Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 6203, for James Lawson, New York

SERVICE
NUMBER
W.H. 11 P.M.
Lawson, James
P 6203
CONTENTS
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for handwritten entries.
Twelve horizontal dotted lines for handwritten entries.

James Dr.
Gen - res
1832
Gen. T. Hanson,
Washington City
D.C.

Concord, June 18th, 1883
Dear Cousin, I have been thinking of you and your made a query in your letter of the 14th inst. in relation to the services of his father in law for his services in the Revolutionary war. The name of his father in law is not given in the query, but it was the of Concord which he made in Concord County, Penn., and he was married to Sarah, his wife, June, 18th inst. The memorandum which he put it not to be in memory, as he was not then, making all of his services, and that it is so, as he was not
Very respectfully Michael H. Dwyer
Concord, Penn. June 18th, 1883

South Hampton Tennessee June 3 rd 1856
Dear Sir
My father James Swanson made application for a pension about twenty five years ago, or thereabouts, through the agency I think of a man by the name of Ligon, I am sure under the act of 7 th June 1832. Please inform me if his papers are on file in your office, and let me know what the objections are as I think additional testimony in his behalf can now be procured. When my father made application he resided in Henry County Tenn. Please me a few lines to South Hampton P.O. Hickman County Tennessee
Yours Respectfully Shadrach Swanson

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7 th 1832.
State of Tennessee } ss. County of Henry }
On this first day of September 1845 personally appeared before the County Court of said County, James Lawson, a resident of district no. , in the County of Henry, and State of Tennessee, James Lawson, aged Eighty Seven 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 7, 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1806 as a recruiting officer named Joshua Shaw, and served in the Regiment of United States Troops commanded by Col. Richard in the company of Capt. W. Kinsey - He enlisted at a place called Newton, in Pennsylvania, and was marched into service at Bristol, Bucks Co, Penna. & from Bristol marched to Germantown, where he was in the Battle of Germantown - from Germantown every unit with out detachment to Fort Mifflin, where Lawson was stationed about three months, & from there made operations into the neighborhood - the British then had possession of Philadelphia when the British left Philad a , his regiment went in pursuit - was at the battle of Red Bank, near Cranberry - was at the Battle of Red Bank - Genl Wayne commanded & stormed the British redoubt with trailing arms - From Red Bank returned to Newton, 7 miles from Bristol, where he was stationed a while

winter in winter quarters: here Col. Johnson was in command, and sometimes Col. Chambers: Genl. Wayne was the Commander in Chief of all the Penna. troops: After the capture of Cornwallis, I was discharged, or rather dismissed, at New York; Lieut. Knox was the officer who rode along the line and dismissed the men telling them that they had been provided for — I served in the Revolutionary army two years & 8 months.
I afterwards served in Col. Harmons expedition to the West — I then lived at Poughkeepsie, New York — I enlisted with Capt. D. H. Hantman — I was soon appointed Sergeant. We encamped at West Point — our Regiment commanded by Col. Hantman — the other Captains, besides Hantman were Hart, Strong & Hantman — we marched 29th October from West Point to Red Bank — passed Reading, Carlisle, Bedford: Their baggage wagons were said to be the first wagons that had ever crossed the Alleghenies — got to Pittsburgh 29th November — staid there 3 or 4 weeks — Maj. Doughty was sent to Fort McIntosh at the mouth of Big Beaver; the Indians threatened to burn the fort, we were ordered down to assist Maj. Doughty: About the 1st March I went from McIntosh, with Capt. Hantman's Co. under command of Maj. Willis, to the Mingo town, at Mingo bottoms: — Norris, the head man among the Tories, sent in a flag of truce & the parties came to a compromise; the Indians & Tories agreeing to move off in ten days — we went to the mouth of Muskingum

