Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 3,327, Peter Elmore, N.C.

Page 1

(3—1776)

SERVICE
N.C.

Elmore, Peter

NUMBER
R. 3,327

Born in Va
Contents

Page 2

Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832
State of Kentucky  County of Calloway US
On this 13th day of September 1834 personally appeared Peter Elmore a resident
of the aforesaid State and County aged eighty seven years, before me Stephen
Jones an acting justice of the province and for said County of Callaway and
State of Kentucky who being first duly sworn according to law doth are his
oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of
provision made by the act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832. That he entered
the army of the United States [inserted: as a private drafted soldier] in the County of Orange and state of North Carolina
under Col Campbell, in the Company of Captain John Griffith, who started
with us to the North to oppose the British and marched into the County of Macklingburg
in the State of Virginia, where we were halted and remained about two weekes,
on a creek by the name of Swift Creek (called by some Allens Creek) that there
he together with [sd] regiment was marched back in consequence of having
understood that the British army had sailed round to Charlestown South Carolina
and remained about two weeks in Orange County in North Carolina, that
he was there pressd or orderd to work in a black smiths shop on quaker
Creek about two miles from Hillsboro, where he continued to work for the
United States army with another Smith by the name of James Roaney for
the term of six months there being no officer to discharge us and the
press for work in the Shop great, that he then marched under the
order of general John Butler about fifteen miles and joinrf the regiment
Commanded by Col Long who had encamped on a creek that unties into
deep river. that they then marched down into Cumberland County and encamped on upper little river, where they remained nearly a month
in which time they took a considerable number of the tories and sent

Page 3

them off, that he then marched with said last named regiment as he then
understood, to subdue the Tories in the Scotch settlement in Duplin County in the
State of North Carolina, as they understood that the Scotch had all turnd out
to join the British as soon as the British should arive at Wilmington where they
were then expected to march from South Carolina, that he with said last named
regiment, met the Scotch Tories above aluded to on the North East river and
an engagement or battle took place in which we killed one of the Tory officers by the
name of Mc Claud, while he was ordering and aiding the Tories to raise the bridge
to prevent our crossing the river in persuit of them, which they effected and no
further fighting took place on that day but we pursued them up the river and
attacked them again the next day and fought a battle in which we took
more than one hundred prisoners, and Gil Parsons, Col Jones & Col Davey joind
us, we then marched down to Johnson Courthouse and were discharged by Col Long
except the officers of the Tory prisoners and they as I understood were sent to
Philadelphia, but the precise dates at which he so joined the army to march,
to the north, to work in the shop, or against the Tories he cannot at this
time recollect but he is certain that he continued under the three
engagement more than nine months but having given up his discharge
above aluded to, into the hands of General Makin to try and get pay for my service
I have no documentary evidence nor do I now know of any living witness
by whom I can prove them, that more than a year after he had performed the
services above aluded to he joined the army under Col Oneal, in the
company of Capt Fitch as a volunteer we joined the regiment at Hillsboro Orange
County North Carolina, and marched to Randolph County after the Tories, and from
Randolph we marched to the Scotch settlements in Cumberland County and then he
states that he and one Ransom Southerland were taken prisoners by the Tories and locked
up all night at Fayetteville, but on the next day when the regiment came in
sight the Tories all ran off and he and Southerland joined their Regiment again

Page 4

that he then marched with said regiment across Cape fair, or Haw River into
Dobbs County then up a river to a place called Newhope, and the crossing of the
road from Newburn to Hillsboro, and there to Hillsboro when he together with
whole regiment were discharged by the verbal order of Col Oneal, that the
Battalion to which he belonged was commanded by Mjor McCalley that
be continued in service under this engagement as a volunteer
two months and four days but cannot say at what precise time he
enterd into or when he was discharged and has no documentary or living
testimony that he knows of by which he can prove services.
1 Where and in what year were you born
I was born as from informed and believe, in Lunenburg County in the state of
Virginia on the 1st of August 1747
2
Have you any record of your age and if so where is it
I have no record of my age at this time, but my age was recorded in my
fathers Bible and I have a recollection of it from having so many
repeated conversation about from my childhood up to this time.
3
where were you living when called into the service where have you lived
since, and where do you now live
I was living during the revolutionary war in Orange County in
State of North Carolina from which place I was called into each of the above
times of service, I moved from that place to Jefferson County Tennessee, and from
that place to Calloway County, Kentucky where I now live
4 How were you called into the service, were you drafted did you volunteer or
were you substituted.
I was drafted or bulleted for the first six months part of which time I served
under Col Campbell, and part of which time in the blacksmith shop and was
retained three months longer by order of General John Butler, and served it out
in the regiment of Col Long. I volunteered for the other two month and four days

