Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32538, for David Strahan, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
16.6
Strahan, David
8 32538
CONTENTS

Illinois 13.251
David Strahan of Morgan in the State of Illinois who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Woods of the Regt commanded by Col Saunders in the North Carolina line for 9 months Private (slavery)
Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois at the rate of 37 Dollars 50 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of June 1833 and sent to W. Summers Jacksonville Illinois
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833 $ 75.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept 18.75 $93.75
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. Cluggett Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 8 Page 62
Dead
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of April 1838 from 4 Sept. 1835 to 18 June 1836. Act notified 30th Oct 1841. Will then which received 1837

State of Illinois } On this day personally Morgan County } appeared in open court before Samuel B Oct. 1832 }
Lockwood Judge of Circuit Court of Law
That now sitting - David Strahan of Schuylkill County, Illinois aged twenty eight years who being first duly sworn according to law doth in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th AD. 1832 That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and as herein stated - In July AD 1780 - I David Strahan then living in the county of Wake and State of North Carolina volunteered my services and entered the service of United States as a private soldier in a light horse company commanded by Captain Matthew Poillard from said Wake County - and joined the regiment commanded by Colonel Mayburn consisting of about 500 men and went a tour of duty through North Carolina and into South Carolina employed against the Tories and English - we went through Chatham County and to Cape Creek so called where we had a battle with the Tories - their number was about 1000 men They were commanded by Hector McNeal and Dury Fanning we succeeded in taking their prisoners - General Butler left us before this battle - taking with him about 500 men - In passing through Cumberland county we had a small skirmish with the English & Tories

and during this campaign we had another small skirmish but where my memory at this remote period will not serve me - we were at Brown Mark's near the line between North & South Carolina at the East - The place where I went to South Carolina I cannot distinctly recollect - we returned to Cape Fare - on cross' creek and there I received a discharge from Capt. Couland - but this discharge I have lost - among other papers - This discharge I received in October and was for three months service I was at Hillsboro about 40 miles from Guilford Court House when the unfortunate battle was fought between the forces under General Greene and those under Lord Cornwallis - I cannot recollect the names of any other of the General officers who served at this period - nor do I know of a living person who can testify to my ser- vice in this campaign - However John Scott of Morgan County Illinois recollects having often seen my discharge from Capt. Couland for three months duty above referred to - In October A.D. 1780 in Wake County aforesaid only two days after returning from the first campaign I again volunteered and entered the service of the United States as a pri- vate Soldier - in a light horse company commanded by Captain Solomon Woods from Wake County.

for three months duty against the English and Tories and in the regiment commanded by Colonel Hardy, Saunders. the captain of some of the other companies was Captain Fletcher - any of the other officers I cannot recollect - we travelled through Chatham County - Johnson County - Cumberland County - and to Cape Fear - in Rockingham County in North Carolina - and to Roan River in the borders of Virginia - during this campaign we had no skirmish or battle - with the enemy - but on constant and severe duty ranging through the country in January following we returned to Wake County and there I got a discharge from Captain Wood's for three months Service - this discharge I have lost - but I no doubt recollect having often seen it - (the one named above from Morgan County) - but I know of no living person who can testify to my service in this campaign - In January 1781 - in Wake County aforesaid - immediately after being discharged as above I again volunteered and entered the Service of the United States as a private - Soldier in the light horse company by Captain Solomon Wood's command - and Lieutenant Hills - this company consisting of about sixty men were ordered to act as a guard against the Tories while the General Assembly

of North Carolina met & transacted their business in Wake County, we were constantly employed as a guard - Colonel Hardy Saunders commanded at this time and Captain Fletcher (was in command) - came frequently here. Mr - Tryon was Governor at this time in North Carolina - and Mr. Lane and Col. Hills represented Wake County in the assembly this year - I served three months this campaign - but never received a discharge - and I know of no living person who can testify to my service at this time - I never at any time received a commission while in the service - until four weeks since I have lived seven years in Morgan County, Illinois and am well known to Scott Riggs - Thomas Allen and John Scott and Joel Gessner in it - my neighbors - I was born March 1 st 1755 I was Cumberland County North Carolina - my parents left a record of my age - I lived in Cumberland County until the earlier part of the war, when I removed into Wake County two years after the war I removed into Wilmington - Harnett County - North Carolina - where I lived 7 years I then removed into Moravian Town Stokes County - A.C. where I lived 14 years - when I then removed into Camblin South Carolina lived there 9 months - then moved into Lincoln County Kentucky 1 year I lived there - then removed into Casey County Kentucky where I lived eight years - then removed into Humphries County West Tennessee

where I lived 1 year then removed into Allen Co Ky Kentucky where I lived seven years - then removed into Morgan County - Illinois - and lived there 7 years and August - 12 th 1832 - I removed into - Scyler county Illinois where I now live - I have never received any thing for my services for my 9 months service - and in my extreme poverty and old age rely upon that Government. I faithfully served as a soldier for support - I hereby relinquish any claim what- soever to a pension or annuity - except the present - and declare that my name is  not on the pension roll of the agency of any state whatsoever.  not on the pension roll of the agency of any state whatsoever.  not on the pension roll of the agency of any state whatsoever.
attest P.W. Summers.
David his Strahan mark.
Sworn to and subscribed this 11 th day of September A.D. 1832 before me
Sam l D Lockwood

