Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 2,361, William Couch, S.C.

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Service
S.C. | Couch, William | Number R.2,361

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State of South Carolina
Greenville District | On this 24th day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred & Thirty Six personally appeared in open Court before the Judge of the Court of ordinary for Greenville district now sitting William Couch a resident of the Greenville district in the State of South Carolina aged seventy eight years who being first duly
sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - He was living in Spartanburgh District South Carolina when he entered the service of his country - He first
volunteered under Captain George Roebuck & Lieutenant Peter Brooks in a regiment of militia commanded by Colonel Benjamin Roebuck - He cannot from loss of memory & extreme old age be positive as to the year, but thinks it was in the Spring of the year 1780. This Regiment was called out to fight the Tories & patrol the county & protect its inhabitants from their depredations. The Regiment marched through Laurens, New berry & down to the waters of the Edistoe in search of Cunningham & his Tory forces who were doing great mischief - They remained there some time & returned to the upper Country & was at the battle of Blackstocks and also in a skirmish with the British at Musgrove Mills. His term of six months for which he volunteered expired & he returned home - In this tour he served six months as a private in the militia as above stated & claims a pension for such services

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The second tour he again volunteered under the command of Captain Peter Brooks, Major John Ford & Colonel Benjamin Roebuck, in the Militia of South Carolina as a private. He volunteered for six months - This tour was performed in the year 1781 & recollects that his term of service expired at the siege of "Ninety
Six". He was marched into the midle country & there fell under the command of General Pickens - He was in a little skirmish with the Tories on Little River - thence he marched under the command of General Pickens towards "Ninety Six", waiting for General Greene from the north - on the arrival of Greene the British Fort at Ninety Six was besieged & before the siege was abandoned his term of six months expired & he enlisted in
the regular army - In the tour above stated he
served six months as a private in the militia as above stated & for such service claims a pension.
After the expiration of his term of six months at the siege of Ninety Six he immediately enlisted in the regular army under the command of Captain James Meadows. He enlisted during the war - does not recollect the name of the Regiment to which be belonged. He was marched after the siege of Ninety Six down the country & continued with Greene until his discharge near Charleston - He was in the battle of Eutaw Springs & severely wounded in the thigh in this battle by a bayonet - was twice pierced by a bayonet - In this battle the saw Colonel Washington taken a prisoner & assisted in his rescue. From the battle of Eutaw Springs

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he marched to Monks Corner & remained in that part of the country till the news of the evacuation of Charleston - He was then discharged - When he enlisted he was placed in a company of Grenadiers & remained in the said company until discharged - The exact time he served after his enlistment he does not recollect - He thinks ten or twelve months - He is sure it was not less than ten months & for such services he claims a pension - [part of sentence illegible] off any continental regiments & regular officers except those already mentioned - He has no documentary evidence of his services - and he knows of no one whose testimony he can procure as to his services at present - being poor & helpless & without relations with him, or any where able to assist him.

1st He was born in Hillsborough North Carolina
and believes in the year 1758 - 2nd Has no record of his age - 3 He was living in Spartanburgh district South Carolina when called into service & has lived in South Carolina ever since - 4th He volunteered twice & enlisted once - 5th He does not recollect any further about the names of the regular officers & continental regiments than already stated - 6th He received a written discharge at the close of the war from the Brigade Inspector as he thinks but it has been lost long since. 7th He is known in his present neighborhood to [illegible] Dill & A Dicky [illegible] & others who will testify as to his character for veracity & their belief in his
services as a soldier of the revolution. 

In all he alleges to have served three tours - two for six months each in

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the militia - and one for not less than ten months in the regular army under General Greene - making one year & ten months as a private & for such services he claims a Pension
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any state
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Jno Watson judge Court of ordinary
William Crouch his mark

We M M Wallace a Clergyman residing in the District of Greenville and Runnells Dill residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Couch whom has subscribed & sworn the above Declaration that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion - Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Jno. Watson judge court of ordinary
M. M. Wallace
Runnells Dill

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states - And the court further certifies that it appears to them that M M Wallace - who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resi-

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resident in the District of Greenville and that Runnells Dill who has also signed the same is a resident in Greenville district and is a credible person & that their statement is entitled to credit
Jno Watson judge of the court of ordinary

I William Blasingame Clerk of the court of Greenville district do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Couch for a pension & In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this twenty fifth day of April in the year of our Lord 1836
W. Blasingame
Clerk of Greenville District

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Wm Couch 33627
So Ca

B F Perry
Greenville SoCa

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William Couch
South Carolina
Suspended see
Let. B F Perry Esq
May 5 1836
Same Oct 1 1836

2361
Act 7 June 32

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2361
William Couch
[stamp] REJECTED

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[stamp]GREENVILLE S.C. SEP 21
Free
J. L. Edwards Esqr
War Department
Washington City
D. C. 

