Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2,002, for Robert Major, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
Nb.
Major Robert
S.2.002
CONTENTS
carded

Robert Major.
4718.

Ques 5 th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with you, or the troops when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service. —
Ans I recollect Lieut. Genl Lewis of the regular troops who commanded the 9 months men; I have saw some Regiments of Militia but do not recollect their number, I saw some Regular troops on Savannah River, but do not know anything about their numbers or the names of their officers. And only know such officers & Regiments as I have given in my Declaration. —
Ques 6 th Did you ever receive a discharge, and if so, what has become of it. —
Ans I received one discharge, from General Rutherford I think, but what has become of it I do not know. —
7 th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. —
Ans The Rev. W. H. Cardwell, William Norvell Esquire, (Att.) Martin Esq. & John Silman. The foregoing sworn to in open court this 15 th day of August 1862.
Robert his R. Hays Marks
Co V 1 st Va. Cav

(We Rich. W.) Cardwell a clergyman Residing in Bedford County and State of Tennessee, and William Norvell a resident of the same County and State, — Do hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Majors, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832. That we believe him to be seventy years five months and one day old; That he is respected and and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion; Sworn to us upon oath the 15 th day of August 1832. Richard W Cardwell J. M. Wharton Wm. Norvell
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 R. W. Cardwell is a clergyman of good standing in the Methodist church in this county and it also appears to the court that he has signed the foregoing certificate; And that William Norvell who has also signed the preceding certificate is a resident of the county and state aforesaid & is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
J. L. Neill Samuel Phillips John B. Armstrong

I James M'Kisick Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quartermaster General for the County of Bedford in the State of Tennessee, do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Robert Mayans, for a pension - The testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 15 th day of August 1852
J. M'Kisick

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832.
On this 15 th day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirtytwo. personally appeared in open court before the worshipful John D. Armstrong, Samuel Phillips and John L. Bell Esquires gentlemen Justices of the peace, appointed to hold the court of pleas and quarter sessions for Bedford County in the State of Pennsylvania; Robert Major a resident of said County aged Seventy one years five months and one day; 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 7 th June 1832. That he entered the service of the united States under the following named officers and served as herein stated; (to wit) That he entered the service of the united States, as a drafted soldier in the County of Surry and State of North Carolina, in the year 1778 as he believes; he states that one John Davis was one of the proper number to be called out; but was absent at that time and he states that he was ordered to rendezvous at Richmond the County Tavern, on a particular day; by the proper officers; He further states that his Brother John Major substituted in the place of same person whose name he has forgotten, to go with him; He also states that when he and his Brother appeared according to orders; the aforesaid John Davis appeared and filled

his own, place according to his muster; He states he was then released; But in order to accompany his Father who had manifested so much brotherly affection for him he states he substituted also; in the place of one John Carmichael and was placed under the Command of Captain James Shepherd; and the Major name was Richard Good. He states he was March from Surry County to Salisbury in Roan County N. Carolina he states at that place he was taken in and was hauled in a waggon to a place called the Hanging Rock in the State of South Carolina. He states that after he recovered; he traveled on to his quarters, Cavilshburg on the Savannah river. He states that he was marched from that place to what he thinks was called the two Sisters; and from that on up to what was called the Black Swamp on Savannah river, He states the troops were under the Command of General Rutherford & Col. Lock and Major Good. He states that soon After he joined the main Army, after his sickness; he understood that a part of General Rutherford's Army and the British had a small skirmish on Briar Creek in the Georgia side of the Savannah River; He states that they remained there until the 10 th April 1779 When he states he was discharged in writing. He thinks his discharge was signed by General Rutherford, but not being able to read writing he is not certain; He states he served five months on this expedition; He states that during the balance of the year 1779 and the year 1780.

