Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 16,286, William Watts, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Watts, William
S. 16.286
carded.
CONTENTS

5105,
Indiana
William Watts
of Washington Co. in the State of Indiana who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Hite of the 8 th Va. Reg t commanded by Col. — in the Virginia line for two years from 1775
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 day of Febru- ary 1833 and sent to Hon. P. Barr. H. R.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 $120 — Semi-annual allowance ending 4th March 33 40 $160 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Allison Clerk Book D, Vol. 9, Page 199
A.B. Died July 20. 1834 —

Wm Watts.
from 1776 private thru year 1880.

BRIEF in the case of  William Wall.  of Washington County in the State of Indiana  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
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? 74 Years.
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.     In 1778. Served nearly 6 years As a Gen. Capt Genl. August 8th Rev Ol Virginia Line. Genl Washington, General Lincoln etc.  
5. In what battles was he engaged? Sullivan's Island, Brandywine, Monmouth,
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Campbell County Virginia
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? on Roll,
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?
No.
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
R. F. Pleasants
Examining Clerk.

M m Watts Application for Pension
17209
Joseph Rowland Salem India

State of Indiana Washington County ss
Washington Circuit Court Sept. Term 1832
On this 26 day of September 1832, personally appeared before the Judges of the Washington Circuit Court William Watts, a resident of the said County of Washington, and State aforesaid, aged 74 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 provisions made by the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1775 and served in the 8 th Regiment of the Virginia line, under the following officers: that he was enlisted by Capt. John Everett, a recruiting officer, at New London, Campbell County Virginia, in the latter part of the year 1775; marched from thence to Albemarle Court House in Virginia, there joined the company commanded by Capt. Abraham Hite, which was attached to the 8 th Regiment of the Virginia line. Soon after this, our Regiment marched from the barracks near Albemarle Court House to Charleston South Carolina; was in the battle which took place in June 1776, when Sir Peter Parker attacked the Fort at Sullivan's Island, Col. Moultrie had the command at the battle  the Fort - Our Regiment was then ordered into Georgia to keep the Forces in subjection, where we remained about three months. Our Regiment was then ordered to the north, which joined the army under General Washington a short time previous to the battle of Brandywine, was in the battle of Brandywine, in the same company commanded by Capt. Abraham Hite, recollects Genl. Washington, Lafayette, and Sullivan at that battle, - after which marched with his Regiment to New Jersey and was in the battle of Monmouth, and from New Jersey again marched with his Regiment to Charleston South Carolina, and was there when that place was attacked by Sir Henry Clinton in 1780, and after the place had been besieged for near 40 days our army was surrendered by Genl. Lincoln to Sir Henry Clinton, remained a prisoner for some time, and was then taken with other prisoners, & ordered on to Cape Fear, he

understood at the time that the prisoners were about to be transported to England, & that he felt at the time that he would sooner die than be transported then, - He therefore whistled on the march to Cape Fear in the night, suddenly left the ranks, and ran into a swamp, where he remained till next day, when he set out for Virginia, and whilst on his way there he was taken up and accused of deserting - he admitted he deserted but it was from the British, & related the circumstances, he then went to Headquarters at Hillsborough, joined the company commanded by Capt Taylor and served in the same about one year and was then discharged, which discharge is lost - he served in all nearly six years - he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or 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
William Watts
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. -
I W m H. Carter Clerk of the said Washington Circuit Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of William Watts for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 26 th day of September 1832
W m H. Carter CLK

January 13, 1929.
Marie Menough Walnut Hill Harrodsburg, Kentucky.
BA-J/ILL William Watts S. 16286
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of William Watts, who was a pensioner of Washington County, Indiana, in 1835.
The data which follow are found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 16286, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of William Watts.
The date and place of birth of William Watts and the names of his parents are not shown.
William Watts entered service the latter part of 1775, under Captain John Everett, a recruiting officer, at New London, Campbell County, Virginia, marched to Albemarle Court House and joined Captain Abraham Hite's company, which was later attached to the 8 th Virginia Regiment, served until after the surrender of Charleston, South Carolina, where he was taken prisoner, later made his escape, enlisted in Captain Taylor's company at Hillsborough and served about one year, his entire service amounting to nearly six years. During said service, he was in the battle in June 1776 when Fort Sullivan was attacked by Sir Peter Parker, marched north and was in the battles of Brandywine and Monmouth, after which he marched to Charleston, South Carolina, where he was in the siege and at the surrender of that place, as above. L. Nelson was comm. Capt. 8 th Va. May out this next time
William Watts was allowed pension on his application executed September 26, 1832, at which time he resided in Washington County, Indiana. He gave his age then as seventy-four years; he made no reference to wife or children.
William Watts died July 20, 1834.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

18 286 INVALID.
1939. Jan. 13 - Hist. Co Maria Menand JRL.
File No. 16286
William Watts
See Rev War
Act: June 7" 39
Index:—Vol. / , Page 395
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Harrodsburg, Kentucky November 29, 1938.
Bureau of Pensions, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
Please send me records of William Watts who served during the Revolutionary War from Virginia, and was on the Washington County, Indiana list of Pensioners for year 1835.
Thanking you.
Marie Menough.
Walnut Hill, Harrodsburg, Ky.

N o 17. 209.
William Watts.
Rev. John Carr Indianap

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Watts which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes. II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Yes. 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? Yes. 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? No — VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Yes. VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? Yes. VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? Yes. IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? Yes. 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? Yes.

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?
No.
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
No.
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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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?
yes.
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
No
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 the 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.
†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 authenticated 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 end 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.