Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4729, David Williams, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Penn Virginia
Williams, David
S. 4729
carded.
CONTENTS

7887 Theo Pittsburgh
David Williams
of Belmont in the State of Ohio, who was a Private, - in the Compys. - commanded by Captain Crowngton. of the Regt. - commanded by Col o . Fleming. in the Penna line for two years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio. Pittsburgh. at the rate of 80. Dollars 00. Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 th day of April. 1833. and sent to Abraham Silivorth. St. Clairville. O.
Arrears to the 4th of March. 1833. - 160.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4. Sept r . 33 40.
$ 200. -
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W m H. Palmer Clerk, Book E. Vol. 8. Page 132.

State of Ohio Union County ss
Before me a probate judge in and for the county and state aforesaid personally appeared J. H. Clark to me well known as a cred- -able witness and being first sworn deposes says that he is - informed that David Williams who liv- -ed in Mercer County in the state of Ken- -tucky was a Revolutionary Pensioner - and that he drew a pension for several - years - that he performed his service - in the Virginia continental line - - and that this claimant is the owner of - lands granted on a warrant issued - to the said David Williams and that - there was another David Williams who - performed service in said war and - for the state of Virginia and that a - dispute arises as to the rights of the - two Warrants and for the purpose of - showing in what capacity the said David - Williams served in said war this - affiant asks that an official state- - ment under the seal of the officer - may be given him stating the office - he held under in said army and - that it is indispensable to the interests of - this affiant. J. H. Clark
Sworn to and subscribed before me by J. H. Clark the affiant. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at Mar- -ysville this 8 th day of March 1861 and I certify that I am Ex officio Clerk.
James R. Smith Probate Judge

We wish a certified copy of the Commission of St David Williams also the amount of his pension, the place of his residence at the time he drew the pension
Address
Lucas & Slaye
Direct the Exemplification to P. P. L. L. L. Maysville Clermont County Ohio
Gen. Pensions.

7887 No. 18. W. 11
David Williams Ohio
look on Va Role an role Adm for 2 years from 1775. or 76.
Abraham Dillworth St. Clairsville Belmont County Ohio

BRIEF in the case of  County of Belmont
David Williams in the State of Ohio (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 85 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. As a Gen.     Enlisted in 17 2 ~ ~ Corporal Private time not stated Genl Scott Capt Broughton Maj Fleming  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? at White Plains, Trenton Princeton Brandywine, Germantown  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Pittsburgh Pennsylvania  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditional  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.
J. O'Leary Examining Clerk.

David Williams
1854
v

State of Ohio } Belmont County } ss An this sixth day of November Anno Domine one thousand, eight hundred, and thirty two, personally appeared, in open court, before the Honorable, the judges of the court of common pleas, held in and for the county of Belmont, as aforesaid, at their November term, David Williams a resident of Richland township, in the county of Belmont, and State of Ohio, aged eighty five 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June the 7 th 1832, That he enlisted in the army of the United States, does not recollect the year, but knows, it was in the begining of the revolutionary war, for two years, at Pittsburg at the time called Fort Pitt, with Captain Croughan, and served, in the eighth Regiment, of the Virginia line, under the following named officers, ensigns Berovich, lieutenants Kulpattwich and Keugan, Captain Croughan, Major Fleming, who was killed at the battle of Princeton, Colonel Nevel, General Scott, and General Washington, after enlisting as before stated, he was marched to Williamsburg Virginia where they drew their cloathing, from thence they went to the white Plains, according to the best of his recollection, where they had skirmish with the British, they were drove from the white plains, recollects of wintering at Newark of New Jersey, the different movements and marches, does not at this time recollect, but remembers crossing the Delaware to Trenton, and was at the battle of Trenton, from which they went to Princeton, where they had a battle with the British, had a skirmish at the place called Red Bank in,

after the battle at Princeton, the main body of their Regiment went into winter quarters at Morristown, New Jersey, but this Defendant, with some others, were sent to Chatham New- Jersey, where they wintered, under the command of General Putnam, some time in the Spring, he again joined his Regiment at Morristown, and continued with the main army through the Summer, some time in the course of this sum- mer, his time expired, when he reenlisted in Philadelphia during the war, think it was a short time previous to the battle of Brandy- wine, he was at the battle of Brandy wine, where he was wounded, being shot through the leg and had part of his jaw and teeth car- ried away, which disabled him from doing duty as a soldier, he was afterwards at the battle of Germantown, being unable to do active duty, upon account of his wounds, he was with the baggage waggons during the battle, afterwards he laid all winter at the Valley Forge, where he was discharged from the Service, on account of his being disabled, by his wounds, whilst in the service he was a corporal; at the time of his first enlistment, his place of residence was at Catfish- camp now Washington Pa, he was in fifteen different battles and skirmishes during the war the principle of which he has mentioned previous, he knows that he marched through parts of Virginia Pennsylvania New Jersey and New York, but at this distance of time, with his memory somewhat impaired, and also owing to the little attention paid by a soldier at the time, to the country through which he is mar- ching, prevents him from being able now to say, whether he marched through any other state or not, or from giving a fuller account of the different transactions.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an 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 David his G. Williams Death
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion. That the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
George S. Sharp James Alexander Esq. John Davenport Judges of the Court
I Peter Tallman Clerk of the court of common pleas aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of David Williams for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eighth day of November anno Domini 1832 — Peter Tallman C lk "

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of David Williams - 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. S. 4729
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) Pa.   Beginning Mar until Summer 79 2 yrs - Cpl. Croghan Neiville Major Fleming 8 Va   Shortly bef. bat. Brandywine re-enl. for the war - In the bat Brandy he sustained gsw of leg + jaw after wh. he served with the baggage wagons + "mustered" at Valley Forge, where he was discharged on acct of disability  
Battles engaged in, * W. Pl., Trenton, Princeton, Redbank, Brandy, Residence of soldier at enlistment, Catfish Camp - afterwards called Washington Pa Date of application for pension, Nov. 6. 1832 - allowed. Residence at date of application, Richland Twp., Belmont Co., Oh. Age at date of application, 85 date of birth not stated. Remarks: No ref. to Gen. Wash. body guard.

Pension papers
Nov. 26.
0.
18 3/4
Free
Hon Lewis Cass Secretary at War Washington City Dis ba

Please direct the answer to the within to Abraham D. Lewis St Clairville Belmont County State of Ohio —
It appears by the statements of the Hon. Benj. Ruggles the name of the applicant has been found in the war office — and also by the letter of J. L. Edwards which has been lost —

O. W. AND N. DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Mar. 8, 1907
Searched by Gill
Original No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant, _____
Soldier, David Williams
Service, Resided in Ohio
Rev. War
Remarks: _____
No claim identified as above except
Inw 4,729 & Ref 11,570.
{not on file! Oct. 15 '77.

WALTER B. BEALS LAWYER HALLER BUILDING SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
February 8, 1907.
Honorable Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you please inform me whether one David Williams, who lived in Bellevue, Ohio, was allowed a pension on account of his services in the revolutionary war?
This soldier is reported to have, for sometime, acted as General Washington's body-guard, but this is a tradition which may be unfounded.
Yours very truly,

Rev. Wm
4729 INVALID.
1907 Mch. 21. History to Walter B. Beals - c
File No. 4729
David Williams Pri. Pa. Line
Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -Vol. A , Page 408
[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
David Williams 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? no
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? no
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? no
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? no
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? no witness
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? 2. 6. 7
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.