Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32396, for Abel Man, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Man, Abel
S 32396
CONTENTS

Illinois 19.710.
Abel Man
of Marshall in the State of Illinois who was a Private in the 6 th commanded by Captain Price. of the Regt commanded by Col. Glyn in the Virginia due for $100.
Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois. at the rate of 30 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of Aug. o 1833 and seat M.W. Dorris. Frankfort. Ky. Illinois
Arrears to the 4th of March, 1833. 60. — Semest. allowance ending Sep 33. 15. —
$75.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. J. Palmer Clerk, Book 6 Vol. Eight Page 59.

State of Illinois { 88 County of Franklin {
On this 1st day of April in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open court before Thomas C. Browne one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois and Presiding Judge of the Franklin Circuit Court in and for the County of Franklin now sitting Abel Man a resident of the County of Franklin and State of Illinois aged 79 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to ob- tain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated He was born in Amelia County State of Virginia in 1760 as he is informed and believes. He was drafted & entered the service in 1776 or 1777 in the month of May to the best of his recollection under Capt Price his given name he does not now recollect. He was then living in the same county above stated. He rendezvoused at Rolling's Church and marched from thence to Hillsboro in N. Carolina where he joined with the company the Battalion of Maj John Boyd Commanded by Col - Glenn under Brig Genl Stephens and was mustered into service for three months. They marched from Hillsboro to near Camden where they met with a body of the enemy & were com- pelled to retreat. Major Genl Gates Commanded the American forces. He states that he was in Gates's defeat and that the forces were scattered and dispersed without orders to rendezvous at any place & that he went

home. He was afterwards ordered to rendezvous at Hillsboro again to serve out his tour of three months which he did under the command of the same Capt & subordinate officers as well as Maj. Col. F. Big Lyle under Major Gene Greene. He then marched to a place called the New Garden. N.C. where he was discharged. He need a written discharge from Capt Price but he had lost or destroyed it. He was drafted again in the year 1777 or 1778 some time in June. He thinks under Capt Geo Flemmings in Major Boiss. Battalion Col. Abram Greene's Regt. Commanded by Genl. Laffayette. He rendezvoused at Morgan Hill. This draft was during the war for three months. He joined the light infantry. There or Carters Ferry he was engaged & employed between Morgan Hill & Sandy Point. He states that he was in a small engagement at Morgan Hill or Carters Ferry. He lived when he entered into service for this last tour in the same county & state as above. He served out his tour of three months without any thing farther of note occurring & was discharged at Morgan Hill by Major Boiss. This was in like manner a written discharge which he has in like manner lost or destroyed. He was again drafted in 1781 or 1782 for three months under Capt John Oglesby in Major Boiss. Battalion. Col. — Richerson Regt Commanded by Genl. Lawson. He lived at same place & marched to Richmond where he rendezvoused. That continued to line in Virginia until 1807 when on when he removed to N. Carolina where he resided 2 years then to Tennessee then to Illinois Franklin City where he now lives. He further says that he has no documentary evi

ance of his services except the oath or af- fidavit gone. Willie Bagwell herewith encl- osed. & that he knows of no person, whose te- stimony he can procure, who can testify further to his services. He hereby relin- ishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, & declares his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any state.
Sworn to, & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Obe his mark name
We James Haxon & Robert Bevil, resi- ding in the county of Franklin & state of Illinois hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Abel Mear who has sub- scribed & sworn to the above Declaration & that we believe him to be 75 years of age in this month April 1835. that he reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.
James G. Haxon Robt his Bevil mark
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
The said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, & after pu- tting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states And the court further certifies that it appears to them that James Haxon & Robert Bevil, who signed the preceding certificate are residen- ts in the county & state aforesaid, & are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my public

seal of Office seal done at Frankfort This 1 st day of April A.D. 1833 J. M. Hubbard Clk. C.C. & C.
I Simon M Hubbard Clk of the Circuit courts of said county do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceed- ings of the said courts in the matter of the application of Abel Mear for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my public seal of office at Frankfort. This 5 th day of July 1833.
J. M. Hubbard Clk. C.C. & C.
25100
Abel Mear

No 25-106 Abel M c Man 19710 Franklinbo Illinois -
Return to Adm. J. M c Mathes
Martin W. Dorrif
Simon M c Shafford Frankford Ill l Franklinbo Illinois

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
30th May 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 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 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 Abel Mason  Franklin B. Allen
   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.     Defe 1776 or in May 77 3 Private Capt Price 73 years Living witness for 3 mo -   Ltto in 77 or 78 Col Glem Amelia witness not certified core   June 3 Major Gen Gates 69 years died & had no legal wi   Ltto in 81 or 82 3 Capt Fleming dines   Genl Lafayette   Capt Ogleby   Col Richardson  
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) _____, who has 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 days 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 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, 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 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.
[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.
John R. Ashton