Page 5


5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops
when you served
Col Robert Mabin, Col Wm Washington, Col Lee, and Col Morgan
6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so who was it
given by and what has become of it
I got a discharge from Col. Long but give it to General Maben
after the close of the war to try and get pay for my services but what became
of it afterwards I know not for the last two months and four days I was
dismissed by verbal order
7 State the names of some of your acquaintances in your present
neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity and there
belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution.
The Reverend Samuel Peter and Barnett Wells Esqr, are very respectable persons
of my present neighborhood with whom I am acquainted and will testify.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity
except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pensions
roll of any agency in any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aford.
his
Peter x Elmore
mark
We Samuel Peter a clergyman and Barnett Wells both of us residing
in the County of Callaway and State of Kentucky hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with Peter Elmore who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration
that we believe him to be eighty seven years of age, that he is respected and believed
in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution
and that we concur in that opinion

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Samuel Peter 
B. Wells
And I Stephen Jones a Justice of the peace as aforesaid do
hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter
and after puting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department

Page 6


that the above named Peter Elmore was a revolutionary solder
and served as he states, and that is further my opinion that
from extreme old age of eighty seven years and from the
known fact that he is not able to travel without assistance
that he is from bodily infirmity unable to attend court, and
further that it appears to me that Samuel Peter who has signed
the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the
County of Callaway and State of Kentucky and that Barnett
Wells Esqr who has signed the same is a resident of the sd
County of Callaway and State of Kentucky and is a credible person
and that their statement is entitled to credit
Stephen Jones J P
Personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace
for Callaway County Kentucky, Peter Elmore 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 period mentioned below and in the following grade, for
eleven months and four days I served as a private in the United States
during the revolutionary war in the field, and in the blacksmith shop during which time he was not imployed in any civil pursuit, for which he claims a pension and [his]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Peter x Elmore
 his mark
Stephen Jones
State of Kentucky Calloway County Ss 
I Jeremiah C Wilkins, Clerk of the
Calloway County Court do certify that Stephen Jones who has given the two
foregoing certificates, is and was at the time of signing the same an
acting Justice of the peace for a County, that the two foregoing
signatures purporting to be his, are genuine, and that full faith

Page 7


and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
name and affixed the seal of office this
day of September 1834
J C Wilkins Clk. C. C.
By E H Curd DC
-
31.444
Peter Elmore
Kentucky

Page 8

Waidsboro Ky
17
Sept.
10.
James L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Page 9

Waidsboro Ky 16th Septr 1834
James L Edwards commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
Enclosed I send you the amended declaration
of Peter Elmore and the evidence of his services as a soldier
of the revolutionary war he is an extremely feble old man
infirm and tottering, shortly to go to his last home, there can be
no doubt of his revolutionary services, and it is equally certain

that he cannot live long to need his pension and
is at this time in great want of it, Pleas let me hear
from you on the subject as soon as may be convenient
and oblige yours very respectfully
D Rowlett

Page 10

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1879.
3327
REJECTED-
Peter Elmore
Service:
Enlisted:__, 18
Discharged: __,18
Application filed: __,18
?e-enlisted: ___
Attorney: ___
O. ___
___ Recognized. ___ Contract
___ Cert. of Dis. Searched for ___, 18

Page 11

Rejected, did not serve six months in a military capacity see letter 30 Sept 36
Atts Ramlet, Windborn

Page 12

31.444
Peter Elmore
Kentucky

3327

Page 13


WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office,
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. the notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.
Period when the
A Statement, shewing the Service of
Rank of
the
claimant.
Names and rank of the Field
ficers under whom he served.
of -
Age at present,
and place of abode
when he entered
the service.
---
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servants
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commisson of Pensions

Page 14


2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular
places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general
classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1.
The Regular Troops.
2.
The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of
On this
day of
A. B. a resident (b) of
personally appeared (a) before
in the county of
and State, Territory or District
of
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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)
and
---
served in the
(e) regiment of the
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named appli
a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
& c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
and C. D. residing in (the same)
who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)
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 A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,
Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this
day of
& c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission
; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Download

Prev
14
of 15

Next

Show Details
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

Access: Unrestricted

Page 15

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted
; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected
. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war
, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia
Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
To a Soldier
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it givan
officer. (
en, and what has become of it?
Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure
, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
tal. The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will fol-
The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
The age of the claim:
ant must invariably be mentioned.
The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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 amount of pension he is entitled. 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 affidavi
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
-- Furmonths
and --- days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."
man 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 four months,
de son indefinite
site, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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.
The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
The opinion of the Court is always required.
The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no 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.
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 papers 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.
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 claimant's 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 of
al character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule is
note applies to continental troops only.
must state the
the fact.
The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration