Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 32546, for Presley Symmes, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Symmes, Presley
S 32546
CONTENTS

25035
2573
Indiana
Presley Symmes of Montgomery in the State of Indiana who was a private in the Co. M command by Captain Williams of the reg t command by Col. Montjoy in the Virginia line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana at the rate of 80 Dollars 50 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 day of Nov 1833 and 4 White Lodge Tenn.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 200.00 Pension allowance ending March 40.00
$240.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk Book E Vol. 9 Page 1

State of Indiana Montgomery County ss.
Montgomery Circuit Court
On this 18 th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. John R. Porter President Judge of the first Judicial Circuit embracing said County and James Hoy  Stott one of the Associate Judges of said being a Court of record having jurisdiction over said matter Montgomery Circuit Court now sitting Presley Symmes a resident of Coal Creek Township in the County of Montgomery and State of Ohio said aged seventy nine years & seven months 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, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated - viz.

prove his service, and although he thinks he has some  comrades living in Kentucky, the only one his foreign he cannot prove their existence without a toil & expense too considerable for his old age & slender means. He adds that while under the command of Col. Willis he was one of the guard posted to guard the barracks above Winchester, the prisoners taken at the surrender of Cornwallis. He therefore claims a a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of any State. Presley Symmes Sworn to & subscribed this day of year aforesaid John Wilson Clk
We Albert S. White of the county of Tippecanoe & John Beard of the county of Montgomery aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the above named Presley Symmes who subscribed & sworn to the above declaration & that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; and that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.  Sworn & subscribed this day of year aforesaid John Wilson Clk.  John Beard Albert S. White
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter and after putting the inter- rogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he stated. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that John Beard who has signed the preceding certificate is a Senator in the Legislature of Indiana, until

11,001
Presley Symmes Indiana,
for 1776 points 27 = $80. 4.5.13-
7 March '33
A. S. White Logansport Lafayette Lafayette Inda.
£
P. 284

11,001.
BRIEF in the case of Presley Symmes,  Coal Creek Township of Montgomery County in the State of Indiana, (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 79 years & 7 months  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     So after soon after the commencement of the war about 5 years Private  State Troops - Va. Gen. William Williams Capt. Geo. Williams Lieut. George Williams Genl. Wm. Dugay Capt. John Hardy " Ralph " Charles Rawles Col. Thos. Schuchton Col. John Wilks   
 5. In what battles was he engaged? in small engagement at Moorlough, & some few other skirmishes.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? at Marlinton, Stafford Co., Virginia.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence -  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.

Presley Symmes Declaration
11.001.
The reputation of his services as being a newly settled neighborhood - Dependent further faith in answer to the interrogatories put to him by the Court & presented by the War Department & which are not particularly answered in the body of his above declaration. That he was born in Stafford County Virginia in the year 1753 - had a record of his age in his family bible which is lost destroyed a long time ago - lived in Stafford County Virginia until from the time of the revolution until 18 years ago when he moved to Madison County Kentucky where he lived 2 years then removed to Indiana where he has since lived & now lives - he was drafted at his first town & volunteered in his several subsequent hours & further faith not
Sworn to in open Court Sept. 18. 1833
John Wilson clerk
Presley his Symmes mark
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the said Presley Symmes has stated as he has above stated in his said declaration & supplemental declaration. That said Beard who has certified for him is his immediate neighbor & that said White has known him for seven years last past - and further that it appears to them that there is no settled clergyman in his vicinity by whom he can give traditional evidence of his said services - Sept. 18. 1833
John R. Porter.
I the Wilson clerk of the said Circuit Court of the County of Montgomery & State of Indiana do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the supplemental declaration of Presley Symmes an applicant for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 19 th day of Sept. 1833
John Wilson clerk

in the said County of Montgomery and that Albert C. White who has also signed the same is a resident in the County of Tippecanoe and that both are credible persons not in the remotest degree related to the petitioner & that their statement is entitled to credit
John B. Porter
James Stitt
I John Wilson Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County of Montgomery & State of Indiana do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Purley Symmes for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 20 th day of September A. D. 1832
John Wilson clk
Supplement
State of Indiana Montgomery County ss
On the 18 th day of September 1833 personally appeared in the circuit Court of said County now sitting in open court Purley Symmes who being duly sworn, says by way of supplemental affidavit to the above that by reason of old age & the consignment 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 period mentioned below & in the following grade: For two years & six months I served as a private & for such service I claim a pension (this service being in different tours running thro' a period of five years, which tours cannot be precisely recollect d for the reason aforesaid) - He further says that there is no settled clergyman in his neighborhood by whom he can prove