and staid with Doughty in an picketted fort till their days were out & then returned. He found the Indians partly gone & partly in the act of going. From that time on we returned back by the river to Mt. Patrick, where I was discharged by Capt. Hamtramck —
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or any annuity, except the present, and hereby declares that his name is not on the pension-roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid He states as a reason for not having made this declaration sooner, that 13 years ago, he employed Henry Nixon Esq. of Hickman Co. Tenn., upon his then residing, to prepare a Declaration & make application to get him on the pension list. — That having removed to Henry County his present residence before Mr. Nixon succeeded in getting him placed on the pension roll, he never returned to any inquire anything about the matter; but wrote two or three times to Mr. Nixon & never received an answer. Mr. Nixon has been dead about two years as he understands. — He did not then particularly need a pension, being able & willing to work for his support & that of his family; but his great age, & consequent bodily infirmity compel him to make this application.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
{Seal}

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states if
Thomas B. Porter Chairman of the 6 th Court
I. Constantine Frazier, Clerk of the County Court of Henry County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of David Dawson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this first day of September 1845.
Constantine Frazier Clerk of the County Court of Henry County
12/1/45 J. H. ... 12/1/45

37131 James Lawson.
Team
T. Cooney Dec 4 1845- Hon L B Chase June 4 1846- J. Cooney Sep 5 7846- Tallor & Wayne Oct 25- 1855- Shadrach Law. Sun June 25 7856-
6103
June 7 1832-

Paris, Fe Oct 10. 1875
Dear Sir
I enclose the Declaration of James Lawson for a pension - Want of suffering in extreme old age has driven him to this application, & unless promptly attended to, the bounty of Government may come too late to do him any good, but will benefit his worthy family.
Requesting early attention I am Respectfully
T. Cooney
To J. L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions }

Month of Sunday St. January, 18 th 1846
Sir
I found it convenient a few days ago to call on James Lawson & obtained from him the information you require about his messmates & Army Comrades during his service in the Revolutionary War — he recollects as messmates, or particular acquaintances, Arthur Baley — W m . Miller, Michael Ryan — W m Doleane. Jack Anderson was orderly sergeant of his company & Edward Butler Corporal — The Major of his Regiment was named Murray. Having some land business in Hickman Co, Tenn, where he formerly resided, He I called on him with the view of getting the names of some persons who knew him there, that I might get their testimony — & he gave me the names of several whom affidavits I expect to procure when I can make a visit there; if his death in the mean time shall not render my efforts unavailing; for he seems to be going fast: But he also gave me the names of three individuals now living in this county who lived in Hickman when he did & knew him there & I design taking their testimony as soon as practicable & sending it on. — By the way I wrote to the Secretary of

of State at Harrisburg requesting him to have the rolls examined, & write me on the subject; but I hope you will obtain the necessary evidence from them & save me further trouble on that score: — One of the persons whom the old man (Lawson) designates in this county as having known him long is quite old & his testimony will go as far, with those who know him as most men
Respectfully &c.
J. Coone
Please direct to me at mouth of Sandy Cr. —
J. Edward Rign Commr of Pensions

Paris Tennessee
June 20 th 1853.
My Dear Sir,
I am requested by the widow of James Lawson to inquire as the present condition of the application of the said James Lawson for a Revolutionary Pension, I understand that he made his application some 2 or 3 years since, & has since died leaving a widow to whom he was married previous to 1800,
The case is a meritorious one and all the necessary facts can be, if they are not already, proven to the satisfaction of the Department.
You will greatly oblige me by giving me the information at your earliest convenience
Very Respectfully
Your friend & old Servt
Edw. G. Harris
Hon L. P. Waldo,

