Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,653, for David Jones, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
N.C.
Jones, David
S. 2,653
carded
CONTENTS
Set 1763 in Dobbs Co. N.C. (Hampstead, Harnett Co. Green Co.) In 1833 near Pigeon Co. Tenn.

19172 East Tennessee
David Jones
of Knobbs in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Williams of the regiment commanded by Col Snodgrass in the Shenandoah line for 7 months and 2 days
Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee at the rate of 23 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 10th day of Aug 4 1833 and Sent to W. G. B. A. Barney Knobbs
Arrears to the 4th of March 47.10 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 11.77 $58.87
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 34

24592
The certificate to this applicant, on these papers if returned will be directed to William B. A. Ramsay Knoxville Tennessee

State of Tennessee
Knox County 3 Circuit Court for S. County February Session 1833 On this 13 th day of February 1833 personally appeared in open Court at a Circuit Court for said County now sitting, the same being a Court of record, David Jones a citizen of said County aged 70 years who having been duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of an act of Congress passed June 2 nd 1832. That he was born in what was then Dobbs County N. Carolina, afterwards Greene County, sometime in the month of February 1763, where he continued to live at until the commencement of, and during the whole contin- uance of the Revolutionary war, and for ten years after its termination - Applicant states that sometime in the winter of 177 or 80, as well as he now recollects, he well remem- bers that he was but 16 years old, he, with about twenty others volunteered in the said Dobbs County, under a Captain, whose name he believes was Williams, for the purpose of guar- ding the American magazine at Kingston, on the Neuse river in what was then Dobbs, but afterwards Lenoir County N.C. applicant states that he marched with the said Company to Kingston and remained there guarding the said magazine for one month, when they were relieved by a new guard and returned home - Applicant states that sometime in the winter, he thinks the next winter, after this last campaign, but of this he is not certain, he was drafted in the said Dobbs County, for a three months tour, and his company were ordered to ven- devous at Kingston in said County, here he was enrolled as a private into a company commanded by Captain David Dudley and Lieutenant Samuel Holiday - under these officers applicant marched from Kingston to the Far river a short distance below a little place called Greeneville, here our company lay a few days for the purpose of collecting all the men of our company - from here our company mar- ched to Crooked Creek now Fayetteville, where we camped several days and were joined by several other Companies.

at Crospereek. Major - Dennis took command of our Battalion Col - Broson of our Regiment and all under the command of General Lennington - From Crospereek applicant was ordered with his Company under their said officers, to march down into South Carolina to disperse some Tories which were understood to have collected there - they marched crossing the river at Crospereek down to ashpole swamp, near the junction of Drowning Creek and the little Pee dee river - after marching about in this service two or three weeks and being unable to find any embodied Tories, our Company marched up upon the Big Pee dee river where we met again the other division of the troops under Genl. Lennington as by previous orders we were directed to do - The whole army lay encamped on the Pee dee for two or three weeks during which time we were engaged in building a fort, but many of the men getting sick and several of them having died we marched up the river leaving the fort unfinished, and continued our march up to Guil- ford County - here applicants three months for which he had been drafted having expired and several days more, he and his company were marched to Kingston and there dis- charged - applicant states that he was within ten or fifteen miles of Guilford Courthouse at the time he understood it was burned, which was shortly before his last cam- paign had terminated - he states that in this campaign he continued in service at least a week after his three months had expired - Applicant states that sometime after this last campaign, he was drafted with a company of about twenty men to go and guard Webbers Bridge which was thrown across Trent river a small stream which empties into the Neuse river, for the purpose of preventing the enemy from crossing - he states that he re- mained stationed at said Bridge, for ten days when being relieved by others he was discharged and returned home - he states that every night a part of the Bridge was taken up and replaced in the morning - he states

that the officer who had command of him during this ten days was named Abraham Shepherd — Applicant states that sometime after this perhaps two or three years he was drafted in the said County of Scotts to perform a three months tour — he was enrolled into a company commanded by Captain William Shepherd, and under him marched from Kingston down to the rich lands on New River not far from the sea shore, and after scouring that part of the country were marching on towards Wilmington where we expected to meet with the main American army, but while on our march thither the intelligence reached us that peace was made, and we marched back to Kingston and was there discharged — Applicant states that he received a written discharge from Captain Shepherd for a three months tour although he believes his three months had not expired by about fifteen days — Applicant states that from the long time which has elapsed since the above mentioned service were performed, he has forgotten many of the incidents connected with it — he states that he is extremely illiterate never having learned a single letter — He states that he is confident he was in actual service in the American army during the Revolutionary war for six months and a half, for which he claims a pension — he states that at no time during his said service was he in company with any of the Continental troops or their officers — he states that about ten years after the close of the war he moved to Marion Co. — South Carolina where he lived about 9 years, when he moved to Bladen Co. N.C. where he lived 10 or 12 years, when he moved to Cumberland Co. N.C. where he lived about 12 years, when he moved to Knox County Tennessee where he has lived ever since and now lives — he states that he has no record of his age but believes from information of his parents & others that he is 70 years old — he states that the persons in his neighbourhood who can testify to his veracity and his reputation for military service are, Robert Duncan, John Harrison

Isaac Bond John F. Bond - and others - he states that he received a written discharge for two of his said campaigns, but he has lost them both - he states that he has no documentary evidence whatever of his services, nor does he know of any person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services. He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to and subscribed in open his David & Jones mark Conest this 14 th Feby 1833
Will m Brown State of Tennessee
Knob County We Robert Duncan and John F. Bond - citizens of said County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with David Jones who has signed the foregoing declaration and have been so acquainted for several years; that we believe him to be 70 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 further certify that there is no resident clergyman in the neighborhood where declarant resides. Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 14 th day of February 1833. Robert Duncan John F. Bond
Will m Brown Clk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after an 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 said Court further certifies that it appears to them that Robert Duncan and John F. Bond - who have signed the foregoing certificate are citizens of Knox County, are credible persons and their statements entitled to full credit.
Ed m Scott one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Law & Equity in & for the State of Tennessee
William Swan Clerk of the Circuit Court for Knox

County Tenn. do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the appli- cation of David Jones for a pension In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal, having no official seal, this 15 th Feby, 1833
Will. Swan
I Hugh L. White a Senator in the Congress of the United States from the state of Tennessee do hereby certify that William Swan is Clerk of the Circuit Court of Knox County, Tennessee; that I am well acquainted with his handwriting, and that the signatures to the foregoing certificates pur- porting to be his are in his proper hand writing -
Hugh L. White
June 10 th 1833.

e No 24692
David Jones. Knox County Tennessee
from 1780 private time 2 days. $23.55 100
William Dudley N.C.
M rs D. A. Ramsey Knoxville Tennessee

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
May 31 st 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 subjjoined 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 David Jones Knox 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.     Vol { 779 } { 1780 } - 1 - private Col Williams 70 years Green County Traditional evidence, witnesses certified credible - no clergyman   Draft winter - 3 7 " Col Dudley, Major Dennis N. Carolina convenient to applicant - papers not properly attached & seal defective   Draft - - 10 " Col Shepherd   Draft - 2 15 " Col Shepherd   9 02  
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) _____ 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.
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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Rev War
2653 INVALID.
File No. 2653
David Jones Private Rev War
Act: June 7, 1832
Index:—Vol. A , Page 194
[Arrangement of 1870.]