Frankfort Ky July 13
Hon. Lewis Cass Secretary War
Pension Bureau

Frankfort Illinois July 1833.
Hon. Lewis Cass Secy
I herewith enclose the original election of Abel Man for a pension, together with the amendment, as per directions of the department.
The inclosed affidavit of John Roach taken before a Magistrate in the State of Tennessee relative to one of the terms of service of Abel Man is objected to in consequence of the Magistrate not certifying that John Roach was a credible person. Now in consequence of the trouble and expense which the applicants would be put to in going or sending to the State of Tennessee in order to have that little defect corrected, I have taken the affidavit of James Thaxton of this county who has been personally acquainted with John Roach in that State for twenty years and has made oath that the said Roach is a credible person. And the credibility of Thaxton is certified to you by an acting Magistrate in this county. This is an indirect way of establishing the fact of credibility but when you consider the intelligent and infirm situation of the applicants you will doubtless concede to it sufficient verity to clearly establish the facts. As to the objection to the clerks private seal which was objected to. I have removed by getting the clerk to affix his public seal of office which he has since procured.
Yours respectfully Martin M. Dorn
Hon. Lewis Cass

32 396 Ray INVALID.
File No. 32, 396
Abel (Man)
Re: Rev. War
Act: June 4 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2, Page 256
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Illinois } Personally appeared before me the under Franklin County } signed an acting justice of the peace in and for said county. A bel Man who being duly sworn deposed and saith that by reason of old age and consequent loss of mem- ory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of this services nor the precise time that he entered the of the United States service, but accor- ding to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades - He was drafted into the service of the United States in the month of May 1775 or 76, as a private under capt. Price - commanded by Col. Glenn under Brig. Genl. Stephens - and served a tour of three months. Major Genl. Gates commanded the American Army, He was drafted again in the year 1777 or 8. in June and served a tour of three months as private under capt. John Oglesby  Hickson in Major Boiss Battalion Col. Abram Green's Regt. commanded by Genl. Lafayette - He again served, another a tour of three months as a private in the year 1781 or 2. under capt John Hickson Major Boiss Bat. Col. Richardson's Regt. under Genl. Lawson - And for these three several tours of three months each he now claims a pension and for none other - Given under my hand and seal this 5 th day of July 1833
Thos. M. Housley, Clerk
State of Illinois } I G M Hubbard clerk of the county Franklin County } commissioners court in & for the county of Franklin and State aforesaid do hereby certify that the above named Thos M Housley, before whom the foregoing  whose name is subscribed to the affidavit was taken is & was at the time the same was taken an

An acting justice of the peace in for said county duly authorized and qualified as such & full faith and credit should be given to all his official acts -
Given under my hand and seal of my office is hereunto affixed this 5 th day of July 1833
J. M. Hubbard Clerk of the C. C. P. C.
Abel Man
257106

State of Tennessee } Montgomery County } on this third day of January eighteen hundred and thirty three personally appeared before me John Roach before me an acting Justice of the peace of said County who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say that the man served a three months tower in the Revolutionary war with him under the command of general Ligon and Colonel Richerson at Little York and further states that he was at the taken there at the time born malleis was taken given under my hand and seal the day and date above written Willie Bagwell
State of Tennessee } I Andrew Ward Clerk Montgomery County } of the County Court of pleas and quarter Sessions for the County aforesaid do certify that Willie Bagwell Esquire whose name is subscribed to the foregoing affidavit of John Roach is and was at the time of signing the same an acting justice of the peace for said County duly commissioned and qual- ified agreeable to law and that full faith and credit is and ought to be due to all his official acts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said County at office in Clarksville the 3rd day of January 1833 57th year of Independence of the United States A. Ward Clerk

State of Illinois Franklin County ss
Personally appeared before me the undersigned an acting justice of the peace in and for said county James Thaxton now of the county of Franklin in state aforesaid. Who makes oath that the within named John Roach who made the foregoing affidavit (of the service of Abel Man for three months in the Revolutionary War) is a credible person and stands so in county where he now lives to my knowledge. Now I the undersigned as such justice of the peace do hereby certify that the above named James Thaxton (who makes oath from his own knowledge of the credibility of John Roach) is a credible person & well known to me as such.
Given under my hand and seal this 5 th day of July 1833.
Thos. M. Davis (Seal)
State of Illinois Franklin County ss
I S. M. Hubbard clerk of the county commissioners court in & for said county where now is to the foregoing affidavits do hereby certify that Thos. M. Davis is an acting justice of the peace duly commissioned and qualified as such & full faith and credit should of right be given to all his official acts given under my hand &
The said seal of my office is hereunto affixed now at Frankfort Illinois July 5 th 1833.
S. M. Hubbard Clerk of the C.C. I.C.