Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,105, for William Steele, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Steele, William
R 10.105
CONTENTS

State of Missouri, County of Saline to wit.
Be it remembered that on this sixth day of July in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty six, William Steel a resident citizen of said County, applied to me David Todd Judge of the First Judicial circuit in said State, within which circuit is the said County of Saline, (which Court of which he is Judge is a Court of record, of the highest original jurisdiction in the County, and is unlimited in extent) to make a declaration under oath in order to obtain the benefit of the acts of Congress granting a pension to the soldiers who served in the revolutionary war on the Continental establishment; and the said William Steel doth declare and state: That from old age and infirmity he is unable to attend the sitting of any court of record in his County, without great hazard and danger —
And that he was born on the 23 d day of July 1749 and is now 89 years of age, in the County of Lancaster in the state of Pennsylvania — That he resided in said state until the year 1771. and that in said year he removed to the state of North Carolina in the County of Orange, that he resided in said County about one year and of Orange, with the exception of about one year, (which he resided in the County of Chatham) until about the year 1809.
And the said State further states that in the year 1775 (according to the best of his recollections) he served a tour of three months, and was commanded by Capt. John Murray, who he thinks was at first ordered to the south. but that after pro-

= According to the 17th Article of War, or when it is called the Punitive. The said Murray rec d orders not to proceed further. And that his Company returned to the County of Orange in the state aforesaid and was there and then discharged.
And the said Steele further states that he served a second tour of service under Capt. William Gwynn, who was engaged against the Tories. that he cont d under the Command of said Gwynn about 2 Months. during which time he was engaged in reconnoitering thro' the Counties of Orange, Chat d ham, Guilford and Randolph & during this service he was enga- -ged in a battle or fight against the Tories, when several persons were killed on each side. Capt. William Gwynn Commanded on this Occasion. This happened near Wolf River.
The said Steele further states that the third Tour of service, (as well as he can now remember) was under the Command of Joseph Mc c Adams, who was called Capt. Mc c Adams, at which time, and during this term of service, Major John Moore (the Tory) was killed near Hillsboro. as further appears by the affidavit of the said Joseph Mc c Adams, herewith attached.
And the said Steele further states, that the fourth tour of service, which he rendered was under the Command of Capt. Thomas Thompson. that he does not now recollect the exact time that he served under him. but that he obtained from Genl. Matthew Ramey who Commanded the troops when they assembled. an honorable discharge for this Tour of service.
And the said Steele further states that he with many others, assembled at the battle of

Lindley's Wife in Orange County. That he was not him- self in said Battle - having been previously detached to act as a spy with others.
And the said Steele further states, that On many Occasions, he with many others of that section of Country, frequently assembled themselves together, to Check and resist the Tories, who were very numerous in those days, in that section of Country - and that when thus assembled they would select some one from among them, who they would call Captain, and thus continue together, for a longer or shorter time as Circum- -stances seemed to require. And he further states, that he removed to the state of Kentucky about the year 1809 - and on or about the year 1829 he moved to the state of Illinois - and from there to the state of Miss- -ouri, where he has been living in different parts of it, for about six years.
And the said Steele further states that he did receive from Genl. Matthew Ransom an honorable discharge from the service in which he was engaged - but that owing to old age and infirmary together with the fact that his papers has long since been handled by others, it has been lost, He thinks that he rec d several other discharges - which, has also been lost - and he is now unable to find them. - And he the said Steele further states, that he has been acquainted with the following gentle- -men for about 18 or 20 months (even since he lived in this

County) to wit, Bernis Brown, Henry H. H. and Benjamin H. Brown, and Ezekiel T. Scott, - and that he had been acquainted with Henry H. H. for about 12 or 14 years. to whom I refer, for evidence of my veracity, and character in my neighborhood. And further that there is no Clergyman, or Minister of the Gospel immediately in this neighborhood. that can be had to certify to my veracity.
And he further states that he has never applied for any pensions of the United States, or of any State or territory, or any arrears of pensions. And that his name is not on any pension roll, either of the United States or of any State or territory, and he does hereby renounce all right, title and interest which he has or may have to any such pensions, except the pension application. And further he saith not.
Sworn to and subscribed his William * Steele before me by the said William Mark Steele, on the date aforesaid David Todd Judge.
We Bernis Brown, Benjamin H. Brown and Ezekiel T. Scott, doth depose and say, that we have each of us known the aforesaid William Steele, for at least 18 or 20 months. and I Henry H. H. have known him for at least 12 or 14 years . and that from our acquaintance with him, and from all the information which we have received, we are induced to believe that he did render the services above set forth. and that such is the opinion we believe that prevails, in the neighborhood. And we further testify that we believe the said Steele is a man of truth and veracity, and that he would not knowingly make a false declaration. And we do further testify that there is no Minister of the Gospel in this immediate

