Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 21,840, John Clem, Va.

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Va.  clem, John R.21,840

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State of Tennessee
County of Jackson August Term 1832
On this 16th day of August 1832, personally appeared in open Court before Sampson Williams, Willery Pate, William Gray and William Locke Justices of this Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said county, John Clem a resident of the County of Jackson and State of Tennessee, aged seventy nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth make, on his oath, the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832. That early in the Spring in the year 1778, he enlisted in Shepherdstown State of Virginia, where he then resided with Patrick Qualey waggon master, for the term of one year, and entered the service of the United States in the Waggon Department. He marched from Shepherdstown under said Qualey in company with John McDaniel, Joseph Graham and Joseph Harper (who had also enlisted to serve in said department,) to General Rutherford, at Bullskin near Harpers ferry, where applicant and company were furnished with waggon horses, marched from thence across Harpers ferry to Hagerstown in State of Maryland, from thence to Carlisle in State of Pennsylvania, from thence to Lancaster in said State, where applicant and company were furnished with waggon gears, from thence applicant with his party under said Qualey marched to the White Horse Tavern, from thence to Valley forge in said State, where applicant and his party were furnished with waggons, from Valley forge said applicant with the rest of the company under said Qualey marched to Monmouth court house State of New Jersey, a day two after the Battle at said place, and joined the army and said applicant and the rest of his party under said Qualey were attached to Colonel Campbell's Regiment of artillery under General Knox, applicant then with the army marched to White Plains in the State of New York where they remained until time to go into Winter Quarters.

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He then with the army marched through ["through" crossed out] to Bonbrook where he, with the waggoners, left the main army & marched thence to Morristown in the State of New Jersey, from thence to Pluckamin in said State where they left the Waggons and Stores, and took the Horses with them to Wolfenbargers at the Big Spring between Shaverstown & Statestown and went into Winter quarters at said Big Spring in December 1778. But the main army went into winter quarters at Bonbrook as he thinks. He applicant remained at Big Spring until sometime in February 1779, when he obtained a furlow [furlough] to visit his father near Hagerstown State of Maryland. He returned to Big Spring about the first of June 1779 and within a few days after he said applicant received a discharge from said Patrick Qualey. After said applicant's return home whilst swimming a branch of the Potomack [Potomac] river he was thrown from his horse in the river and said discharge was distroyed [destroyed] & lost. The names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where he served are, Genl. Washington, General Muhlenburg, General Gates, and General Knox. Said applicant was born in the State of Pennsylvania about 20 miles from Philadelphia in the year 1753 in the month of July, has no record of his age. He has no documentary evidence in his possession, and knows of no person whose evidence he can procure who can testify to his service. Patrick Qualey with who applicant enlisted sometimes wrote his (applicants) name John Clem, and perhaps his name is so written on the muster roll in the war department. Probably applicant belonged to the Quarter Master's department. The name of the Quarter Master who furnished him with provisions was Colonel Musteler who resided in Statestown Pennsylvania & 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 pension roll of any agency in any State. Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  John Clem 
William Gailbreath Clerk of said Court

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And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
S Williams
Willery Pates
William Gray
William Locke

I William Gailbreath clerk of the said Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said County of Jackson, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the orginal proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Clem for a pension. And that said court is a Court of Records.
In testimnoy whereof, I have hereunto sent my hand and private seal, there being no seal of office yet provided, this 16th day of August A.D. 1832
seal
William Gailbreath

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Resolved that the papers of John Clem, claiming to be placed upon the pension list, be refered to the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions.

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(3-223.) Revy
No. 21.840, Ex'r. of Tenn
OLD WAR INVALID
John Clemm, Waggoner Colo Campbell
Va. Revy
REJECTED
Service:
Enlisted: , 18 .
Discharged: , 18 .
Application filed: , 18 .
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O. 150

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Hamber J. B. Forester
In the case of John Clem I wish you if you please to trouble the department again with it, with these suggestions -- "Waggon department" and such expressions are made by the writer of the declaration. Old Mr. Ditty states that at that time they took waggoners and artificers out of the ranks.  Sometimes the officers would ask who was willing to render particular services - drive a waggon for instance, when some one would volunteer to that services Now no doubt, Clem stated that he drove a waggon, and gave the names of many other waggoners, when the writer spoke of waggon department officer of waggon department If There were waggoners in 1778, and it is very hard that he should lose his rights because the drawer was a little too learned - The details he makes are strictly correct as old Mr. Ditty [unknown word] me, at least when he was with the army - Now to suppose that an old ignorant dutchman should make [unable to decipher word] long a detail is impossible And I could get just as many men

