Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7831, William Watson, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N6
Watson William
S 7831
Corn in Penn-
CONTENTS
carded

23.353 North Carolina
William Watson Jr of Rutherford in the State of N.C. who was a P t in the — commanded by Captain — of the P t commanded by Col Hampton in the N.C. line for 9 mos. 14 days
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 th April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 Sept. 1838 Age notified 10 June 1839.
Order to pay 25 th March 1841.
Same 17. May 1843
Same 11. June 1844
Same 13 May 1846.
Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 31— Dollars 55 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 th day of Apr. 34 and Mrs. F. Mitchell Rutherford Tenn. N.C.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1831 78.87
Remnant allowance ending 4 March 15.78
394.65
61 15.77 78.87
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Clerk. Book E Vol 19

State of North Carolina } On this 23 rd day of October 1832 Rutherford County } personally appeared before the Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions held for the County and state afore- said William Watson aged 74 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following Declara- -tion in Order to Obtain the benefit of the provisions of the Act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832 sayeth that he entered the Army of the United States in the year 1779 and served under the following named Officers and in the Towns as herein stated From the best of my Recollection my Mother settled in Lyon now Rutherford County in the latter part of the year 1777 in the year 1779 I Volunteered myself and served a Term of three months under Capt. Gilkey Col n Hampton Commanded we was kept on the lines and at the different forts Grantsport and a fort at the head of the Catawba when my time was out I was Discharged and Returned home In the year 1780 I was a Volunteer and served six months under Capt Patrick Watson Col n Mc Dowell Col n Hampton and Maj or Mc Dowell and after Commanded this Town we was marched down Broad River to the Cherokee Ford from that place I was one of the Guard that was sent on to Rowan after provision we Returned and Joined the Army near the place we left it about that time Ferguson Army was in pursuit of us we Retreated before him until we got his Army to the head of Cane Creek in Burke County where we had an engagement both parties I think left the place in Confusion Ferguson went back to South Carolina and we Crossed the Mountains in Order to Reinforce our our Companies the Company that I belonged to to reach the Battle ground in time to be in the battle I was sent of on some other business Joined them at Col n Walkers and was one of the Guard placed Over the prisoners until they was placed under a Sloop of Horse and for that purpose where we was stationed on the frontier until my Six Months expired Discharged and Returned home in the same Year I was a Volunteer under Capt Wood for a Southern Town we was marched below

Williamsburg fort near Ninety Six we Returned and Joined the Army under Genl or Col n Pickens near Saluda Discharge and Returned home This I think was performed in half a month in the Year 1781 I volunteered three months under Capt Beatty and Served as an Indian spy under Col n Porter we was stationed the greater part of this time in Mumpfords Cove and on the lines This makes my Service Twelve months and a half that I was a actual Service and done nothing else but serve my Country and I have no way to establish my Service only by my own Oath I hereby Relinquish every claim to a pension except the Present and declare that my Name is not on the pension Roll of the Agency of any state whatsoever and for those services I Claim a Pension
Question by the Court. 1 st Where and in What Year was you born Answer 3 d from Information I was born in York County Pensy born in the month of November 1738. 3 d Question 2 nd Have you any Record of your age if so where is it? Answer 3 d I have not only from Circumstances of the age of a near Relation who was born the same year who has the Record of her age set down in the same Bible Question 3 rd Where were you living when Called into service where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and up to you now reside? Answer 3 d I was living in Tryon County N Carolina now Rutherford County where I have Resided ever since. Question 4 th How were you Called into service were you Drafted or did you volunteer or were you a substitute and a substitute for whom? Answer 3 d I was a Volunteer first time Capt Gilkey Col n Hampton commanded three months my 2 nd time was a Volunteer and served under Capt Patrick Watson Col n M c Dowell & Hampton Maj r M c Dowell Porter commanded This was six months my third time was under Captain Wood Col n Pickens commanded this was only half a month my fourth a Volunteer for three months under Capt Beatty Col n Porter commanded Question 5 th State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the Troops where you served such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can Recollect and the general Circumstances of your Service? Answer 3 d I have no Recollection of the Number of the Regiment that I served in I was under General Pickens Col n M c Dowell Hampton Porter Campbell Shelby Cleveland and several I have given all the Details I Recollect in the first part of this statement. Question 6 th Did you ever receive a Discharge from the Service and if so what

