Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30760, Stephen Underdown, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
St. L.
Underdown, Stephen S. 30760
CONTENTS

22. 210
Kentucky
Stephen Underwood of Shelby in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the Com by Captain Moore of the regt command by Col Moore in the Kentucky line for 10 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of $3 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Oct 1833 and William Over Columbia
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 83.32 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4 March 16.66 $99.98
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 20
See letters May 16 1834 to Mr Owens & Brant.
Let. 27 April 1837 W. L. Underwood.

Stephens Underdown Application for a Pension
21018

State of Kentucky, Rufus Canfield Court - State Bureau of Pensions On this 29 th day of October 1832 personally appeared in Open Court before the Honorable John L. Bridges Sole Judge of said Court now taking the following undivided a declaration of the loyalty of Rufus State of Kentucky aged 77 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the follow- ing declaration in order to obtain the bene- fit of the act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832 that he is now the owner of the united states in the County of Caldwell in the State of North Carolina as an inherited interest in the month of September 1795 for six months under Capt. Alfred Moore, Lieut. J. Thompson Ensign Moore he was marched to Hillsborough where he remained a few days, then was mar- ched to Cross Creek where he remained a short time and then marched to Wilmington where he took the Walter Company joined then after staying there a few days he was marched to a place then called Barnets Creek where they built Bar- nacks and remained there several months under the command of Col. Moore to whom Regiment he was attached at his arrival at Barnets Creek - While there he was at different times scouting about after the British and Loyalists, he was marched on from Barnets Creek to Brunswick from there to Fort Johnston and other

places in which he was. In general these some time was finally reached with the Wilmington where he was honorably discharged by the Col. P. having served the full term of his enlistment. The term for which he enlisted and interest. I have stated that he has lost the discharge but was not known how where or when unless he was taken from him by the P. P. P. he was afterwards plundered and he says they got it together with some other papers he was soon after his return home married and moved to Reithsburg County and was therefor three months. Then being in the Capt. Venzant Company his wife at that time was in a situation which would not justify his leaving her and in obedience to the law and consent of his officers he hired Daniel Singleton as a substitute to whom he paid forty Pounds which said Dick White issued out the full term of three months and as he informed me procured a discharge for this applicant but whether ever recd it from him or not does not recollect but if he even recd it the same is lost. This he states was in the year 1778 after this time by a rule adopted by the officers the militia was relieved and called out for short periods to guard a fort called Earle's Fort and under this regulation he was called out for short periods and served

at dawn. I was under different officers the previous and during terms he does not recall but feels confident in the way he served more than one month for the last mentioned service he took the written discharge but at each and every call faithfully served until the full term of the call and never left there without permission
he again in the month of April 1782 was drafted for three months still remaining in Captain Morgan's Company and was again attached to the Col. Early's Battalion was under the command of Genl. Landon John Anderson but under the command of placed there being no Col. and under Colonel Anderson he was kept scouting and guarding the fort and neighbour- hood for the full term and by him Honorablely discharged which discharge is herewith presented bearing date the 15th day of July 1782 he has no other documentary evidence of his services but the above discharge nor is there any person he can procure or whose testimony he can procure to testify to his service he states that he was born in the State of Virginia Caroline County on the 9th day of June 1755 according to the register furnished him in early life which he believes

Connecticut which he now has at home he states that he remained in that County untill he was 78 years of age when he moved to North Carolina first making a short stay in Greene Co. County and then removing on to Caswell where he lived as before stated untill he moved to Randleford. From Randleford after the close of the war he moved back to Caswell where he remained seven years and moved from there to Pungo County North Carol ina where he remained until the year 1825 when he moved to and settled where he now lives in Shelby Tennessee his every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present one and he declares his name is not on the Pension roll of any agency and is not sworn to and subscribed to as and for
Stephen S. Doolittle
we James Browder a clergyman residing in Rafael County and William Bradshaw residing in Griffin County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen under whose name has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe to be 77 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 to and subscribed to the present year of
James Browder
William Bradshaw
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinions after the investigation of the matter & after putting the interrogatories presented 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 James Browder who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the

said County of Russell and that William Brad Shaw who has also signed the same is a resi- dent in the County of Adair and is a credi- ble person and that their statement is entitled to credit. John L. Price, Circuit Judge
I Bryan G. Ourley Clerk of the Russell Circuit Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Underdown for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 7th of November A. D. 1832
Bryan G. Ourley Clerk 3

