Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8558, George Giles, N.C. Va.

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George Giles
Virginia
N010886.

Admit as a private fr 7 mon p[illegible] 1780
Capt Freeman 
Col Locke NC
$23.33

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Brief in the case of George Giles of Pittsylvania County in the State of Virginia (Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 70 years
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.
In 1780 [illegible]/August 1781 [illegible] 0 Years, 4 Months, 0 Days/ 0 Years, 3 Months, 0 Days, As a Private. Gen. Caswell, COl. Locke & Buford, Capt James Freeman, Falls, Col. George  West, Capt Lane

5. In what battles was he engaged? Siege of Yorktown.

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Surry Co. North Carolina

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

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct

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

C Sitte [Little?]
Examining Clerk.

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March 11, 1938
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
AM
BA-J/EEL
George Giles-S. 8558

Mrs. James S. Jones
Chatham
Virginia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of George Giles, of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, who applied for pension in 1832.

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim S.8558, based upon the military service in that war of George Giles.

George Giles was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, date of birth and names parents not given. He moved with his father, date not given, to Surry County, North Carolina. 

He enlisted in said Surry County, in March, 1780, and served four months as a private, first in Captain James Freeman's North Carolina Company, was then transferred to Captain Gideon Falls' Company, Colonel Locke's North Carolina Regiments later in 1780, he moved to Loudoun County, Virginia and in the latter part of August, 1781, enlisted, served as a private in Captain Hardage Lane's Virginia Company, was at the siege of Yorktown and after the surrender of Cornwallis, served in Colonel George West's Virginia Regiment, guarding the British prisoners en route to Neland's Ferry on the Potomac River and was discharged the last of November, 1781.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 22, 1832, while a resident of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, aged seventy years. 

There are no data as to wife or children.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of person paid and possibly the date of death of

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Chatham. Va
Feb. 19. 1938
Seal: Received FEB 19 1938 
[illegible] 34

Pension Dept-
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir-
Will you kindly give me the full record, back family and military, of George Giles of Pittsylvania County- He made a declaration for a pension as a Revolutionary Soldier in 1832.

Yours Truly
Mrs. James S. Jones
Regent-Wm Pitt Ch- D.A.R.
Washington- D.C

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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.

+Quere XIV. Proof of Service.
IN a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same. as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 
++Quere XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
"hand" In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.