Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7817, James Watts, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Nb
Watts, James
87817
CONTENTS
carded

16.289 North Carolina
James Watts
of Iredell in the State of N.C. who was a Pr. Sn. & Cav. in the by Captain of the Regt by Col: Lock in the N.C. time for 8 mo: 28 day In: 2 - 14 " Cav:
Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 35 - Dollars 89 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of July '33 and sent to D. Falls Statesville N.C.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 71.75 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept. " 17.94 $89.72
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by N. Rice Clerk, Book E. Vol. 6. Page 60.

State of North Carolina Indee County } } }
This day came James Wiles before me the Subscribing Justice of the peace and being duly sworn doth upon her oath make the following additional declaration. That by reason of old age and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of her service but to the best of her recollection she served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades.  That her first service was in the foot. she was a volunteer in Capt. Purviance's Company 3 months  her second tour Started on horse back left one horse to pursue the Indians through the defiles of the mountains. 1. 2 weeks  her third tour was under Caldwell to South, in the horse. . . . 1. 25.  her fourth tour down the Catawba in the horse 1. 00  That her 5 th tour on foot drafted. 3. 00  his 6 th tour was guarding the Jail at Salisbury in foot. 1. 25  That he served a tour in the foot (not included in his declaration) under Capt. Sturges  James Crawford and pursued after Bryant and the Tories and passed through Salisbury and Thicket to Guilford and to the Buffalo Creek where they were stationed and marched countermarched, maneuvering against the British this tour lasted 3. 00  He says that her services and for this service I claim a pension were rendered at different times from the time of Cornwallis engagement with Wheat which happened during her first tour until the conclusion of the war.  That he was always a private and does firmly believe that he served in country more than two years but is unable to specify further than he has done above.  He was always a private.

He was born the 17 th Dec 1857 in what was then Rowan but is now Iredell County and lies there still. His age is recorded in a Bible in possession of David White. He has stated that he has always lived near where he now lives. He was sometimes drafted and at other times he volunteered. He has seen Capt. Snow and Col. Davidson of the ten months men, also Gen. Greene. He has had several discharges but has took no care of them believing them to be of no value they are all lost or destroyed. He refers to Jeremiah Scropps and David M c White. Sworn & Subscribed before me this 27 th day of May 1833 J. Campbell J.P.  Chas T. Wall mark
I Absalom Linnerton Clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter sessions of Iredell County do hereby certify that James Campbell before whom the foregoing declaration was made is an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County and that his signature thereto is genuine. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office at Statesville this 28 th day of May 1833. A. Linnerton Clerk

State of North Carolina
India County 3
On this 5 th day of September 1832 personally appeared before me James Campbell a justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid James Watt a resident of said County and State aged 74 years and who I certify from his age and infirmities is unable to attend at the Court of said County and who being first sworn according to Law doth upon his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7 th day of June 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as is herein stated.
That he entered as a volunteer under Capt. Purvis in the Artillery of which Col. Locke was commander under Gen. Rutherford and served from fall to Spring joined the army under Lawrence at Fayetteville soon after the affair with McLeod. Returned to Salisbury and was there discharged.
That after that he again entered as a volunteer under the same officers and performed his tour of duty in scouting for Indians towards the head of Catawba.
That after that he served another tour of duty under Capt. David Caldwell as a volunteer which was performed in South Carolina and in Mecklenburg County N.C.
That his fourth tour of duty was performed under the same Captain down the Catawba nearly to Camden.
That he performed a tour of duty under Capt. James

Crawford to  house into which he was drafted, and pursued to the on the rear of the British Army, joined Gen. Greene Army before Guilford Court House and about ten days before the Battle at Guilford. Court house his time expired and he was discharged.
That for ten weeks he guarded the jail in Salisbury wherein Bryant and other forces were confined.
That he performed several other short tours. That he honestly and conscientiously believes that he was more than two years engaged in the active service of his country during the Revolutionary War. That he was born in Rowan now Iredell County in the year 1757. His age is recorded in his father's Bible now in possession of David White. That at the time he entered the service and ever since he has lived within a few miles of where he now lives. Contend the same as herein stated. And I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or bounty except the present & declare that I have no documentary evidence or other proof except the subpoena that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. James W Watts
Sworn to before me this 5th day of September 1832 We James W. Watts & David White residents in the County of Iredell and State of North Carolina do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Watts
Who hath subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe that he is 74 years of age. That his reputation and belief in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Jeremiah Scroggs further says that he saw James Watts in the service at Cropkirk and also in Burke County.
Jeremiah Scroggs
Sworn & Subscribed before me this 6th September 1832
D. M. White
H. Campbell

James Watts
R. 6
No. 9542
Pa
Aamt as prev.
Eff 8 mo 28 d. 5
lev 2. 14 d. 35.89
d. e. m.
J. Hall
Statesville
N.C. m.
1895

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Apl 25 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of James Watt
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     vol. 3. Pri. Capt. Purviance col. Locke 74 years   1 14 lev. Genl. Rutherford Medel   1 " Co. N.C. Traditionaly Witness   3 Inf. Capt. David   1 14 well   drafted 11. 12   2 14 Capt. Davis   8. 28 Crawford   performed several other tours, honesty believed was in service more than 2 years  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) 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, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____ Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ 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 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court 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 applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his 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 he 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 enquiry 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, deposeeth 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 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.
□ 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

21 95 42
James Watts
Declaration
for
Power
James Watts

And I certify that after investigating the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department I am of opinion that James Watt the applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And I further certify that Jeremiah Briggs & David M c White who signed the foregoing Certificate are credible persons and their statements entitled to credit.
Hambleton H.
I, Abraham Simonson Clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter sessions of Indee County North Carolina do hereby certify that James Hambleton who signed the foregoing Proceedings is a justice of the peace in and for said County State and that his signature thereto is genuine in his own proper hand writing In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at Statesville this 8 th day of September 1832 A Simonson Clerk

Rechar
7817
INVALID.
File No. 7817
James Watts
Brn Rev War
Act: June 7th 1839
Index:—Vol. 18 , Page 392
[Arrangement of 1870.]