Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6722, Bezzant Brock, N.C.

Page 1

NC     Brock, Bezzant      S6722
Carded

Page 2

North Carolina 16.791
Bezzant Brock
of Duplin in the State of N Car
who was a pri In + Cav in the Cavalry commanded
by Captain Kenan of the - commanded
by --- in the N Car
line for 9 months -

Inscribed on the Roll of N Carolina
at the rate of 32 Dollars 50 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of Sept 33
and [illegible] P. Murphey
Taylors Bridge, N Car
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833 81.25
Semi-anl. allowance ending [illegible] 16.25 ┃
$97.07

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by [ ]Rice -
Clerk
Book 6 Vol. 6 Page 35
Order to pay 14 Sept 1838

Page 3

15820
Adml as Ri
6mo Inf 20
3. Cav -
12.50
4.11.12.13
[illegible].1.2.57
32.50
Rt. Hon Jas McKay
H R
[illegible] 11 1833
June 25 to 
same

Hon
James I. McKay
H. R.
Jeremiah Pearsall
agt
Duplin Cy.
N Carolina

Page 4

Brief in the case of Bezzant Brock
County of Duplin in the State of No. Carolina
(Act 7th June, 1832)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? [answer] In open Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? [blank]
3. How old is he? [answer] 75
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and field officers under whom he served.
[answer]
Volunteered 3 months as a private under Capt. John Whitehead
Volunteered 3 months as a private under Capt. James Butler
Volunteered does not recollect how long as a dragoon under Capt. Wm Kenan
sums up his 3 terms in all - 9 months
5. In what battles was he engaged? [answer] not any
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? [answer] Duplin Coy. No. Carolina
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, incidental evidence, or by the rolls? [answer] Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? [answer] No

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

[signed] Chas G. Wilcox Examining Clerk.
26 Jany 1833

Page 5

State of North Carolina, }
Duplin County.} ss.

On the 21 day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Honorable Robert Strange a Judge of the Superior Court of Law of the County of Duplin now sitting, Bezzant Brock of said County, who will be seventy five years of age on the 14th day of January next, who being duly sworn according to the law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obatin the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832. viz. that he volunteered in the County of Duplin an a company of militia commanded by John Whitehead. H then marched to Wilmington N.C. where he was discharged after having served in said company three months. He then volunteered in the militia a second time in the county of Duplin in a company commanded by Captain James Butler and marched again to Wilmington from thence he marched to Col James [illegible] Duplin where he was discharged after he served three months in this [illegible] service. He then volunteered in the cavalry in a company in Duplin commanded by Captain William Kenan, but how long he served in this company he does not know. He then was discharged after having served in all not less than nine months at the whole of the aforesaid times.

Page 6

Bezzant Brock Tenn
served with said applicant three months in the militia service under Capt John Whithead
that during this tour of duty there was a skirmish
near the Big Bridge in New Hanover County
between the British and Americans in which
the latter were defeated and Col Brown wounded
in the arm; that this deponent was stationed on
the opposite of the River from where the skirmish was,
that he marched from Duplin County to the Big Bridge 
thence down to Wilmington and in
the vicinity thereof and on the sound, thence
back to the Big Bridge, thence after
the skirmish there to Kingston and
was discharged in May 1781
having entered this service in
February 1781
Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforestated
Test P. Murphy
Samuel X[his mark] Goff

And the said Court hereby certify that the
foregoing proceedings in amendment of the declaration of Bezzent Brock were had in open
Court and that it appears to them that Samuel
Goff who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing
affidavit is a credible witness and that his
statement is entitled to credit and that there
is no clergyman residing in the immediate
vicinity of said applicant
G. Graham JP
Jas Lawson J. P.
Ried Miller J.P.