I John Scott of Morgan County Ill: of lawful age depose and say that I was acquainted with the within named David Strahan in Casey County Kentucky and knew him there for 8 years and have been generally well acquainted with him ever since - having often met him - and again lived neighbor to said David in Morgan County Ill. for seven years - and from my intimate acquaintance with him I firmly believe him to be of the age he represents himself to be 78 yrs and I know in the neighborhood he has formerly lived - he has always been reputed and believed to have been a revolutionary soldier - I myself have often seen and read the said David's two discharges - he refers to - one for three months service from Captain Mathew Coullars - and one other for three months service as a private soldier from Captain Solomon Woods - and distinctly recollect reading the same - Captain Coullars aforementioned I was personally acquainted with - My Father served in the two first campaigns mentioned above of three months each in the same regiment - with the said David viz - Col. Colonel Mayburn and Col. Saunders - and I have often heard my Father speak of Captain Mathew Coullars and Captain Solomon Woods and Capt. Fletcher above named and of his having served and marched in with them through the country mentioned by the said David above in his two campaigns - and I have often seen my Father's two discharges among his papers for three months service each

3. under the Col's above named. My father lived in Surry county North Carolina - Since the War David has been deaf I have often translated business for him. which has been for 12 years - and he has always been a excellent character for honesty and correct habits -
Sworn to and subscribed this eleventh day of September Anno Domini eighteen hundred & thirty two -
Before me John W. Lockwood
John Scott
I J. Joel Goford residing in the county of Morgan State of Illinois am well acquainted with David Strahan who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration - that I believe him to be 78 years old - that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he has resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution - and that I concur in that opinion
Sworn to & subscribed to this eleventh day of September Anno Domini eighteen hundred & thirty two -
Before me John W. Lockwood
Joel Goford

11865
11863
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 John Scott who has signed the first certificate within is a resident in Morgan County Illinois and is a credible person and his statement is entitled to credit - and the court further certify that it appears to them that Joel Chester who has signed the above second certificate is a resident in the county of Morgan Illinois and is a credible person and his statements entitled to credit -
Sam L Lockwood
State of Illinois Morgan County
I Dennis Rockwell Clerk of the Circuit Court for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of David Straham for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand with the seal of my office this eleventh day of September A.D. eighteen hundred and thirty two
Dennis Rockwell Clerk Morgan Circuit Court

No 25.104
David Strahan Morgan Co Illinois
Adm. 9. Mo. H. Cavalry.
R. Wm. Summers Jacksonville M. C. Illinois

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. 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.
County Illinois
A Statement, showing the Service of David Strahan Morgan
   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 July 788 until Oct. 3 Private Capt Coulars Col Mayburn Genl Green Capt Woods Col Saunders Capt Fletcher Capt Woods 78 years Wake Carolina Living & traditional Evidence   Vol until Aug. 3   Vol July 81 3  
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.
[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.
John N. Hutton

Record Division. O. W. AND N. DIVISION.
Department of the Interior, BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
April 27, 1908
Searched by L. D. Lamparter
Original No. _____
Certificate No. _____
Claimant, _____
Soldier, — Straham
Service, N. C.
Rev. War
Nico (?) Co. N.C.
Remarks: No claim as above except Inv. # 32 538
_____ Chief of Division.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
June 19 th 1843.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The widow of David Strahan, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Illinois Agency, at the rate of thirty seven Dollars and 50 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1835, to the 15 th June 1836, Respectfully, yours,
William L. Vans Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

May 23
Recd.
To 95184
Three 113
James L. Edwards Esq's Commissioner of Pensions Washington City District of Columbia

Edwards Esq r
Sir
Any information in regard to this pension claim may be directed to his agent in Jacksonville. R. W m Dammers
Jacksonville April 29. 1833.