No 21018 Stephen Wadsworth Raper Co Kentucky
from 1775 private 10 months $33 \frac{33}{100}
Can only allow for the time stated in 1 st declaration.
25 88 50 44 75 11
William Owens Columbia Kent

BRIEF in the case of  Stephen Underdown  County of Russell in the State of Kentucky  (Act 7th June, 1839.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 77.  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.   Years, Months, Days. As a Genl     Enlisted In 1775 Sept 6 Private Capt Moore Col Moore   Drafted but did not substitute 3 " " Virginians   Draft 1788 More than 1 - " " Col Earles   Draft 1782 ap 3  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Caswell Co NC.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The papers not connected as the regulations require. 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Dyer Castor Examining Clerk.

Ref INV LIB.
No. 80,760
Stephen Henderson Rev Rev
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 128
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Stephen Underdown which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? V. * Has he mentioned 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? Re VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. † Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 affidavit in the following words: "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 _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

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 shewn 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

Pension Bureau
Mr. [unclear] New Bedford
James L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

Bowling Green March 17 th
1837
Sir
I enclose you - Stephen M c Donoughs application for an increase of pension on account of Revolutionary service rendered by him in the North Carolina Regular Line - It will be observed that he has pursued the form prescribed for the Soldiers in the Militia service - It is presumed that in as much as greater formality has been observed in so doing, his claim will not be prejudiced thereby - He has not however introduced the Notary as prescribed by the form for the Militia - It being believed that in as much as the Records on file in the War Office would afford evidence of his services, such proof would be unnecessary & was not required Very respectfully Yr obt serv
W m L e Alexander
To the Commissioner of Pensions

...released me for ever. I will claim and sue for present, do for me, my heirs executors, and administrators. I hereby release, and forever quit, claim, with friends, of Henry County planter, his heirs executors, and administrators, all and all manner of actions, causes, and rights of actions, suits, bills, bonds, leases, obligations, torts, debts, accounts, accounts, sum and sum of money, judgments, damages, losses, damages (on however filed), trespasses, damages, and damages. Whatsoever both in law and equity, or

State of North Car. } This is to certify that Stephen R. Thurston (Count.) Underdown has served as a soldier true and faith full for three months Under Me at Col. Earl Station and is hereby Discharged given Under my hand this 25 day of
July 1782
John Anderson Lt u
was engaged in

State of Kentucky Warren County Set
On this 16 day of March 1837 personally appeared in open court before the Hon. Asher W Graham, Judge of the Warren Circuit Court now sitting, Stephen Underdown , a resident of Todd County Kentucky, (who declares that he makes this application for Warren County because he is unable to procure a person to draw it for him in said County of Todd) aged eighty one years on the 9th of June 1836, 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 fall of the year - either in the month of September or October - but his best impression is, September, 1776. with Capt Alfred Moore, and served in the Regiment of Col: Moore, its No not recalled certainly, but believed to be the 1st of the North Carolina Regular Troops - Then belonged to the same Regiment, companies respectively commanded by Capt's, Walker, Dixon & Proan. There was a Maj Black like him in the service at that time - Frank Nash was the Lieut-Col: of the Regiment -
He resided in Caswell County North Carolina at the time he entered the service - The Company to which he was attached first engaged at Hillsborough - from Hillsborough he marched to a place then called Cross Creek but now called La Fayette thence to Wilmington - thence to Barets Creek where the Regiment built Barracks & there continued until the Forces rose and commenced their ravages - A detachment was then sent to Brunswick & thence to Fort