Rev. War Section
C - FEB. 10, 1923.
Hon. F. S. Purnell, House of Representatives.
In re: Presley Symmes- War of Revolution. S. 38746.
You are advised that from the papers in the above noted pension claim, it appears that Presley Symmes was born in Stafford County, Virginia, in 1733, and while living there he was drafted soon after the commencement of the Revolution, and served two and a half years, as a private, in various tours of duty, under Captains George Williams, John Harvey, Ralph Croom, Charles Rawles, and John James, and Colonels James Carrard, Thomas Montjoy and John Willis. He was in engagements at Marlborough, Virginia, and at William Brent's house on the Potomac River and in some skirmishes. The date of his services are not stated.
He was allowed pension, on his application executed September 18, 1832, while living in Coal Creek Township, Montgomery County, Indiana. There is no data on file as to his family.
Very truly yours,
Washington Purnell Commissioner.

64
REV. WAR SECTION
telephone inquiry Feb. 19. 1923
Rev F. S. Purnell M. B.
wants record of Presley Symmes Va. War Rev.
Rev. War Section
Rev. F. S. Purnell
House of Representatives
1st District
House of Representatives
1st District
1st District
of the Revolution, and at the time of the Revolution, in various tours of duty, under Captain George Williams, John Harvey, Ralph Brown, Charles Harris, and John Jones, and Captain John Jones, Thomas McIntosh, and John Willis. He was in engagements at Marianna, Virginia, and at William Henry's house on the Potomac River and in some skirmishes. The names of his children are not stated.
He was allowed pension, on his application executed March 17, 1832, while living in Coal Creek Township, Montgomery County, Indiana. There is no data on file as to his family.
Very truly yours,
Commissioner.

Presley Symmes-

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Parley Symmes 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? no
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? no
Should set forth the periods at which his tours of service were performed and the duration of each tour,
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? certified by two Citizens
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no
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?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
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 the 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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
†QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.

In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of Precedy Symmes 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. 32,546
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     March 1st George Williams James ... Va.   various times John ... Thomas ...   consecutively 2 1/2 yrs. Private Ralph ... John ...   Charles ...   John ...  
Battles Engaged not , _____ Residence of soldier at enlistment, Stafford Co. Va. Date of application for pension, Oct 18, 1832. Residence at date of application, Coal Creek Twp., Montgomery Co., Indiana. Age at date of application, 78 in 1753 in Stafford Co. Va.
Remarks: _____ _____ _____ _____
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

32546 Rev INVALID.
File No. 32,546
Presley Symmes Rev Rev War
Act: same for 325
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 311
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Nov. 26-1902 Mrs Eliza Davidson Crawfordville Ind
1917 July 27. Hist. to P.W. Bennington 1923 Feb. 19. Lett to Hon. F.S. Puhall are

War Department
(care of J. S. Edwards Esq.) Pension office
Washington City D.C.

Lafayette (Ind a ) Sept. 30. 1833
J. L. Edwards Esq. Com r of Pensions
Sir - Enclosed is the supplemental declaration (annexed to the original one) of Presley Symmes, as also the mem o of objections to the first declaration, heretofore transmitted to me from your office - We have endeavored to supply as far as possible the deficiency. Mr Symmes lives about 15 miles from my residence (Lafayette) and I am one of his certifiers having known him a long time in one of the Southern Counties of this State - You will please advise me at this place of the result of the application.
In the mean time, permit me to express a hope that the scars of the old soldier may not go unhonored -
Some six months ago I forwarded from this County the application of John Buck for a pension since which time I have not heard from the Department touching his case - Will you do me the favor to inform me whether his papers have been rec d ? & if so, what is the decision thereon
Very Respectly
Yr Ob Serv t
Albert S. White