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as know old Mr. Clem, to swear that he has during their whole acquaintance [two crossed out words] sustained an unimpeachable character for veracity -- and that not a single doubt is entertained as to the propriety of his claim -- The poor old man is getting too much in his dotage to swear more about it, and as may be seen from the affidavits is a remarkable object of charity. It would do the department credit -- as far as old Mr. Clem is known to give him a pension
Respectfully 
your 
J.B. McCormick

[on lower half of page -- written sideways]
Memorandum as to the declaration of John Clem

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State of Tennessee [scribble line] Mary [Leferous]
Jackson County Court of plead and quarter Sessions [scribble line] 1834
This day Richard F Cook a resident citizen of said County of Jackson personally appeared in open court and made oath in due form of law that he has been intimately acquainted with John Clem who has signed and made oath to the foregoing declarations for  pension, for about fifteen years during all which time he has sustained an unimpeachable character for truth and veracity. And has also bore the character of a soldier of the revolution. He further states that he does not recollect that he ever heard his honesty or his revolutionary services doubted.
This affiant recollects to have heard his father detail many occurrences during his services in the revolution, and he has heard the said John Clem detail the same, with such perfect agreement, as to satisfy affiant that he must have been in the same service.
The said Clem is very poor, and has not only for many years past been unable to labour to any extent, but has two daughters wholly helpless and an [illegible] charge on his hands - . The section of Country in which he has for many years resided

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express a deep interest in his obtaining a pension - None have obtained pensions who are believed to be more meritorious Affiant believes that he is well acquainted with public opinion as to the character & services of the said Clem - He believes him to be of the age he represents.  Affiant further states that he is intimately acquainted with John Ditty & William Hitchcock & David Cox who live a few miles distant in White County, and believes them both entitled to full credit on oath in a court of justice [the following 3 lines of text have a line drawn through them and they are undecipherable.] Richd [Richard] T. Cooke. Sworn to in open court May 13th 1834 William Gailbreath Clerk
David Cox this day personally appeared in open court and made oath in due form of law that he is well acquainted with John Clem an applicant for pension in said County of Jackson.  He has known him for about ten years, and during his acquaintance no man has sustained a better character for honesty and truth.  He has never heard his veracity called in question, and he has often heard his services in the revolution spoken of and he has never heard them doubted.  Since his first acquaintance the said Clem has been a fit subject of charity, he has two daughters, one an invalid and the other an idiot, and he has long been unable to labour much, His condition

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has excited much sympathy, and so far as [he is scribbled out] relates to his claim to a pension, this affiant can state great solicitude is expressed, and of the many he has heard speak on this subject all say none is more deserving than he is - He believes him to be of the age he represents.  
David Cox

Sworn to and subscribed in open court May 13th 1834
William Gailbreath Clerk

And the said court consisting if William Gray, William Scanland, John Severy & [Tell Capetly] Justice of said court now presiding after examining the original declaration made by John Clem at a previous session and the proceedings thereon with the additional affidavits of Richard F Cook & David Cox made at the present Session of the court declare it as their opinion that the above named John Clem was a revolutionary Soldier and served as he states And the said Court further certify that the above named Richard F Cook & David Cox are well known to them. The former is the surveyor of said County of Jackson, and the latter is now & has for several years past been Sheriff of said County of Jackson, and they are both esteemed by said court as respectable and entitled to the most implicit confidence on oath. No clergyman can be obtained with reasonable convenience.
William Gray
Wm [William] Scanland
John Swizea
[SM Catpethy]

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State of Tennessee
Jackson County [have scribble line followed by initials LS]

I, William Galbraith clerk of the court of the court of pleas and quarters Sessions for said County of Jackson, do hereby certify that the foregoing continues the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John Clem for a pension with the proceeding before John F Cook, who [inserted faintly] was then & is still is a member of said court.
[First word undecipherable] testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of office this thirteenth day of May in the year one thousand eight hundred thirty f[covered by ribbon]
William Gailbreath Clerk

[information from spine of file]
15.552
John Clemm's of Tenn
Declaration
Waggoner Colo Campbell
for a Tennessee Pension
February 1st 1836 Ref to the Committee on Revolutionary Pension
------
June 1 1836

[There are other words that are smudged and unreadable.]