Johnson, to cut down the walls & dismantle the fort - This was done without fighting - a little while after this the Tories "rose" and we were ordered to meet them, & expected to do so on Cross Creek. They in the mean while left Cross Creek & moved down towards Wilmington to assist the British to effect their landing - As they were on this march they encountered Col: Caswell at Buxton's Bridge - where they fought and he defeated them. At this time we were trying to "head them" and came up on me immediately after the battle, on the same day - we were then marched back to Wilmington and there remained to prevent the landing of the British, until we were discharged - During the stay at Wilmington he was frequently marched down to Buxton's Creek & back, more effectually to guard the coast - He was enlisted on this campaign for Six Months and served it, as above stated - In answer to the questions directed to be propounded by the Court - He was born in Caroline County Va. on the 9 th June 1755. The record of his age is lost - He was living in Caswell County N.C. when called into the service - Since he has been a party resident in that state, until he removed to Kentucky where he now lives. He volunteered  was drafted into this service - He refers to his foregoing statement as to the officers with whom he served - He recd a discharge. He was robbed of it by the Tories during the war - They plundered his house - He is known to William Stainbridge, John Lawson, Mr. Am Rese etc. - He has heretofore procured a pension under the act of June 7 th 1832 for Military services rendered by him in the Militia , during the Revolution - He was instructed by the draftsmen of his declaration for that purpose not to rely on the Four

above narrated, because it was understood in the Regular service she had no living witness by whom to prove it. He now claims an additional pension for this service, but can not relinquish (for it would be unjust) his claim heretofore granted to the pension aforesaid - His name is on the pension Roll, for the State of Ky - under the partial grant of pension for his Malitia service as aforesaid - -
Stephen Underdown
Warren Circuit Court 1837.
Sworn to in Open Court the day and year aforesaid
John A. Hobson clerk of the
Warren Circuit Court
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
Asher W. Graham
Judge of Warren Circuit Court.
State of Kentucky Sivil
I, Jonathan Hobson, clerk of the circuit Court of Warren County, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Underdown for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this seventeenth day of March 1837.
John A. Hobson
Clerk of Warren Circuit Court

State of Kentucky } ss.
Russell County - 3
Be it remembered that on this 22 d day of July 1833 personally came Before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Russell aforesaid State of Kentucky Stephen Underdown a resident of the County and State aforesaid aged now 88 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath State that on the 29 th day of October last past he made his declaration in the Honorable Circuit Court in and for the County of Russell of State of Kentucky for the purpose of obtaining the ben- efit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 to which original Declaration he offers this as an amendment he states that in addition to the statements there in made and in explanation thereof he states that he now well recollects that in the year 1777 Pro- -visions to the time he hired Daniel Lyle Linton as stated in his former decl

Declaration that on the first of April 1777 he was then in the Matilda Company of Capt Jacob Wmzant Rutherford County State of North Carolina he states that he served at Colo Earlyfort during that year in the following manner and under the following regulations to wit, that Capt Wmzant's men was clapped and this applicant as well as all the others of the company was by the regulation compelled to serve at said fort ten days and then stay at home ten days and so he was kept from the first of April 1777 untill the first of Decem- ber in the same year a period of eight months that Lieut John An- derson was mostly there with him But Colo Early was the Command- er he states that in this way in that year he served at the aforesaid fort under said Lieut Anderson & Colo Early at least twelve tours of ten days each making 120 days he fur- ther states that in the year 1779 1780 & 1781 he served in the same character and in the same way not less than twelve tours of ten days each in each of the aforesaid three last mentioned years making

in the three last mentioned years an actual service of 120 days in each year making in all nine the of. tours in the four years about 1777-1779-1780-1781 twelve tours in each year of 40 days each 480 days. and all of which service was done and performed by this declarant as a drafted or called militiaman in the service of the united states in the war of the Revo- lution in and that said service was perfor- med with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority that he was either in the field or in garrison during the of said several periods as above stated and for the time during which the services was performed he was not employed in any civil pursuits he states that in his former declara- tion he stated in those short tours he served more than one month he must more than one year but at that time he did not rec- lect the various transactions as well as he now does having meditated fully upon the subject and positively states that in the of said four years he served as he has therein stated and for which he claims a pension he further states that in the year 1778 the year he hired Daniel Singleton as a substitute for three months that during that year he was called out under

