Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,790, Ransom Day, Va

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Service V.A. Day, Ransom Catharine B. Number R2790 Contents

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29811
Ransom Day
In: June 1832
Out 7, July 38

2790

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Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7, 1832. State of Tennessee 1844 Claibourne county. } ss   On this 12th day of March 1844  personally appeared before George H. Check acting justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid Ransom Day a resident of the state and county aforesaid. aged eighty four years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of congress passed June 7 1832.    
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.   He was first draughted [drafted] a private for three months to guard the prisoners that were taken at the surrender of Genl Burgoyne and was marched from Goochland County Virginia where he then resided to the barrack in Albemarle County Va. Shortly after he served this tour he removed from Goochland to Halifax County Virginia where he was again drafted a private for eighteen months it was in the month of August 1780 they immediately marched in to Hillsborough N.C.  my captains name was Joshua Powell. But when we joined the troops at Hillsborough my captain returned home and I was attached to Captain Thomas Boyers Company  the major of our regiment was named Murphy and  Col Bluford had the command of the whole troop at that time. We marched from Hillsborough to Salisbury where we encamped from some time and Genl Green took the command  from there we marched into Virginia to Hallifax County and all this time Lord Cornwallis was pursuing of us with a considerable British army. When we had reached Hallifax Va Cornwallis turned Back toward North Carolina again and Gen. Green reinforced then pursued Cornwallis into NC again.

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and to a place called Guildford Courthouse where they had a considerable engagement it lasted about 3 or four hours and began in the morning, the British kept the field and we retreated about three miles and encamped for the night   this was on the 15th day of March 1787. Cornwallis then retreated and for want of provisions the Americans had to desert from pursuing him   
We then marched into South Carolina and besieged a place called Ninety Six   we were there for four or five weeks when Green raised the siege and went off while there the Lieutenant of our own company was wounded his name was Seldon   he was wounded in an attempt to remove some bags of sand the enemy had placed on the breast work to prevent our artillery from injuring the workers. This occurred sometime in this summer of 1787 but I cannot tell in what month    
Sometime after we left Ninety Six Captain Smith of Maryland of the line got leave to raise a Volunteer Company to go down the country a place to take a fort of British and Tories. I volunteered to go with him with about 150 more men   we went and took the fort and called it Fort Thompson and after we had taken the place an explosion of some gun powder took place which burned me and two other men almost to death we were unable to travel and lay there a long time and when Captain Smith with his company went to return to the main army he left is there with a well man to wait on us with orders that if we got well enough for us to return home as our term of service would be out which we did. I was in service this time a few days over 18 months. He hereby relinquishes every claim except the present whatever to a pension and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any states

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That he has no documentary evidence where by he can prove his service and know of no person who can prove it. He further states that some years since he employed one James B. Robinson to get his pension for him and said Robinson said it was not necessary to tell about his getting powder burned and some other minor transactions - and that Robinson left the country shortly after he had sent his papers on the service time and that he is unable to attend to business - that likely this old age and consequent loss of memory has made him commit errors in this declaration but if so they are unintentionally made sworn and subscribed this twelfth day of March 1844 before me   Geo. H. Check Justice of the peace 
his Ransom Day mark x   
Interogatories propounded by the justice,   Q Where and in what year were you born?  A I was born in Louisa County state of Va on the 15th day of January 1760;   Q Have you any record of your age if so, where is it ?   A I left it in Virginia at my father's and it got destroyed   Q Where were you living when called into service? Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live?   A I lived in Goochland first then in Hallifax Va. Since the War I have lived in Claibourne county for 38 years   Q How was you called into service A I draughted (drafted) first tour for 3 months second tour for eighteen months   State the name of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troops where you served and the general in circumstances of your service.

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State of Tennessee Claibourne County ss   I George H. Check an acting justice of the peace for the county aforesaid do certify that Ransom Day who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing declaration is an old infirm man and unable to appear before the court of the county without great inconvenience to him and danger of his life. I further certify that Samuel McBerwiks has sworn and subscribed the foregoing affidavit is a Clergyman and John Bartlett has sworn and subscribed the same. Both perceive of unquestionable veracity and truth.    Given under my hand and seal this 12th day of March 1844 Geo. H. Check Justice of the Peace State of Tennessee Claibourne County I do certify that upon hearing and examining the foregoing declarant I believe he served as above stated in the Revolutionary War. Given under my hand and seal this 12th day of March 1844. Geo. H. Check Justice of the Peace

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State of Tennessee I Willy Whitaker Clerk of the County Court of Claiborne County Certify that George H Clark who by my Deputy Benjamin F [unreadable] do certify that George H. Check who signature appears to the within Certificate is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace for said County duly elected commissioned and qualified as such, and that his signature appears to be in his own handing  Given under my hand and Seal office a in Tazwell this 12th day of March 1844 Willy Whitaker Clerk first by his Deputy Benjamin F. [unreadable]

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James L Edwards Esqr
Commander of Pensions
Washington City DC

Thorn Hill
Oct 26th

Nov 6 44
Om. 
Lem. 
[illegible] 
Ransom Day

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Thom Hill JP     free
Oct 26th }   November 4th  GM Tenn [unreadable]] Ransom Day
James L. Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D. C.

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October the 26th, 1844 
Sir    
Enclosed is the affidavit of David Huddleston respecting the service of Ransom Day. I have retained it for some time thinking that I could procure more proof but all the men that he knew where they lived and thought he could make proof by are dead  -   If hearsay evidence would do he could prove that by Mr. Tate while living said diverse times he knew Day well in the army but Tate is dead and Mr. Day knows of no living person by whom he can prove more than he has by Huddleston.    
The reason he has not attended closer to prosecuting his claim is because he has for many years been unable to attend to any business being confined to his house with palsy   he says he has often spoke to Lawyers to attend to it for him since Judge Robinson left the country.  That General John Cocke promised he would get it for him and he kept waiting for him to fix his papers but he often promised but never done it- that he kept wait on him and that is the reason of the delay.    
Respectfully your humble  Jas K McAnally
J. L. Edwards, Esquire

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Thom Hill
Nov 12th
Nov. 20, 1844
[illegible] 
Ransom Day
J. L. Edwards 
Commander of Pensions
Washington City DC

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Thom Hill Esq
Nov 12th }
J. L. Edwards
Comm of Pensions
Washington City D. C. 
F. Price
Nov 20, 1844 
Added
Ransom Day 
M

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November 10th, 1844
Sir
Enclosed you will find the affidavit of Chapman Poindexter proving the service of Ransom Day- since I sent on the evidence of David Huddleston Mr. Day has found out that Chapman Poindexter is alive who served with him in the Revolutionary War and if the proof is sufficient, you will please send me his certificate to Thorn Hill Tennessee and oblige. your humble servant.
James K. McAnally 
J. L. Edwards Esq
NB I did not know of Poindexter when I sent Huddleston's affidavit of 26 Nov 
J. K. McAnally

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2790
Ransom Day

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Ransom Day
[illegible] 1832
[illegible] 
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

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Widow applications, or papers, not found in this case when opened by me. Everything searched. 
L. H. July 20. 1911.

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Letter to Hon. N. J. Senter 
2. May 1844
Let to same Dec 20th 1844
GW Talbott Mch 1,1834
[illegible] 17/58
1832

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State of Tennessee                   Claibourne County
Personally appeared before me James F. Hooper an acting justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid David Huddleston a resident of said county aged 77 years who being first duty sworn according to Law says he is well acquainted with Ransom Day of the county aforesaid and has been for many years that he knew him in Virginia in time of the Revolutionary War and recollects perfectly well that he was drafted and went into service for an 18 month tour to Carolina that he was gone for a long time and when he returned it was the common report in the country that he had served out his tour. He cannot tell precisely how long he was gone but thinks it was about two years. 
Sworn and subscribed
this 1st day of August
1844 Before me 
James F. Hooper
Justice of the peace in and for CC

his
David Huddleston
mark

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State of Tennessee
Claibourne County 
I James F. Hooper acting Justice of the peace for said county do certify that David Huddleston who has sworn and subscribed the foregoing affidavit is a person of unquestionable Veracity and Credit [illegible] to be given to his testimony. Given under my hand and seal this [illegible] day of August 1844.
James F. Hooper
Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee 
Claibourne County 
I Thomas J Johnson, clerk of the county court of the county and state aforesaid do certify that James F. Hooper Esqr whose name appears to the foregoing affidavit is and was at the time of signing the same a Justice of the peace in and for said county and that his signature appears to be genuine. 
Given under my hand and seal of Office at Office in [illegible]. 
This [illegible] day of August A. D. 1844
Thos. J. Johnson

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State of Tennessee       Hawkins County }ss
I Elisha Dodson and acting Justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid do certify that I am well aquainted with Chapman Poindexter and has been for many years that he is a man of truth and Veracity and that full faith and credit should given to his evidence. 
Given under my hand and seal this 29th day of Oct AD 1844
Elisha Dodson
Justice of the Peace for Hawkins County 

State of Tennessee 
Hawkins County
I, Robert Johnson Clerk of the County Count of said County do certify that Elisha Dodson Esq whose named appears to the foregoing certificate is now and ever at the time of signing the same and acting Justice of Peace for said County.  And that the signature purporting to be his genuine
Witness my hand and seal of Office at office in Rogersville this 4th day of November 1844
   R Johnson Clerk
by J M Howe Court Clerk

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State of Tennessee Hawkins County } ss Personally appeared before me Elisha Dodson an acting Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid Chapman Poindexter a resident of the County aforesaid and a Revolutionary Pensioner and made oath that he is well acquainted with Ransom Day now of Claiborne County Tennessee and an applicant for a pension  -- and that he was drafted in a Halifax County Va some time in the year 1780 for 18 months and served out his time in South and North Carolina was at the Battle at Guilford Court house and also at the siege of ninety six he served out his time and was honorably discharged some time in the year 1781 or 1782  and that he knew him before he went into the service and since he left that State  Chapman Poindexter his mark  Sworn and subscribed this 29th day of October AD 1844 Before me Elisha Dodson Justice of the peace for Hankins County

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House Rept [House of Representatives]  April 20 1844    
J. L. Edwards     
Sir I must ask you to refer to the papers & letter heretofore furnished you for your action and answer, as the Claims for your consideration and also the claims enquired for were all sent to the department some weeks ago I have honor be yours in haste W. T. Lester

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House Rept [House of Representatives]  March 22 1844 
J. L. Edwards   
Sir Enclosed you find a Claim for a pension with some enquiry as to what has been done in the Case Joshua Davis whose papers are in your office, also the claim of Jane Trent and Jane Cantwell, any information you may give me will be gratefuly received 
Yours-  W. T. Lester

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Tazewell, Tenn   30th  June, 1858. 
Comm of Pensions 
Dear Sir   
Sent to the department some time in the month of April 58. Additional proof in support Widow of of the claim of Mrs. Catharine B. Day, Widow of Ransom Day, deceased for Pension due Five years from the date of her last draw - But having received no reply, and unable to say to the applicant, what result her claim is likely to have  - 
You will please inform me whether the proof has reached you or not -  and whether or not, any examination of the claim has been had upon the proof filed in the case   
Respectfully [unreadable]
Wm. G. Payne