Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31348, for David Saunders, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Saunders, David
S. 31348
CONTENTS

Kentucky 742
David Saunders of Logan in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Fletcher of the Ky. command by Col. Morris in the Virginia line for 1 year
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 40 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th day of March 1833 and South Spencer Ward. Russellville Ken
Arrears to the 4th of March 80.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 20.00
$100.00
— { Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 27

18487
David Saunders Logan Co Kentucky
from 1778 private 12 months. $48.
Watchen Morris va.
Spencer Gourd Clerk of Logan County Russellville

BRIEF in the case of David Saunders  County of Logan in the State of Kentucky (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? 70  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.     Fall - In 1778 drafted 3 private Gen. Col Morris } Capt. Hatcher }   - - - - 3 - - - - - Some officers -   - - - - 3 - - - - - - shall all his rank not mentioned   - - - - 3 - - - substituted Col Morris & Capt. Hatcher  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Skirmish at Farnous Island  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Goochland Co Virginia -  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? authenticated 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
John H. Ashton
Examining Clerk.

Logan County 3 State of Kentucky 3
In the 8 th day of August 1832 personally appeared before the County Court of the County & State afores d : David Saunders a resident citizen of said County of Logan & State afores d aged 70 years the 5 th day of September next 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 7 th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated (To wit) That in the latter part of the Summer or first of the fall of 1778 he was a resident citizen of Goochland County Virginia and was drafted in a Company of Militia commanded by Capt d Gideon Hatcher belonging to a Regiment commanded by Col d Nathaniel Morris Rendezvoused at Maj d No. Woodson's residence on the Banks of James River in said County & was marched from that to the City of Richmond. After remaining at this place for some days they were marched down James River to a place called Cabbins point from thence to Smithfield and then again back to Cabbins point From Cabbins Point they were then marched to Petersburg and there discharged or rather dismissed, Having been in the service three months. Again in some short time after, (the precise time not now recollecting) perhaps about five or six months it became his duty according to the Original draft to serve another tour of duty. At this time he was put under the command of Capt d Thomas

Watches who commanded a Company belong- ing to the Regiment still commanded by Col. Nathaniel Morris. At this time he was marched to Richmond & again to same points mostly and some others to wit to Charles City Court House and after having three months in the service he was marched back to Richmond and there dismissed. Again not long after he was called in to the service of the Country (his best re- collection is in about six months) and was enrolled in the Company at this time also commanded by the said Capt. Gideon Hatcher still by Col. Command- ed by Morris. They were again taken to Rich- mond & there came under the command of a Regular officer by the name of Magill who marched us together with the Regular there under his command down James River to Cabbins Point - Crossed the River at once Col. Birdg again recrossed the River and had a small Skirmish with the British at Farrow's Island not very distant below Richmond and having again been three months in the service they were again disbanded & Permitted to return home. At another time the British having landed their for- ces same where below Richmond and being said to be marching toward Rich- mond the whole of the Militia were of said County were marched to Rich- mond and the said Saunders having been kept at said place some weeks and

marched again down to said Cabin Point on Kanawha River and having served three tours of duty before was dismissed to go home while others who had not before been in the service were retained but he the said Saunders took the place of one Robert Pleasants who was required to serve longer and served a fourth tour out at said Cabin Point and was again permitted to return home His best recollection is one of the Hatches already mentioned then also commanded the Company and Col Morris the Regiment to which he belonged. He hereby relinquishes any written discharge from any of his officers. He hereby relinquishes all every claim which entitles him to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll or agency of any state whatever. He states more over he never got a written discharge from any of the above named tours nor pay but for the time he served as a substitute.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid — David his X Saunders mark
We Robert Samary a clergyman residing in the County of Logan and Rev. W. R. Morton  Rev. W. R. Morton residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Saunders who has made subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be about 70 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. R. W. Samary W. R. Morton

And the said Court do hereby certify and declare their opinion after the investiga- -tion of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above appli- -cant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Robert M.  Sammary who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Logan and that William S. Thornton who has signed the same is a resident in the same county and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. Justis of the Court  Mr. Robert Presiding Spencer Curd Clerk of the County Court of Logan do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Saunders for a pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8 th day of August 1832 Spencer Curd Clerk
August 8 th 1832
David Saunders Pension Westphalia
1848

Rapids, Wis. Oct 30
Free
Nov. 7
1848
The Honble
Lewis Cass
Secretary of War Washington City

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 Saunders 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? 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? Citizens and Clergyman XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? yes 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? 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? 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? answered —
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.

37.348 Rev INVALID.
am
File No. 31,348
David Saunders
Rev Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82 nd
Index:—Vol 2 , Page 55-6
[Arrangement of 1870.]