M rs of S and S Tuo May 19/46 }
Paid 10
Hon L.B. Chase
House of Reps.
Washington City

mouth of Sandy R May 19 th 1846
Dear Sir
I have been trying for several months to get a poor old man who lives in the northern part of this County, on the pension list for revolutionary services. I made out his declaration & sent it on, but Mr Edwards throws so many obstacles in the way, that it seems a more difficult task to obtain the poor old man's just & lawful rights from the government than I apprehended - or than should, in fact, exist - The old man's name is James Lawson, & unlike most of the revolutionary soldiers that I have known, he is a sober, industrious, as long as he was able to be so, moral excellent man - highly esteemed by all his neighbors. His very pride of self esteem has kept him from pushing his claim, about which there would not have been the least difficulty 10 or 12 yrs ago, until the delay itself is made by Mr Edwards, a serious obstacle to his being placed on the pension list, as he construes such delay into probability of fraud. Lawson moved into this County, from Hickman County, about the time that the revolutionary soldiers were applying for their pensions - say about 1832 - or 1833 - & then applied to me to undertake to get him on the pension list - but I was very much engaged & referred him to somebody else - that person was not, perhaps, then at home - the

old man before his removal had applied to a Mr Nixon, a lawyer of Hickman County, who made out a declaration — or a something; but he was a careless inefficient man, & if I recollect right, was intempe- =rate — so it was, between Nixon's inattention & my refusal to act, & the old man withal being industrious & able to provide for his worthy family made no more effort, until last year fall, when sickness & decrepitude came upon him, & want began to pinch him, he sent one of his neighbors to me, & I went to the poor old mans house, & took down his statement while he lay in bed: His memory is quite equal to that of any old man, with whom I have conversed — he recollects all the minutes of his military operations, during the Revo- lutionary War — & since, with Harmon against the Western Indians — Upon receipt of his declaration, Mr Edward wrote to me, calling for further particulars, such as his army associates — the names of all his superior, & some of his inferior officers — messmates &c — all of which he gave & I forwarded to Mr Edward; but he has not replied to my letter — He also said that I would have to procure the evidence of living witnesses, to the old mans service — that to know , or find record evidence in the archives of the Military Office at Harrisburg (the old man being a Pennsylvanian & having rendered the service in the Penn ca>st va line). The testimony of living

Witnesses is now out of the question. I wrote to the Secretary of State at Hamburg & received an answer from the proper officer that he had examined the rolls & could not find Mr Lawsons name - he did not say whether he found the roll of the Regiment or company to which Lawson claimed to belong; but it is fair to infer that such papers, if in existence are kept in bad order & poorly arranged for examination. Now Sir I request you, as the representative of this poor old man - who is as worthy a constituent as you have in the whole district, & who need your aid as much as any other, to go to the pension office - examine his declaration & his subsequent letter - shew the enclosed affidavits of two of our worthy citizens - one of them among the most respectable men in this county, & if possible get justice for the old man - he asks nothing else - get his certificate of pension & send it to me - If you knew him you would be as confident as I am that he is justly entitled to a pension -
We are all anxious to hear what Congress will do or order to be done, in regard to Mexico - The Stars & Stripes must float over the city of Mexico
Very Respectfully
Yr most obedt
J. Cooney
Hon L B Chase

Copy.
Pension Office.
December 4, 1845-
Sir,
In the case of James Lawson apparently assented for the first time for an alleged service of more than three years under Capt. McKinsey, & Col. McIlvaine of the P. a Line, without assigning any reason for delaying it while the means of parcel proof are daily diminishing, it will be necessary to comply with the rules in all respects, in setting forth the facts, and producing the best attainable proof of each. He should obtain record proof from the rolls at Harrisburgh of the service of the designated officers at the periods of the battles of Germantown, Monmouth, Stony Point, and Red Bank, as well as of his own alleged service. To this should be added a statement showing the names of some of his non-commissioned officers and sergeants, a copy of which should be forwarded to the Office, before the rolls are

examined for evidence of their service in the same Company. He will also be required to adduce the testimony of one or more comrades to identify him with any service credited to his name on the rolls, or that of the most respectable of his old neighbours to shew that his merit as a Continental Soldier was universally believed, before any pension laws were passed. Some evidence of his age should be also adduced, and the reason of his delay in asserting his claim, assigned.
I am very, Respect,
Your obedt Servt,
(Signed) J. L. Edmond
L. Cooney, Paris, Fran.