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The affidavit of David Cox need not be [illegible] as the same was subsequently taken in the county where he lives and in open court. --and is  attached to the declaration
J. B. McCormick

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State of Tennessee
White County
This day John Ditty a resident citizen of White County personally appeared
before me George Welsh one of the acting justices of the peace in and for the County of White aforesaid and made oath in due form of law that he is intimately acquainted with John Clem or Clem an applicant for pension and now a citizen of Jackson County in the State of Tennessee He states that he has known him for some ten or twelve years last past. Affiant States that the said Clem lived his neighbor in White County since his first acquaintance until about three years past when he removed a few miles distant, into Jackson County He states that during their acquaintance they have had frequent conversations about their service, which appears to have been at the same time and places. And from the detail of facts and circumstances in relation to his said Clems service he left no doubt on the mind of this affiant that they were correct. He detailed to this affiant many scenes with a degree of particularity and correctness, as known this affiant, which left no room to doubt Affiant would state in relation to the battle of Monmouth, said Clem must have stood close to this affiant, for he Clem detailed

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conversations, and things, with the utmost correctness which occurred in the hearing and view of this affiant. These conversations took place several years ago, as to the time of service this affiant cannot State Said Clem stated uniformly that he was a Waggoner and attached to General Knox’s Brigade. He Clem told of unloading his waggon of ammunition at a church or meeting h [incomplete word] This was done to the knowledge of affiant as said Clem stated. Upon the whole Affiant is well satisfied that said Clem served as a soldier of the revolution Affiant further states, that during his whole acquaintance with the said Clem he never heard his character for veracity called in question. But on the contrary he bore & still hears as far as he has [illegible] heard the character of an honest man and a man of truth, and as a man intitled to full credit on his oath in a court of justice This Affiant (John Ditty) makes oath that he is the identical same John Di [incomplete word] who is now drawing a pension from the United States for his service as a soldier of the revolution 
John + Ditty his mark 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 12th day of April 1834 
George Welsh Justice of the peace

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State of Tennessee
White County
This day William Hitchcock a citizen of the County of White aforesaid personally appeared before me George Welsh an acting justice of the peace for White County and made oath that he has been intimately acquainted with John Clem or Clem, an applicant for pension, that he lived his neighbor some ten or twelve years and until about three years since when he removed into Jackson County about eight miles distant. He states that no man as he believes in the whole county ever bore a better character for honesty and truth, and he believes him entitled to full credit on his oath in a court of Justice. He has had frequent conversations with him Clem about his services in which he uniformly related many minute circumstances which occurred during his service as a soldier of the revolution, in which statements from the character of said Clem he placed the most implicit confidence He states he has long bore the reputation of a soldier of the revolution and he concurs in that opinion. He further states that he is intimately acquainted with John Ditty who is a pensioner, and [illegible] his near neighbor. He can state both from his own acquaintance and his chatter that he is entitled to full credit on his oath in a court of Justice
William Hitchcock 
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 14th day of April 1834 
George Welsh 
Justice of the Peace

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State of Tennessee
White County

This day David Cox  personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the peace for the County of White and made oath in due  form of law that he is well acquainted with John Clem a resident citizen of the County of Jackson in the State of Tennessee and applicant for pension. He has known him for about ten years, during his acquaintance no man has sustained a better character for honest truth, he has never heard his veracity called in question, and he has often heard his services in the revolution spoken of and has never heard it doubted. From his first acquaintance, the said Clem had been a fit subject of charity he has two daughters one an idiot and another an invalid and he has long been unable to labour much. His condition
has excited more sympathy than  ["what" marked out] perhaps that of any man in the whole country, and so far as relates to his claim to a pension, this affiant would state, great solicitude is expressed, and [illegible] of the many he has heard speak of it, all say say no man is more deserving than he is
Affiant has had a favourable opportunity of know [word covered]
the public sentiment, as he has been sheriff of said County of Jackson for several years
David Cox
Sworn to before me this 16th day of April 1834
Thos [Thomas]] Eastland
Justice of the Peace

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State of Tennessee I Jacob Shane Clerk
White County of the Court of pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for the County of White aforesaid. Do hereby certify that George Welch and Thomas Eastland who attested the foregoing Affidavits as Justices of the peace, are now and was at the time of subscribing the same acting Justices of the peace in and for said County duly Commissioned and Qualified to act as such and that full faith and credit are due to all their official acts as such - I further certify that they are both members of said Court of pleas and Quarter Sessions being a Court of Record that their signatures are Genuine.
I testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Court at office the 16 day of May A.D. 1834 and of the Independence of the United States the
fifty eighth
J. A. Sane Clerk
by A. Oldham DC
of White County Court.

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John Clemm [Clem] Evidence for amin[illegible] Declaration
John Ditty I am acquainted with his statements are entitled to as much credit as any man May 27th 1834 
John B Forester 
David Cocks [Cox] is certified to in the original declaration