I James Pearsall of the Court of Pleas and
Quarter Sessions for Duplin County hereby certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in amendment of the within declaration of Bezzant Brock had in open Court at the Term aforesaid
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
affixed my seal of office and
subscribed my name this 28th
day of August 1883
Jas Pearsall Clk                    [SEAL]

Page 7

Kenan was a three months tour, having served in all nine months as a private; that there
is no clergyman residing in the vicinity of said applicant that he has no documentary evidence whatever that he thinks he can prove his service under Capt John Whitehead by Samuel Goff of said County of Duplin; but cannot prove his other services.
Answers of said Bezzant Brock to the questions
not before satisfactorily answered
1. I was born in Dobbs now Greene County N.C. 17th January 1758
2. I have no record of my age
3. No regular officers with the troops where I served
I recollect to have seen continental troops from
the North under Gen. De Coats or Burcoats,
the militia regiments I remember were Col James Kenan's and Col. Brown's and Gen Lillington's Brigade, while I was in service under Capt John Whitehead there was a skirmish at the Big Ridge in New Hanover County on the East side of the North East River in view of where I was stationed being on the West where Col Brown was wounded, and I was in a skirmish with the enemy at Lockwood's folly
in Brunswick County while in a detachment
under Major Battle during the tour I served
under Capt Whitehead

William Alfin  Samuel Goff, Jonathan
Keatty  George Kournegay, Jonathan Taylor
and many others I could mention, Edward
Catlaun  William Roberts, Daniel Keatly VC VC
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Jas  Pearsall Clk

Bezzant X[his mark] Brock

personally appeared in open court before the Court
aforesaid on the day aforesaid Samuel Goff a
resident of Duplin County in the State of North
Caroline aged seventy four years the 13th
October next who being duly sworn doth on his
oath depose & say that he is well acquainted with
Bezzent Brock the aforesaid applicant, that he
knew him during the Revolutionary war and

Page 8

I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declare that my
name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid.
Jul. Taylor, Clk. 
Bizzant  B Brock
his mark
, William Robarts, Sr. residing in
Duplin
County, State of North Carolina, and Edward Outlaw
residing in said County,
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Bezzant Brock
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy five
years of age; that he is reputed and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in
that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed, this 26 day of
September A.D. 1832
William Robert
Edwd. Outlaw
Jul. Taylor Clk.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting
the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above-named Applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them, that William
Roberts who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a resident in
County of Duplin and that Edward Outlaw
who has also
signed the same, is a resident in the
County of Duplin and is a credible person, and that
their statement is entitled to credit.
Jeremiah Pearsall
Clerk of the Court of Duplin County
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the 
application of Bezzent Brock
for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 26
day of September
A. D. 1882
Jul. Taylor, Clk. 
State of North Carolina Court of Pleas and Quarter
Duplin County
[illegible] August Term 1833
on this the 27th day of August A.D. 1833 personally appeared in open Court before Stephen
Graham, James Lawson and Richard Miller
James Worshipful Justices of the Peace now sitting & holding
the Court aforesaid Bezzent Brock the aforesaid applicant
to amend his preceding declaration who being first duly
sworn according to law doth on his oath further declare
& say that his service under Cap. John Whitehead commenced ┃
in January or February 1781; that he entered his second
tour of service under Cap. James Butler in the fall of the year
1781 and that he entered service under Cap. William
Kenan in December 1781, that his service under Cap.

Page 9

Rev War
6722

INVALID.

File No. 6722

Bezzant Brock
Priv. Rev. War
---
Act: June 7th 1832

Index: -- Vol. A, Page 44
Arrangement of 1870.}

The National Archives of the United States

Page 10

Hon Jas. L. Edwards
Commis. Pensions

Page 11

Sampson County N.C.
August 30th 1833
Sir
Enclosed is the amended declaration
of Bezzant Brock accompanied with the affidavit of Samuel Goff.
Please direct to Taylor's Bridge P.O.
Sampson County N.C.
Very Respectfully   [stamp]
Yours
Patrick Murphy


Patrick Murphy

Com. James L. Edwards
Commis. Pensions
Washington City
D.C.

Page 12

B. Brock Sen
McKay

Page 13

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Bezzant Brock
further proof or explanation.
which require
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? no
V. *Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amout of pension
he is entitled?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?  yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?  yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?  yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal? Yes

Page 14


2
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
No supplied
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  no
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? no
XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under
his seal of office?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? 1, 2, 5, 7
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection
he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: For year
months and --
days, I served as a
For months
and days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."

Page 15

3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he
must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits
the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as
the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature
of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.