Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7060, for Abraham Mayfield, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
N.6.
Mayfield, Abraham.
P. 7060
CONTENTS

Declaration of Abraham Mayfield
24233

State of South Carolina } Granville District } ss.
On this the nineteenth day of March 1833 personally appeared in open court Abraham Mayfield a resident of the District and State aforesaid, aged Sixty six 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 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. That is to say,
1 st Jour. He entered the service in the fall of the year 1780, about the 1 st Dec r to the best of his recollection as a drafted Militia-man, in the County of Bute in North Carolina, & was rendezvoused at Warren Court House under the command of Capt. George Nazrey, where they remained about two weeks.
Near Christmas, he received a dismission with orders to be in readiness to march at a minute's warning. On the 1 st of February 1781. he was ordered to rendezvous at Warren C.H. and was marched immediately from there to Guilford C.H. commanded by Capt. George Nazrey. Here he remained until Monday preceding the Battle which was fought at that place on the 15 th March, when being sick, he, with about 30 other soldiers in like ill health were sent home on furlough. He did not recover his health in time to return to the army during this tour of three months.
2 nd Jour. In August 1781 he was again drafted in Bute County, and was rendezvoused at Halifax Town on Roanoke River, & was there stationed for eleven or twelve weeks under the command of Capt. John Cockely.

When the army was about to be marched towards Wilmington, near the sea-board, my father (being unwilling for me to go where he considered it to be very sickly, at that season of the year,) released me by substituting William King in my place to serve the remainder of my time which was a term of three months. The surrender of Cornwallis occurred soon after the end of my second term & I was never again called into the service. Thus personally and by substitution he declares he served six months. He received a discharge which he entrusted to his father's keeping which has been lost. He has no other documentary evidence useful in his case.
He was born and raised in Culpepper County, Virginia, when he was about ten years of age, his father moved to, & settled in, Dute County (now Warren) N.C. where he resided with his father until I moved to South Carolina in which state I have been living for the last forty six years, & now reside in Greenville District where he has resided for the last forty three years.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to any pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any state.
Subscribed the day & year aforesaid. In open Court. Abraham his Mayfield J. McDaniel mark 668
I do hereby certify, on my oath, that I have been personally acquainted with Abraham Mayfield whom I have just seen sign the foregoing Declaration, for the last fifty five years; and do know that he served in the army of the United States in the Revolutionary war, and believe his declaration is entitled to full credit.
Sworn to & subscribed, day & year aforesaid. In Open Court. Henry his Wood J. McDaniel mark 668

And we, Thomas Hutchins, a clergyman, and Josiah Gilgore each resident in the district & state first above stated hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abraham Mayfield, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be sixty six years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed day & year aforesaid.
Thos Hutchins Gilgore
In Open Court McDaniel b.b.P
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter & after putting the Interrogatories, prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier, and that he served as he states. And the Court further Certifies, that it appears to them that Thomas Hutchins is a Clergyman, and that Josiah Gilgore is a respectable person, and that each are resident in the District & State first above stated, and that their statement is entitled to Credit -
Josiah J. Evans Presiding Judge.
J. James McDaniel, Clerk of the Court of General Sessions & Common Pleas for the District of Granville & State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abraham Mayfield for a pension. In testimony whereof I have here to set my hand & seal of office, this 19 th day of March 1833.
McDaniel b.b.P

21/233
Abraham Mayfield S 6
Reject - did not serve but 4 1/2 mo -
See let to the Agent Cecian - May 16 1833
J. T. Thompson Greenville 6 A. S. C.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
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 Abraham Mayfield 16
   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 at which he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     1 st Dec r 1781 about 14 Private Col. Haggerty 66 - born in Culpeper Va. entered in Dec r 61 N.E. - now lives in Lynchburg Dec r 16. one living witness - knows he served in the War - no Certificate of Discharge - Certificate of Chieftains and a Citizen   Sub. " " " 3 but did not serve owing to sickness   to enlistment   Aug t 1781 - to 11 or 12 weeks Col. Berkeley  
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 G. 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 paper 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 [j] 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.

N o . 24233 Abraham Mayfield S o C a
Let. to Hon. D. Wallace Dec. 18/49
7090
Rejected - see letter to J. F. Thompson Greenville C. H. May 16. 1833 - Hon D Wallace Dec 18 1849 - B. T. Brock. Mar July 29 1856 -
See Case Henry Wood R. 11785
ack. 7 th June 1832

February 24, 1914
2123-18th Street
Washington, D.C.
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:
Please send to
following address the record of the Revolutionary service of Abraham Mayfield, who applied under Act of June 7, 1832, a resident of Greenville District, South Carolina; his claim was rejected, not having served six months.
And oblige
(Miss) Alice Briggs 2123-18th St, Washington D.C.

REJECTED
7060
P. O.
Abraham Weyfuss
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18__
Discharged: _____, 18__
Application filed: _____, 18__
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18__
pay mech. 3. Next to next line Engrs.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Abraham Mayfield a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ( or his widow's ) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
R. 7060
Dev
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Dec. 1, 1780 to Christmas George Naggy ✓ N.C.   May 1, 1781 to March 12, 1781   Aug. 1781 11 or 12 wks. John Copely ✓      
Battles engaged in, ✓
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Bute Co., N.C.
Date of application for pension, March 19 1833.
Residence at date of application, Greenville Dist., S.C.
Age at date of application, 66 yrs born in Culpeper Co., Va.
Remarks: This claim was never allowed for the reason that he failed to furnish proof of six months' actual service required by the Act of March 7, 1832, under which he applied.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

House Reps as Washington Dec 1849
Sir
I am informed, that about fifteen years ago, a little more or less, a Mr Thompson, of Greenville District South Carolina presented to the War Department, the Evidence in the Pension Claim for Revolutionary Services of a Mr Mayfield. Whose name I believe is Abraham Mayfield.
Thompson who undertook to prosecute the Claim moved to the West before the matter was brought to a close.
Will you have the kindness to inform me as to the state & condition of this Claim at present. I believe Mayfield served in North Carolina.
I have the honor to be &c Hon J. L. Edwards — D Wallace

Flint Greenwich July 15 th 1836
Mr L P Malto
Sir,
You will please send me the lot bag in respect to Pensioners Land claims etc. The heirs of Abraham Mayfield none of them miners, whose services were proven in 1833 and nothing got, the serving in the North nearly six months. Write me, if there is any probability of getting a pension for the heirs, where there are no miners,
I oblige
D. C. Barnstable