Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 11199, Abner Watson, Va.

SERVICE
Va.
Watson, Abner
NUMBER _____
R 11199
CONTENTS

No 17963 Abner Watson, Shelby County Illinois
Rejected
11199
Joseph Oliver Clk. Shelby County Illinois

BRIEF in the case of  Comity of Shelby
Abner Davis  in the State of Illinois  (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? 78
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.     Subst In 17 81 From Augt. to the end of Sept As a Private Genl Capt Shiblefield Col Dark  
5. In what battles was he engaged? Battle of York
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Orange Co Va
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? Correct
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
G. H. Easton
Examining Clerk.

17963 Abner Watson State of Illinois Shelby County
Abner Watson petitioner in the year 1832
On this second day of October in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court, before us the judges of the court of common pleas of Shelby County and State of Illinois, now sitting - Abner Watson a resident of Shelby County and State of Illinois aged eight  four years in May 1832 who first being sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 4 th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as hereinafter stated under Robert Stubblefield captain, Col. D. L. Smith, Gen. Washington, and others. He entered the service in August in the year 1881 - the day not not recalled and left the service in the latter part of September in the year aforesaid. Substituted in Orange County Virginia in the place of John Dawkins. Marched out of Orange County to Williamsburg - thence to York Virginia, he was in the battle at York, the period of the States that he knows of no documentary evidence by which he can support his claim, nor does he know of any one who can testify to his services in his reach,
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever

to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State, or if any only on that of the agency of the State Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year afore said
Abner X Watson Mark
We John Fleming William Siler residing in the county of Shelby State of Ill and State of Illinois, residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abner Watson, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be twenty eight years of age, that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood in which he lives to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Fleming
Wm Siler
And the said board 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 was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the board further certifies that it appears to them that the persons  Abner Watson, who has signed the above certificate  pension resident in the county of Shelby and State of Illinois are credible persons and entitled to such
B. M. Henry
John Brally
George, B. D.

In what year were you born?
A Seventy eight
I have you any record of your age?
A None
2 Where were you living when called into service?
A In Orange County Virginia
2 Where have you lived since the war?
A Moved from Virginia to Georgia from there to Kentucky and I am now living in the State of Illinois Shelby County.
2 How were you called into service
A Substituted
2 For whom.
A John Hawkins
2 State the names of some of the officers under whom you served.
A Col. Dab. Gen. Lafayette, and Gen. Washington
2 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service
A Yes
2 By whom was it given?
A I have forgotten
2 What has become of it?
A I sold it.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and served as he stated, and the Court further certify that it appears to them that John Hawkins  John Hawkins & his wife who has signed the preceding certificates, is a clergyman, resident of Shelby County, State, and

is a credible person, also that their statements is entitled to credit.
Given under our hands in open court, in Shelbyville this 2 nd day of October A.D. 1832.
George Stark B. H. Henry John Brally
State of Illinois Shelby County
I, Joseph Clinch clerk of the County Commissioners Court of said County, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of Abner Watson, for a pension,
Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of said Court at office, in the town of Shelbyville this 2 nd day of October A.D. 1832, and of the Independence of the United States, the 57 th
Jos. Clinch clk

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Almer Watson a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau. R. 11199
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Aug 1781 Col. L. B. Field Brig. Genl Va.   served until latter part of Sept 1781        
Battles engaged in, at York, Va.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Orange Co. Va.
Date of application for pension, Oct 7 1832
Residence at date of application, Shelby Co. Ills.
Age at date of application, Oct 1754
Remarks: The claim was rejected as he did not render six months service as required by the Act of June 7, 1832 under which he ap.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abner Watson 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? No 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? 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.

1917 Jan. 22. Visit to Harriet J. Walker. aw.
REJECTED
11199
P. O.
Alma Watson
Service: 1 - 8
no correspondence noted on claims none on Rejected list (written)
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Cont.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Rev.-1 1/15/17
729 West 8th St- Los Angeles, California
Jan-11 , 1917
To the Commissioner of Pensions-
My dear Sir:-
I desire the service of one Abner Watson, a soldier of the Revolution who applied for a pension at the Illinois agency in Shelby county, but not having ser- ved six months, was refused.
I conclude his service was given you at that time. Thanking you in advance for the information,
I am
Truly yours
(Mrs.) Harriet J. Walker