 1823: 
Thomas M. b. Nov. 8, 1825: Lydia b. Apr. 25, 1827: John b. Apr 22, 1829. There were two children 
older than Robert whose names & ages are 
not stated.

Very respectfully, 
Commissioner.

Apr 23, 08 Mr Barnett only furnished enough of above data for tombstone

Page 18

[On back of fold] 1908 Apr 23 Hist --
John T. Barnett
Letter in S.F. 17035.

[Front fold] 3369
P.O. Lydia Erwin
[stamped] REJECTED

Page 19

[vertically written]
Nov 1, 48
Lydia Eirwin widow of
David Eirwin dead

Declaration
M.D. Hendrick

[horizontally written]
Rumsey Ky
Oct 19 48
J.L. Edwards, Esq.
Official business

Pension office
Washington City
D.C.

Page 20

Rumsey, Muhlenburg Co. Kentucky
October 18, 1848

Sir,
Enclosed I send you then Declaration of Lydia Eirwin
widow of David Eirwin, late a Pensioner of the U.S., for a pension
also the record of the age of Robert H. Eirwin, her Son, born in May 
1794 and the letter from Mr. James Wingfield Post Master in
Wilkes County Georgia Stating that the Records of the clerk's of the
date of '87 had been distroyed. Please examine & file and
answer me here touching the Same

Respectfully
Your obeidnt Serant
M.D. Hendrick

Page 21

Sept 10, 1849
Addl  endina[?]
David Eirwin

Rumsay Ky
August 8

J.L. Edwards Esq Comr. Pension
Washington City
D.C.

Official business

Page 22

Rumsey Muhlenberg Co. Kentucky
August 30th 1849

J.L. Edwards Esq

Dr. Sir,
Enclosed of send you a letter
from the Clerk of Wilkes County Georgia saying
that the persons, named, who were present at the marriage
of David Eirwin & Lydia Hutchinson, are all
dead or moved away so that the marriage aforsaid
I presume can not be proved to have been prior
to 1794. But will not the Act of 1848 granting
pensions to widows married prior to 1800 imbrace
Mrs. Lydia Eirwin's case? and will not the
register of Robert H Eirwin's age, her son, which
was sent on sometime ago, be satisfactory
evidence of said marriage before 1800?
The old lady wishes application made under the Act
1848. Please let me hear from you again
Respectfully
Yor. obt. Svt.
M.D. Hendrick

Page 23

[Envelope stamped Aug 25 Washington]
Mr. M.D. Hendrick
Evansville
Indiana

Page 24

Washington Wilkes Co Ga Aug 25th /47

Sir

I received your letter dated June
28th making inquiry in regard to a
marriage of David Irwin & Lydia
Hutchinson, which took place in
/87. I have examined the records
and find that portion of them
destroyed, consequently can get
nothing from that source. The
persons who attended the marriage
are all dead. but – it can be proven
by the neighbors that they were
married and lived as man and wife,
in a respectable manner which
our Attorneys think will be sufficient
to establish this fact. If you think
it sufficient testimony, let me
know and I will attend to it for
you

Yours, Respectfully
James Wingfield P.M.

Page 25

[Form] 3-054
MORNING REPORT, SEC.

NAMES. | REMARKS.
"Copy of letter 
of Nov 2, 1849"

21204b10m1-06     Chief of Section.

Page 26

Pension Office
Nov. 2, 1849

Sir,

The communication of G.G. Norman
clerk of Wilkes Co. N.C. transmitted
by you to this office in the case of
Lydia Erwin widow of David Erwin
affords no additional evidence of
the date of their marriage
The proof now before the office in
relation to the marriage of these
parties is not satisfactory.
The testimony of respectable
and intelligent persons who
were associated with Mrs.
Erwins children may possibly
be procured who by a comparison
of their ages may show
the existence of the relation
of husband and wife between
herself and the late pensioner
David Erwin prior to 1794.

M.D. Hendricks Esq.
Rumsey Muhlenburg Co. Ky.

Page 27

No 9642
Lydia Erwin
Ma
Let. to M.D. Hendrick
May 26. '49
Letter to M.D. Hendricks 2 Nov 1849

3369

Act 3 March 1843

Page 28

Washington July 20th 1849

Dr Sir

Yours of 12th June Wa, rec[eive]d in due time,
last week. I went to Taliaferro County for the
purpose of trying to make proof of marriage of
David Erwin & Lydia Hutchinson, the names given
by you as witnesses of the marriage have all
either died in Taliaferro or have moved off
(Taliaferro being then apart of Wilks Co) I saw
the man that Mr. Wingfield supposed the marria-
ge could be proved by. he married a Miss Erwin
a Miss of David Erwin. he says he recollects
David Erwin & wife, but that is about all,
(he was born the year they were married) I
do not think the proof can be made
at this late date.

Yours Respectfully
G.G. Norman CCo
WC