Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3881, for William Shaw, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Va.
Shaw, William
3881
Carded
CONTENTS

25322
West Tennessee
William Shaw of Davidson in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the com manded by Captain Sandgrae of the reg t commanded by Col Campbell in the Virginia line for 10 months
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of Dec r 1833 and 76 th year of Grundy Senate No
Arrears to the 1 st of Sept r 83.3
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 th March 16 6
$100.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by [initials]
Book [initials]
Clerk

William Shaw 1860 Pension Claim
assd 10mo. pri $33.33

State of Tennessee of July Session 1832. on this first day of August Davidson County 1832. personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the court now sitting William Shaw a resident of said County and State aged Twenty One years last April, who being first duly 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 was born in the State of Virginia in the year 1761. in the month of April, as he believes from his Father's Register, in the Old Family Bible, and was raised to Manhood principally in what is now Wythe County on the waters of New River, that in the year 1776. the Cherokees became troublesome, and that he William Shaw Volunteered under Captain David Snodgrass to guard his Snodgrass Station, near where Abingdon is now situated in Washington County and remained in service about two Months some time after volunteered under Col o William Campbell (after- wards Gen l Campbell) against the Cherokees and went as far as the long Island of Holston an entire frontier, remained in service two or three Months this was some time after the Battle with the Indians at the long Island of Holston, I next volunteered under Col o William Campbell up New River in pursuit of Doyle & Brown two Tory Captains who had raised a Number of Men & were committing depredations on the Whigs. we came up with them and dispered them wounded an illand took him and a Mother prisoner, and then the ballance over the Mountains into the Hollow of the Gadlin, was then in service about two Months. in 1780. I volunteered with Captain Trigg under the command of Col o William Campbell went up the Mountains into the State of North Carolina, was there some time at the Moravian towns, we were informed that a Number of Tories were collecting below Guilford Old Court House, Captain Trigg with his company of whom I was then, was ordered by Col o Campbell, to go in pursuit of the Tories we came on them took upwards of twenty of them prisoners & drove them to head quarters to Col o Campbell at the Moravian town, then some of them were released am sure then returned

over the Mountain back to New River & secured the country dozen said men of Tories running & dispersing them as low dozen said men as Joseph Perry was in service two or three months - at that time I then volunteered with Col. John Stephen with about sixty men to guard the Glady Gap to prevent the British & Tories from crossing over to the head of New River, the British Army then lay at the Moravian towns, in February 1781 - Volunteers, with Col. Preston & Col. Floyd went to find Genl. Grant's Army in North Carolina near Guilford & remained until after the Battle (or skirmish) with the British at White Oak Hill ten days upon the Battle of Guilford Court House, during the whole of my service I found my own horse to ride, & my rifle & shot bag - for which I never received any compensation except our Indian fund and which I glory in - I have lived in Davidson County upwards of forty five years. help to defend this country from the Indians. at that time was with Genl. Sackrow in the Creek Nation as a Volunteer - I never was entered on a pension roll, nor never applied before, I have no way of proving the above service that I now know of, except by my own oath as I believe most of my comrades in arms are dead, or so removed that I know not where to find them, sworn & subscribed the day & year above rec. Sub Henry Ewing Clerk of Davidson County Court
Wm. H. H. H. H. H. H.

State of Tennessee - 2 July Session 1832 on this first day of Davidson County 3 August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justice of the Court Now sitting Robert Weakley a resident of said County and State aged sixty eight years - who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following statement, that he has been acquainted with William Shaw of Davidson County, who is the applicant under the laws of Congress, pass d June 7 th 1832, for ever since the latter part of the year 1785, & that he Shaw has ever during his acquaintance been considered an honest man & man of truth, and is bound to believe his statement as to the same rendered, during the American Revolution to be true - as I was in the Battle, by him spoken of at White - side Mill in March 1781 - and from the statement of Shaw, am satisfied he was there, he Shaw is called by his acquaintance, Honest Billy Shaw - sworn to & subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Sub Henry Ewing Clerk Davidson County Court
Robert Weakley
Nashville August the 1 st day 1832
I have been acquainted with the above named William Shaw upwards of forty years last passed, have always heard him called an honest man. I never heard his veracity disputed.
Thos. Cruftcher

State of Tennessee Davidson County
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County and State aforesaid July term 1831
Said court do hereby certify that they are and have been for many years past well acquainted with William Shaw the applicant before named. That they believe him to be an honest, upright, industrious man and that his statements may be implicitly relied on. They also state that Robert Mackay and Thomas Grubbs who have signed the foregoing certificates are men of the first standing in society and that their statements may be relied on. And said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states
August first 1832
J. Richardson Wm Williams Esq. Bournell
Deputy of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Davidson County, Tennessee.
State of Tennessee Davidson County ss.
I Henry Ewing clerk of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William Shaw.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said court to be also affixed at office in Nashville on this first day of August A.D. 1832 Henry Ewing

Rev Shaw
INVALID.
File No. 3881
William Shaw Port Royal Line
Act: June 17/82
Index:—Vol. A , Page 337
[Arrangement of 1870.]