he was frequently engaged in reconnoitering through the country on the Yadkin river in search of Bands of Tories. He states he joined Capt. John Walbert and a Major Smith both Citizens of Guerry County North Carolina. He further states that Afterwards in the year 1781. he volunteered in Captain Oliver Smiths company of light Infantry, and marched down the Yadkin river passing the Town of Cross Creek, and thence on down to Crowding Creek, a distance of about one hundred and fifty or two hundred miles. He states that at or near that place, he saw a company of Dragoons belonging to the American army under the command of Col  Major  St Graham & Capt Charles Palk. He states that during this time of duty the company he belonged to, was surprised by the Tories and one of the Americans killed, and the next morning our troops killed one of the Tories. He states he was then near to General Rutherford head quarters When he states they were discharged, and dismissed and sent home with their Captain; he states he served nine weeks in this last tour. — He hereby relinquishes all claims whatever to any pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any Agency in the united states; He further says that he has no docu- mentary evidence at this time, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify as to his service. —

Interrogatories by the Court. —
Intq 1 st Where, and in what year were you born. —
An s I was born in Dorset County in the State of Maryland in the year 1761 the 11 th March as I have been informed by my parents.
Intq 2 nd Have you any record of your age and if so where is it. —
An s I have a record of my age at my dwelling house in this county, in my Book called Westleys Sermons, taken from the record in my Fathers Bible. —
Intq 3 rd Where were you living when called into Service, where have lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live. —
An s I lived in the County of Surry in the State of North Carolina, when I was first called in to Service, and in the same county when I was last called into Service. And I remained in the same County until the year 1806. When I moved to Bedford County in the State of Tennessee, where I have lived ever since, and where I now live. —
Intq 4 th How were you called into Service were you a volunteer; were you drafted; or were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom. —
An s I was first drafted and released; and then I substituted in order to go with my Brother for to fill the place of one John Carmichael due in my town against the Tories I always volunteered, and in my last tour under Capt. Minor Smith I was a volunteer. —

Rev. Note
INVALID.
File No. 200.2
Robert Waples Rev. S.C. Line
Act: June 7, 1833
Index:—Vol. A , Page 234
[Arrangement of 1870.]
M.C. Line. Records corrected Nov 14 '83

Robt. Majors
from 1778 private month $26. 66 100
J. McKisick

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Robert Majors 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  no. The particular period at which each term was performed after Apr 1779 & 80, and the duration of each should be stated. 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 & has a device.

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? yes 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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? 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? No XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes -
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.
† 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 affidavits must be properly authenticated, as above directed.
‡ 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.

An amendment to the declaration of Robert Majors made at August term 1832 of Bedford County Court in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832.
State of Tennessee Bedford County
Personally Appeared before me the undersigned an acting justice of the peace for said County Robert Majors, who Subscribed and was Sworn to the decl- -aration above alluded to; Who after being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his service, and the precise periods to a month, when he served but to the best of his recollection, he served not less than five months in the year 1778 4-1779 in Captain Shepherds company as stated in the accompanying declaration made in August 1832. said term of service he entered about the 10 th of November 1778 and ended the 10 th of April 1779. Deponent further says to the best of his recollection he served not less than three weeks in the latter part of the year 1779 and 1780 as a volunteer under Capt. Halbert and a Major Smith, but the precise months he performed this last mentioned service in, he cannot state, he further states that he served not less than nine weeks as mentioned in the accompanying declaration, in least Smiths company, and he says to the best of his recollection he entered on this last tour about the 15 th of August 1781 and was dismissed between the 20 th and last of October 1781. making in all a term of actual service of not less than

Eight months as a private soldier for which he claims a pension — Sworn to and subscribed this 11 th day of January 1833. Robert his Major Mark
Sam l Clay Esq r
State of Tennessee Bedford County
I James W. Kisicki clerk of the court of pleas and Quarters Sessions for said County; do hereby certify that Samuel Clay Esquire, before whom Robert Major was qualified to the foregoing amended declaration, is now and was at the time of qualifying thereto an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County, duly com- missioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit are given to all his official acts as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Bedford County Court at office this 8 th day of January 1833.
J. W. Kisicki Clk