State of Tennessee Henry County Set Personally appeared before the subscri- ber an acting justice of the peace in & for said County, William Burke aged 81 years, who having been duly sworn according to law before says, that he has been long acquainted with James Lawson, a very old man who he supposes to be near ninety years; That his acquaintance with said Lawson commenced when they both lived in the same neighborhood in Hickman County, Tennessee, about the year 1800 and has continued ever since. That said Lawson was always reputed in that neighborhood to have been a revolutionary soldier. That this deponent has frequently heard him speak of his services in the Revolutionary War, long before the passage of the acts by Congress giving pensions to Revolutionary soldiers. Given under my hand & seal this 10 day of March 1846.
(ka)
Sworn to & subscribed before me - A. J. C. - J.P.

State of Tennessee Henry County -
Personally appeared before the subscriber an acting justice of the peace in & for said County, Thomas K Porter - & made oath in due form of law that he has long been acquainted with James Lawson, an old man living in the Northern part of Henry County - that he has always understood that said Lawson had been a Revolutionary soldier - & that such is the general report & understanding of the neighbor- hood where said Lawson resides. -
He further takes pleasure in saying that said Lawson fair as to his moral character & is universally regarded by his neighbors & acquaintances as a man of integrity & truth
Given under my hand & seal at Paris this 11th May 1846 -
Thomas K Porter
Sworn to and subscribed before
the May 12th 1846
B.C. Brown J.P.
State of Tennessee I do hereby certify that the within Henry County of said County do hereby certify that Robert Ag I being to Brown whose signature appears to the foregoing certificate is now and was at the time of signing the same acting Justice of the peace for said County duly elected commissioned & qualified ac- cording to law & that full faith & credit is and ought to be given there office as such & that there certificates are in due form of law
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office in the Town of Paris the 12th of May in the year of our Lord one the said eight hundred & forty six & the 70th year of our Independence
between the...

State of Tennessee Henry County -
Personally appeared before the subscriber an acting justice of the peace in & for said County, Thomas K Porter - & made oath in due form of law that he has long been acquainted with James Lawson, an old man living in the Northern part of Henry County - that he has always understood that said Lawson had been a Revolutionary soldier - & that such is the general report & understanding of the neighbor- hood where said Lawson resides: -
He further takes pleasure in saying that said Lawson fair as to his moral character & is universally regarded by his neighbors &c. as a gentleman of a man of probity & truth
Given under my hand & seal at Paris this 11th May 1846 -
Thomas K Porter
Sworn to & subscribed before me
May 12th 1846
B.C. Brown J.P.
State of Tennessee I Constantin Fragon in behalf of the County Court Henry County of said County do hereby certify that Robert Ayers & Benj B Brown whose signatures appear to the foregoing certificates is now and was at the time of signing the same acting Justices of the peace for said County duly elected commissioned & qualified according to law & that full faith & credit is and ought to be given their official acts as such & that these certificates are in due form of law
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office in the Town of Paris the 12th of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & forty six & the 70th year of American Independence
Constatin Fragon Clerk

Paris Tn Dec 29. 1845
Sir
With regard to James Lawson's pension, you say that he should assign reasons why he has not applied heretofore. I think if you will examine his declaration, you will find that he states, "that while he lived in Hickman County Tenn, he got a Mr Nixon to make out a declaration or at least, to undertake to get him on the pension roll — that while Nixon had the matter in hand he (Lawson) moved to this County — & never could hear any more from Nixon on the subject — & Nixon died some year ago — & that he was then not so poor, but he could live without the pension — & did not further pester himself about it, but that he is now very poor — afflicted & need it &c" — Are not these reasons for not having applied before? — They seem so to me — I certainly penned them with a view that they might be taken as such reasons —
You tell me that he has to procure evidence from Harrisburg that his name is there on the muster roll of the Regiment & Company to which he belonged! — now with due respect I consider this unreasonable — It should, in my opinion, be enough for him to name the Reg't & Company to which he belonged — & it seems to me that it is