10 m. P.M. $33. \frac{33}{100}
am d
Van F. Smiddy

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 Shaw 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? yes 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? no 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? witness
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? the Court has not
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? yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 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.

The amended declaration of W m Shaw a Revolutionary soldier, to be afforded to, & considered as a part of his declaration, made before the County Court of Davidson on the 1 st day of August 1832, which said declaration of the 1 st August 1832 was returned by the proper officers of government on account of imperfections.
On the 3 rd day of September 1832, personally appeared the aforesaid W m Shaw (whose age & residence is stated in the original declaration aforesaid) in the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of West Tennessee, before the Honorable John McKean, holding said court, and makes oath to the following (amended) declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress, passed on the 9 th June 1832. to wit: The applicant states that to the best of his recollection he served in all throughout the different tours referred to in his original application not less than Ten months . He has reviewed the time with all the accuracy that the infirmities of a mind well worn with age, could command, and he is confident that he is, if any thing, under the time of his actual service: From By reason of old age, & the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he did not serve less than the period of Ten months aforesaid being five tours of Ten months each, and all the time in the capacity of a private soldier, and at the times & places, stated in his original application. Applicant further states that he has not obtained the evidence of any clergyman except in so far as his character for truth & veracity is concerned, because he knows of no clergyman, who can give the certificate as required by the Department. He has endeavored to supply the deficiency of such evidence, by the testimony of other respectable witnesses. Applicant further makes oath on the subject of the 6 th Allegation, that he never received any discharge from any officer whatever, for any tour of service. He does not know why it was, that no such paper was furnished by his officers but he is confident none was ever given to him. Applicant further states, that he is well known to Col Robert Weakly, Hon. Governor State Treasurer, C. P. Connell

Sam Shannon Isaac Hunter & Robert Payne Esqrs acting Justices of the peace for Davidson County. with the Honorable John Grundy. Governor Coarnell. William H. Payne and a large circle of respectable friends thro' the County.
The hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the pension and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. Sworn to in open Court Sept. 5 th 1833
H. A. McChain att
Wm H Payne
Came into open court afterwards David Gloyd a clergyman residing in the County of Davidson, and makes oath that he has been well acquainted with the above named applicant for thirty years or more. Most of the time he has been a near neighbor of applicant. Affiant states that he does not know any thing of the revolutionary services of said Shaw except from his own repeated declarations. The said Shaw has always sustained an irreproachable character for honesty, truth and veracity, and affiant would not hesitate to place the most unqualified faith in any declaration he would make on oath or otherwise. Sworn to in open Court Sept. 5 th 1833
David Gloyd
Sub. A. McChain att
Came into Court Robert Weakley a justice of the peace for Davidson Co. aged 69 years of age & a soldier of the revolution & John McChain aged 69 years a pensioner under the act of the 7 th of June 1832. And the said Robert Weakley in addition to his statement of the 1 st May 1832 (all of which is here referred to) makes oath, that he knows nothing of the revolutionary services of the above applicant for many years past. (perhaps 30 or 40 years ago) he has heard said Shaw speak of his services in said War and from the high character which said Shaw has uniformly sustained.

a very long life he does not dwell a moment but that he served his country as he states in his declarations to which this affidavit is annexed.
And the said McCaulin notes each that he has been well acquainted with said applicant Wm Shaw for about 30 years. Said Shaw is a man of unqualified character for honesty, truth & veracity. He has often times many years past heard him speak of being a soldier in the war of the revolution, and affidavit is made that he was as he does not believe that he would state a false here.
Sworn to 3 d Sept. 1856 in open Court.
N. a. M c Cauley
John M c Cauley
And the Court afterwards does hereby declare an opinion after the investigation of the matter that the above named applicant Wm Shaw was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears that David Lloyd who signed one of the preceding certificates is a clergyman resident in Davidson County, and that Robert Westley & John M c Cauley who also signed the certificates above are residents of said County. That they are all credible persons, & that their statements are entitled to credit.
John M c Cauley
Justice Sup Court Austin
United States of America District of West Tennessee
I, Nathaniel A. McRae Clerk of the Circuit Court of the United States for the Seventh Circuit in the District of West Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Shaw for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set

my Hand and Seal of said office, this 24 th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three
N. A. McHenry Clk