33.792
William Steele. Missouri Declaration.
Ms:
m 469

Greenville Ill. May 10 th 1836
State of Illinois
Bond County
This day personally appeared before me the undersigned an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county and state aforesaid, Joseph McDamus Who after being duly sworn deposes and saith, that he has been acquainted with William Steel who is about to apply for a pension for forty years and also saith that he (Steel) was a soldier in the revolutionary war, and that the said Steel was with him in the engagement with the Tories when Major John Moore (the Tory) was killed near Hillsboro N.C. North Carolina the said Steel was under my command at the above stated engagement — Joseph McDamus
Subscribed and sworn to before me May 10 th 1836
Richard Jaton
(J.P.)

STATE OF ILLINOIS,
Bond COUNTY, } Sec.
I, James Bradford Clerk of the County Commissioners' Court for the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that Richard Laton Esq. whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate was at the time of subscribing the same, an acting Justice of the Peace within and for the county of Bond aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Private Seal there being no official Seal Provided at Greenville
this 10 th day of May A. D. 1836.
J. Bradford
Clerk.

The affidavit of William Steele of Saline County in the State of Missouri, intended to be read in support of his application for a pension, now pending before the War Department.
This affiant being first duly sworn upon the holy evangelists of Almighty God, deposeth and saith, that from old age and infirm- ity his memory is greatly impaired, he being now nearly 90 years of age - that to the best of his recollection the enclosed discharge bearing date "the 20 July 1780. and signed by Stephen Moore Lt. Col." was for a six months term. This affiant distinctly recollects that the term of service for which this dis- charge was given commenced in the month of May in the year 1780. That he himself served in the Hillsboro Regiment until the 20 July 1780 at which time, he employed the substitute mentioned in said discharge, and that he paid said substitute, Sixty dollars, to serve the balance of the term and also some clothing. These facts being now on his mind, he is constrained to be- lieve, and does believe that the said term of service, was for six months.

This affiant for the testifier and saith that he knows well that he did receive, and had in his possession two other discharge for services rendered during the Revolutionary War, but which has been lost, so that he cannot now avail himself of any advantage from them - more than to state here that from the best of his recollection one of them was for an eighteen months tour - and the other he cannot now well remember the time for which it was given
And further this affiant saith not -
Wm Steele - - -
Missouri Saline County St.
I Dennis Brown presiding justice of Saline County Court, do hereby certify that Wm Steele whose name is subscribed above personally appeared before me and made oath that the matters & things stated in the foregoing affidavit are true to the best of his knowledge and recollection
Given under My hand this 13 th day of May 1837.
Dennis Brown (Lead)

neighborhood - that can be proved to certify to his veracity - And we further state that we believe that the said Stule from appearance, is as old as he represents himself to be say 89 years - And further we say not -
Bernis Brown
Henry Nave
Benj. H. Brown
Ezekiel F. Scott
Subscribed and sworn to by each of the said affiants before me on the day aforesaid.
David Todd Judge.
I David Todd doth certify that on the day and year aforesaid the foregoing decla- ration and affidavits was given before me at the residence of the said William Stule and that the said Stule from old age and infirmity is unable to attend at his County seat before any court to make a declaration to obtain a pension and that no clergyman can be obtained to aid him in the establishment of his claim - that Bernis Brown Henry Nave Benjamin H. Brown and Ezekiel F. Scott are citizens of Saline County and are credible persons. And that it doth appear to me from the proofs adduced and hereto attached, that the

Said William Steel is a revolutionary soldier and did serve therein on the Continental establishment as he has stated, and that he is entitled to a pension under the laws of the United States -
In testimony whereof I David Todd Judge of the First Judicial Circuit in said State and Judge of the Saline Circuit Court aforesaid, here to set my hand on the sixth day of July 1836.
David Todd
State of Missouri County of Saline
I John A. Prigg Clerk of the Circuit Court of Saline County do hereby certify that David Todd whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Certificate is the Judge of the first Judicial Circuit in the State of Missouri (of which the County of Saline forms a part) and do that full faith and credit are due to all his Official acts, as such.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court. At Office this 6 th day of July 1836 John A. Prigg Clerk

William Steel his discharge dearly bought and severly paid for
Wm Steel M.C. No. 10105-
2. 10. 3 2. 6 2. 2

Camp at The x Roads th 20. July 1700
William Steel having procured a man to serve his tour of duty on the present Expedition in the Militia service, the said William Steel is therefore hereby discharged from the Hilborough Regiment under the command of Col t . Ambrose Ramsey
By order of the Colonel
Stephen Moore L t Col