peculiarly the business of your office - as one of the very purposes for which you was appointed, to examine all such record evidence & if it be not at Washington to have it there, if the interest of the Government requires that it should be examined — Now Sir, all I can do is to write to the Secretary of State at Harrisburg & request him to make the examination & advise me; but I repeat, the requisition is unreasonable — I know the old man well — I know who does every body who is acquainted with him, that he was a Revolutionary soldier & served precisely as he stated — I know he applied to me when he first moved to this county, to make a declaration for him, which I declined; being at the time overrun with business. — I know him to be a sober , honest, deserving man — & I will take upon myself to go to Hickman county & get the required evidence of dozens of his old neighbors — & send you; but I must repeat, that the Harrisburg requisition is unreasonable
Respectfully T. Coney
to Edward Ely —

Pension Office"> Pension Office
June 24. 1846.
Sir,
I have the honor to return herewith Mr. Cooney's letter, and to inform you that the additional evidence in the case of James Larson does not meet the requisitions contained in my report to Mr. Cooney of the 24 th December last, a copy of which is herewith enclosed; and a compliance of which is deemed necessary before a satisfactory adjustment of this claim can be made. Claimant alleges that he served in the Penn s Continental Line. His allegation derives no support from the records of that Line in this Office, his name not being found thereon. Agreeably to your request, I send herewith Mr. Lawson's papers, numbered 182. You will please acknowledge the receipt thereof.
I have the honor to be Very Resp y , Probst r . J. L. Edwards
Hon. S. H. Chase, House of Rep s .

Month of Sandy Tenne August 4. 1846
Sir
Referring you to the declaration of James Lawson heretofore sent, & subsequent evidence sent to L B Chase Esq. & by him handed over to you, I now hand you the affidavit of E Walker & D B Warren, in the same case - & hope they will be sufficient to obtain a pension for Lawson, if however, they are still insufficient, I hope you will be so kind as to advise me what may be still lacking, that if practicable, it may be supplied. I am convinced that a worthier case never came before you
Respectfully T. Cooney
J. L. Edwards Esq. } Comm. Pensions }

Hall of the House of Representatives May 30 1846
Mr. J. V. Stuart
Please receive the enclosed papers together with those already submitted to you, & give me your views upon them as to the propriety of opinion there expressed as to all the papers that I may submit them to Congress or return them to you after examination respectfully
Yours truly J. V. Stuart
J. V. Stuart

James Lawson
Plan
Lot to Mrs. J. Sherrill Oct. 4 '44 J. Cooney Dec. 4 '45 Hon. L. B. Chase June 4 '46 Lot to J. Cooney, Sept. 5 '46. Lot Talbot & Mayne Oct. 25, 1855
7th June 1839

1889 April 3. Dr F.S. Nash - history Puer
Acts of July 14, 1902, and March 3, 1903.
own
6293
P. O. James Lawson Service: _____
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Com
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

State of Tennessee Wickman County
Personally appeared before me William Bird an acting justice of the peace for said County Elijah Wakley & D B Warren
And made oath in the form of law that they were personally acquainted with James Lawson who formerly resided in this County and now as affiant is informed resides in Henry County Tennessee that said Lawson was then an old man, and, affiant supposes him now to be over eighty years of age and that affiant has heard him say prior to the passing of the act of 1832 granting pensions to revolutionary soldiers, that he said Lawson was a soldier of the Revolutionary War as shown on his hands and seals at Centerville May 25 June 1826 Seven to before this day and date above
William Bird
E Wakley
D B Warren

State of Tennessee Bicknell County, ss. I, James D. Gentry, clerk of the county court of said county, do hereby certify that William Bura who has heretofore appeared officially before to the within appointment was at the time of signing the same and at yet an acting Justice of the Peace for the county, a qualified and competent and qualified and that full faith and credit are due all of his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof, I have here in substance my name and affixed the seal of said court at office this 27 day of June A D 1845.
J. D. Gentry clerk By Sept D. Delarny