Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1547, for Reuben Lawson, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Ua.
Lawson, Reuben
S. 1547
CONTEXTS
carded

22-278 East Tennessee
1889 Apr 3. Dr. J. S. Ward History Pnot
Reuben Van Horn followed us in the Service of Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Donaldson of the regt commanded by Col. Norton on the Tennessee line for 6 mos & 21 days Prof. of Infantry Dr. J. S. Ward, Col. of Cavalry
Virginia Line Records Oct 1833
Entered on the Roll of East Tennessee at the rate of 25 Dollars 25 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of October 1833 and James A. Reuben Van Hornville
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 63.00 Sem-ant. allowance ending 4 March 12.50
$75.72
{ Revolutionary Comm. } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 51

Rev. Th.
13117. ✓ INVALID.
File No. 1547 Reuben Lawson Miss. Pa. Line.
Act: June 7, 1882.
Index: — Vol. a , Page 214
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Virginia Line. Records corrected 1878 '83 a.

e 10,5965. 5000 Asubin Lawson Monroe County Tennessee
from 1776 private of Cavalry & Infy 7.12 Pr. Inf 6 mo 21 day 22.33 Pr. Cav. 21 " 2.91 $ 25, 24
12 62 3 63 10
Det. A. Loffin Madisonville Monroe County & Tennessee

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.
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 subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These 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, showing the Service of Reubin Lawson Monroe County Tennessee
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Served 1776 - 3 21 private Capt Donaldson Col Preston 73 years County of Pittsylvania Virginia Traditionary evidence papers Refutation in the Seal- A certificate of H. L. White a Senator U.S.   Served 1780 - - 21 Cavalry Capt Babbitt   Drafted Served 1781 ~ 1782 - 3 - private Capt Babbitt, Col Campbell  
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, Boatsmen, &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 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, deposes 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 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 fix 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.

Reuben Lawson
1890
also at to
James Coffin
Madisonville
Monroe City
E. Ind !

State of Tennessee On this 17 day of June 1833, personally appeared Monroe County In open court, before the justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions, now sitting, Benjamin Lawson a resi- dent of said County, aged 73 years - who being duly sworn dep- oseth and saith doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he was born in 1760, in Pittsylvania County Virginia; that he has a record of his age left by his father, who is decd - When called into service he was living in Pittsylvania County Va. He remained in Va a year or two after the Rev. War, when he moved to Hawkins Ct Tenn where he lived till eight years ago when he moved into Roane County, adjoining said County of Monroe, where he lived till last March when he moved into said Monroe County -
In 1776 a campaign was ordered against the (he thinks, the Shawnee) Indians for a term of three months, by what authority he can not tell. He served under John Donaldson Capt., George Winston Lt & John Sevier 2d Lieut, James Morrison Ensign, under command of Col. Preston of Montgomery County. Said company collected at Pittsylvania Court House, then marched to Col. Preston, then crossed Linville Creek where he was stationed, on the frontier. He served the 3 months for which he was drafted, and about 2 weeks longer he was with no Officers he remembers besides those stated. He received a discharge (which he has lost,) from Captain John Donaldson; he served as a private and re- members nothing of importance that occurred in the campaign -
About four years after the above named service (he supposes, 1780) - when he came to Montgomery County Va, where he then lived that Cornwallis was about ravaging the country and that the company he belonged to must consist he thinks 8 or 10 men who were to be drafted if they did not volunteer, to march against Cornwallis, and meet him about Salisbury. More than were required, he thinks 12 or 14 men went the Capt, Wm Bobbitt promising any who should go, more than were re- quired, indemnity against a future draft. Applicant went under Lieut Benjamin Baile till they joined other troops, having marched two or three days. What officers he was under he does not know. The troops marched through the country into North Carolina but he recollects no town through which they marched. He served in the Cavalry then and as a private. They did not face in with Cornwallis - a retreat was ordered he does not know on what account. He was engaged in this campaign not less than 3 weeks. - He recd a discharge from (he thinks) Benj. Baile Lieut, but is not certain. - The discharge is lost.
About a year he supposes, or thereabouts that and two years after in the last named service (i.e. 1781 or '82) a draft by which

authority he cannot tell) was called for, to go against the Cherokee Indians, and 2 privates, David Baily were ordered out of Capt McRoberts company to which applicant belongs. The draft was for 3 months, Infantry. - He forgets the name of the Captain, and also the other officers. They started from Montgomery County where he then lived, and were ordered to Long Island or Holston in what is now Sullivan County Tenn. They found some troops at Long Island under whose command he cannot tell, but Col. Wm Campbell had gone off against the Cherokee Indians with most of the troops stationed there. Applicant remained at the Island till many of Col Campbells troops returned; whether Col Campbell came to the Island he cannot tell. Some time after the return of the troops he rec d his discharge. How many troops were at the Island he cannot tell. There was a small fort there, but most of the troops camped out. - He thinks he rec d his discharge from Lieut Wm Baily, but cannot be certain. - He thinks rec d the discharge for three months which for lost. Six months and six weeks in all - and always a privates of Infantry. - He never served with any Regular troops.
The following persons are at present his neighbors, and can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief in his services as a soldier of the Revolution - David Baily, David Stewart, William Stewart, David Baily, David Stewart, William Stewart. - He has no documentary evidence, but knows of none who can testify to his services. He only mentions very general statements to a revision or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. - The individuals who testify before applicant has known him more or less than ten years, and he has a full certificate from a clergyman as to he has been acquainted with no clergyman in the County of Mason, and cannot name without great inconvenience, and going to another County a clergyman to certify for him.
Sworn to and subscribed the _____ day and year aforesaid _____
Wm Campbell
Richard Cravens Mark

We Henry Chesnut Esq - Samuel Briggs, both citizens of the said County of Monroe, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Reuben Lawson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 72 years of age, that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. We have both been well acquainted with him for 30 years and believe his statement entitled to full credit. -
Sworn to and Subscribed before us
J. W. S. Callaway Clerk
Henry Chesnut Samuel Briggs
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 such as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Henry Chesnut Esq, and Samuel Chesnut are both resident in said County (who have also signed the same) and that they are credible persons and their statement entitled to full credit. The said Court is also of opinion that a clergyman cannot be got to certify without too much expense and inconvenience. -
Thos P. Caldwell, Pres't William Winston
J. W. S. Callaway, Clerk of the Court of pleas and Quarter Sessions for the said County of Monroe do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of Reuben Lawson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal, (having none official) this the 18th June 1833.
J. W. S. Callaway Clerk

I Hugh L. White under my hand and seal do certify that I truly believe the foregoing signature to the last Certificate is the genuine signature of Mr S. P. Hildreth who is Clerk of the said Court.
Hugh L. White
June 24. 1833.
Reuben Parsons
Clerk
attest to
James H. Coffin
Madisonville
Monroe City
Tenn