32 538 Pay INVALID.
1908 Apr. 30 - Will from A. E. Mather 1912 Feb. 10 Tombstone date to Mrs. Kate Shaw Letter in N.Y. 2145 David M. Bates. Vol. 2.
File No. 39 538
David Strahan
Rev Rev Rev
Act: June 1 st 1897
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 897
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Washington
April 11. 1852
James B. South Esq
Comr of Pension
Sir
I enclose you a letter from A B Myatt in relation to the claim of the widow of David Strahan for a Pension will you inform me whether under the law such cases are provided for and what steps will be necessary for Mrs Strahan to obtain it please return Mr Myatt's letter with the answer to this
Respectfully Yours
Thos I Russell

In reply to your request of _____, received for a statement of the military history of David Strahan 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. S. F. 32. 538
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     July 1780 + 3 mos. Pri. Matthew Conner (Horne) McLane N.C.   Oct. 1780 3 mos. " " Solomon Woods Harley   June 1781 3 mos. " " " " " " "  
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Wake Co. Ill.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 11 1837.
Residence at date of application, Schofield Co. Ill.
Age at date of application, born Mch. 1, 1755 in Cumberland Co., N.C.
Remarks: Include of sd. death and name of his widow apply to Act.

Commissioner of Pensions Washington D. C.
Can you find among Revolutionary soldiers, any of the following names John Moore. Brunswick Co. Va settled in 1807 in Davidson Co Tenn - James McCabe or William McCabe - James McMurray Hico Co W. Va. — Stratham " " "
John Moore's middle name may have been Milton, as he had descendants thus named for him Mark Moore - Northampton Co. W. Va. I hope you have record of

some of these names as several ladies are waiting to join the D. A. R.'s on their record.
Truly yours
Mrs A. E. Moore 680 East St Memphis Tenn.

Record Division.
April 30, 1900.
Mrs. A. E. Moore, # 620 East Street, Memphis, Tennessee.
Madam:
In reply to your letter without date received on the 24" instant, you are advised that the Revolutionary War pension records fail to afford any information in regard to James McCabe, William McCabe, James McMurray, John or Mark Moore described by you; and that the enclosed circular letter is a statement of the service of the only soldier named Straham or Strahan found on the above named records.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

David Shahan
25104

I David Strahan the within claimant for a pension do pose and say that on the eleventh day of September eighteen hundred and thirty two - I applied at the Morgan County Circuit Court Samuel D Lockwood presiding Judge for a pension under the acts of congress for that purpose - and then set forth my claim for a pension as will be seen in the declaration to which this is annexed. And the reason why I applied and made the declaration in Morgan County - was because the Court in Morgan County was the nearest and most convenient for me to appear before as it respected the time of the Court's sitting and on account of my witnesses who resided in Morgan County - and too it was where I was best known - It was only in the single month before I applied for a pension that I removed from Morgan County - And I thought if I had applied in Schuyler County it would have been extremely difficult if not impossible for me to have procured my witnesses - and the expense of attempting it I was ill able to bear - In my former declaration I stated as I thought explicitly my relinquishment of any pension or claim or annuity whatever except the present one - but I do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present - under the Act of June 7 th 1832. and I hereby declare my name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State - In my annexed declaration I produced as the law required two respectable persons in Court - who certified as to my age - character - and their belief of my being or having been a Revolutionary Soldier - The reason why one of them was not a clergyman was this - I was not personally known to any - living in the neighborhood of Jacksonville on a farm - and in this new country

Clergymen are not very numerous. But even among those who were in Morgan County I was unable to procure one who knew me — And the reason why I now make this certificate before a Justice of the Peace and not before Samuel B Lockwood Judge of Circuit Court — before whom I first appeared — is because Judge Lockwood is now and has been on his Circuit duties — and will not return to this county until the last of next month — and my many infirmities — warn me forcibly — that delay may be dangerous if I expect any benefit from this pension.
Attest Robt Dumm
David Strahan Marks
State of Illinois Morgan County ss I Matthew Stacy a Justice of the Peace within and for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that David Strahan whose name appears to the foregoing affidavit personally appeared before me and after having the same read to him in my presence, made oath to and subscribed the same. Given under my hand and seal this 29 th day of April 1833 M c at Stacy (J.P.)
State of Illinois ss Morgan County ss I Dennis Stockwell Clerk of the County Commissioners Court within and for said County do hereby certify that M c at Stacy Esq r before whom David Strahan made oath to the foregoing Statement is and was at the time an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said County duly commissioned and sworn into office and to all of his official acts in such full faith and credit are due and ought to be given —

In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Jacksonville this 29 th day of April 1833 —
Dennis Rockwell Clerk
State of Illinois Morgan County } ss
I Dennis Rockwell Clerk of the Circuit Court of said County do hereby certify that the attached Declaration of David Strahan was duly sworn to in open Court before his Hon- or Samuel D. Lockwood Judge of said Court and that it is the identical Declaration sworn and subscribed by the said David Strahan and is hereunto annexed by me.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at Jack- sonville this 29 th day of April 1833 —
Dennis Rockwell Clerk