[left side]
Sept 30
S.C.

[bottom] Wm. Couch file

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Wm Couch 
file

[upside down]
Free
Edwards Esqr
War Department
Washington City
D.C.

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Greenville S.C.
Sept 20th 1836

Dr Sir
I enclose you the affidavits of Charles Campbell & William [illegible] asto the services of William Couch in the militia & regular army during the Revolutionary War - Mr Couch never received any compensation for his services from the state of South Carolina & of course there is no record of them in the comptrollers office -
Yours R
B F Perry

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South Carolina
Greenville District } Personally cane before me the subscribing Justice Charles Campbell who being duly sworn deposeth & saith that he was well acquainted with William Couch during the Revolutionary War & that he is the same William Couch who has applied for a Pension under the Act 1832 from Greenville District South Carolina - That he said William Couch did serve a considerable time in the militia of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War, but this deponent does not know how long - That the said William Couch enlisted in the Regular Army of the U States at the Siege of "Ninety Six" & that he continued in the said Army untill the close of the war as this deponent believes & has always understood. This deponent was at the Siege of "Ninety Six" & present when said Couch enlisted he knows that the said Couch went off with the American Army & he knows that he return home towards the close of the war - But this deponent did not serve with said Couch, nor can he swear positively as to the length of said Couchs Services but it must have been not less than twelve months.
This deponent believes that the said William Couch was a true friend to his country & active in her service during the Revolutionary War - Sworn to & subscribed this July 17th 1836 -
Wm Lynch JP
Charles Campbell his mark

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I certify that the within affidavit was taken before me, that I am well acquainted with Charles Campbell who has sworn to and subscribed the within affidavit that he is an honest & credible witness and his affidavit entitled to full faith & credit 
Given under my hand - this July 17th 1836 - 
Wm Lynch JQ

South Carolina
Greenville District} I William Blasingame clerk of the court of Greenville District do hereby certify that William Lynch is an acting Justice of the peace in and for Greenville district & that the above signature purporting to be his genuine & that full faith & credit are due to his acts & doings as such - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office 
This August 1st 1836
W. Blasingame
C. P.

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South Carolina
Spartanburg District } personally came before me the subscribing Justice Wm [illegible] who being duely sworn deposeth and saith that he was well acquainted with Wm Couch during the Revolutionary War & that he is the same Wm Couch who has applied for a pension under the Act of 1832 from Greenville District South Carolina that the said Wm. Couch did serve a considerable time in the Militia of South Carolina during the Revolutionary War but this deponent does not know how long that the said Wm Couch enlisted in the Regular Service of U States at the siege of Ninety Six and that he continued in the said Army untill the Surrender of the Seneca Fort, he aterwards was in the Army but how long he cannot say but he knows he returned home towards the close of the War this deponent did not serve with said Couch after he left the Seneca Fort, but thinks he Served with him more than twelve months before the Surrender of the said Seneca Fort This deponent believes that the said Wm. Couch was a true friend to his country & active in the service during the Revolutionary War - Sworn to and subscribed this 5th day of September 1836
Joel Dean JQ
Wm [illegible] his mark

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I certify that the within affidavit was taken before me that I am well acquainted with Wm [illegible] who has sworn and subscribed to the within affidavit that he is an honest man & Credible Witness & his affidavit intitled to full faith & Credit Given under my hand this 5th day of May 1836 -
Joel Dean JQ

South Carolina
Spartanburgh District } I Joshua Tapp Clerk of the Court of Spartanburgh District do hereby certify that Joel Dean, before whom the above affidavit was made, is an acting Justice of the Peace, and was it the time the affidavit was made, in & for the district of Spartanburgh and that the above signature purporting to be his is genuine, and that full faith and credit are due his acts as such - In testimony thereof I have set my hand & affixed my seal of office - This 19th day of September 1836
J. Tapp Clerk of the court for Spartanburgh District