The before mentioned regulations to go to said earlier part at least six terms of ten days each and that he faithfully served out fully making a service in that year of six terms of ten days each being 60 days which was also in the service of the United States in the war of the rebellion, he states that in 1775 he served six months as an enlisted soldier in the year 1777-1778-1779-1780-1781 he served 540 days in the several terms heretofore stated and in the year 1782 he served three months as he has in his former declaration stated and for which he has a discharge hereto annexed bearing date July 15. 1782 and he again repeats that all the aforesaid service was rendered by him as a private soldier in the United States service during the war of the rebellion and within an enlisted corps called into service by competent authority and 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 In answer to the several interrogatories prescribed by the war department he states that he was born on the ninth day of June in the year one thousand seven

Numbered and fifty five in Caroline County State of Virginia according to the register furnished him by his father which he believes to be true and which register he now has among his papers or at least a true copy of it he states that at about eighteen or nineteen years of age his father with this declarant moved to North Carolina made a short stay in Granville County and then moved to the County of Caswell where he lived when he served his first tour, he then moved to Rutherford County same State where he lived during time he served the second under of his tours and after the close of the war he moved back to Caswell County from there he moved to Burke County North Carolina where he remained until the year one thousand Eight hundred and twenty five. When he moved to and settled in the neigh- borhood where he now lives I have a copy of the record of my age, I entered the first tour of six months and all the others I was drafted or called out by being closed I never was a substitute for any person, I had a discharge for my first tour signed by Col. Moore which I have lost and for the last tour of three months I received a discharge from Genl. John Anderson which I hereto annex for the other tours I had no written discharge I have named some of the officers in my original declara- tion Col. Francis Nash was also with the troops where I served and several Captains

I am known to the Reverend James Broader and Col. William Bradshaw who has certified for me in my original declar- ation William James William Perryman and Isaiah Bradshaw John Perryman & many others all of whom and all others with whom I am acquainted I am confident would testify to my character and veracity I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or annu- ity except the present and declare my name is not on the roll of the agency of any state subscribed and sworn to before me the day & year after section understood James Collins
State of Kentucky Rupel County — } ss
We William Perryman Isaiah Bradshaw & John Perryman do hereby certify that we are well acqu- ainted with Stephen Underdown who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty eight years of age that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood to where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revo- lution and we concur in that opinion and we further state that the report is general we have never heard it doubted and we further certify that the said Stephen Underdown is a respectable citizen and that his statements

is entitled to as much credit as any person of an acquaintance from the good character of Mr. Underdown and the General Report of his services we have no doubt he served as he has stated subscribed and sworn to the day and year of Sam l Collins J.P. State of Kentucky
William Perryman Isaiah Brashear
State of Kentucky } of John Perryman Rupel County }
I Samuel Collins one of the Common- wealth Justices of the peace in and for the County of Rupel do hereby certify that the above named applicant Stephen Underdown this day subscribed and sworn to the above declaration Before me and I further certify and declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatory propo- -sed by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revolution and served as he states and I further certify that W m Perryman Isaiah Brashear & John Perryman
who has signed the preceding certificate are Residents of the County of State of and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to cred- it given under my hand as Justice of the peace this Twenty Second day

of July 1833
Samuel Collins J.P.
State of Kentucky Russell County Court
I William Patterson clerk of the County Court for the County of Russell aforesaid do hereby certify that Samuel Collins whose name is annexed to the foregoing certificate is and was at the date of the said certificate a Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Russell duly Commissioned and qualified as such and that full faith and credit is due him in all his official acts as such and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set My name and affixed the seal of office given under My hand as clerk hereof this 6 th day of August 1833 and 43 rd year of the Commonwealth
William Patterson clerk of the Russell County Court