by whom was it signed and what has become of it? Answer? I have no Recollection that I ever had a Written Discharge? Question 7? State the names of some Person in your Neighbourhood to whom you are known who can Testify as to your Character for Veracity and their belief of your Services as a Soldier of the Revolution
Sworn to and subscribed
the day and year aforesaid.
McKesson Watson
T. P. B. Smith Atty
W. John Padgett a Clergyman Residing in the County of Rutherford and State of North Carolina and John Carlson Residing in the same hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with William Watson who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be Seventy four years of age that he is Deputed and believed in the Neighbourhood where he Resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that Opinion
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Padgett John Carlson
T. P. B. Smith Atty
And the said Court do hereby declare their Opinion after the Investiga- -tion of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as he states And the Court further Certify that it appears to them that John Padgett who has signed the Proceeding Certificate is a Clergyman Resident in the County of Rutherford and State of North Carolina and that John Carlson who has also signed the same is a Resident of the same is Credible Persons and that their statement is entitled to Credit
J. Theodore F. Burchett Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Rutherford and State of North Carolina do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the Original Proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Watson for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at office subscribed my name this 23 day of October AD 1893
T. P. B. Smith Atty

W. Watson

State of North Carolina } Personally appeared before me the Rutherford County } Undersigned a Justice of the peace for the County and State aforesaid William Watson who being duly sworn deposes and saith that by reason of his age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively to the as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the period mentioned below and in the following grades
for the Year 1779. Volunteer under Capt Gilby Col Hampton X 3 Months
1780. Volunteer under Capt Watson for 3 Months our time was out at the time of the battle near the head of Game Creek in Burke County the Volunteers was Col P. on and kept together we crossed the Mountains where we found the Army under Col M c Dowel and Returned to the Battle of Kings Mountain This was 3 Months and the two explaining my time of 6 Mo.
1780 Volunteer under Capt Woodin Service - 02 1/2
1781 Volunteer under Capt Bealy Col Porter Com. 3 Months Months 12 1/2
This is the Service I Renounced to the best of my Recollection as a private and for which Service I claim a pension Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 9 th day of December 1855.
A. Mills J. B. William Watson Seal

State of South Carolina ss.
I Tho. F. Bixler clerk of the Court of Pleas & Sessions of Rutherford County do hereby certify that Ambrose Mills Esq. who has attested the within affidavit of William Watson, is a Magistrate of said County as stated, and that his attestations as such are entitled to full faith and credit.
In testimony of which I hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said Court at Office the 9 th December A.D. 1833.
T. F. Bixler Atty

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 William 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.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     1779 3 mos. Pvt. William Donaldson N.C.   1780 6 " Patrick Watson { McDowell Hampton   1781 1/2 " Wood Pikens   1781 3 " Ind Spv Beatty Porter  
Battles engaged in, Kings Mt.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, _____
Date of application for pension, _____
Residence at date of application, _____
Age at date of application, _____
Remarks: Insufficient data.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

Junior Office
Fayetteville Pa June 4/44.
James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Please direct the payment of the following Pensions for Vouchers, making—    1832. Cornelius Clementy  1/2  30    " William Norton  "  31.55  
I am Sir
Yours Mrs. Quibell.
James L. Edwards Esq.

Post Office
Weymouth May 7 th 1826
James L. Colborne Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Sir,
Please accept the payment of William Watson. Act of 1832 12 mo. $ 31.55 per voucher enclosed
Yours respectfully John Andrews.
James L. Colborne Esq.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
May 29 th 1839.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," William Watson, — a Pensioner on the Roll of the North Carolina Agency, at the rate of thirty one Dollars and fifty five Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of March 1838, to the 4 th Sept. 1838, 6 months.
Respectfully, yours,
William H. Parris Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

Mr. Watson Dec. 5
Admt as a private 9 mo 14 days $31.55
J. G. Barstow Clerk Rutherfordton

alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services. 
6. { To a Soldier, { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it? { To an Officer, { Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the inquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 here a four months , is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
The militia pension of one performed continuous term of 6 months in application must give the actual person or the army...

1916 Nov 28. Hist. to Adelaide B. Watson, Ad.
Rev. W. G.
7831. INVALID.
File No. 7831
William Watson  S 7
Pre Rec War
Act: June 7 th 1882
Index:—Vol. 16 , Page 392
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Aurora, N. C., Nov. 6, 1916.
DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR, Washington, D. C.,
Rev Lee H
Gentleman:-
Please send me a statement of the military history of WILLIAM WATSON of N. C. who was on the pension list of that state in 1835 for services in the Revolutionary War. ✓
Yours truly,
Adelaide B. Watson
There is only one on the agency book - so you will have to send it from the City No 23383 - not file No.

Watson
23383