Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 4483, for Absalom Knight, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
NC
Knight Absalom
S 4483
Carded
CONTENTS

order to pay. Suletus Nov. 26. 1836 to Ag. & Pension —
13841
West Tennessee
Abraham Knight Humphreys in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Castle of the 1st by Col. Lytle in the Mendenhall line for 1 year
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of June 1833 and sent to D.P. Windsor Reynoldsburg
Arrears to the 4th of March 80 00 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept 20 00
$100 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Sam Brant Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 86

State of Tennessee Knox County
This 23 d day of April in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and thirty three, Absalom Knight aged seventy one a resident of said County, personally appeared before the County Court of Knox County and being sworn according to law, upon his oath makes the following declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of an act of Congress passed the 7 th of June 1832. That he was born in Orange County North Carolina in the 27 th of July 1761 as he is informed the lines by his parents. He has now in his possession a slip of paper upon which his father kept the ages of his children which correspond with the above statement but has no other record of his age - after the death of his father he went to live with an uncle in South Carolina the District of '96 lived with him at the time he entered the service of the United States - in the month of August 1780 or 1781 he volunteered for a term of five months but before he entered the service, he exchanged places with Joseph Hathern who had enlisted for a term of twelve months in the Regular service. He entered the service in a com- pany commanded by Capt. Carter Stewart and by

in the first Regiment, commanded by Col o Dyle and Col o Armstrong - he recollects having been some time at a place called the Round O. and the Pond ponds and also lying a considerable time at Bacon's bridge as he was also during that campaign at the battle of the Custer Springs was wounded with a bayonet on the left arm - he frequently saw Gen l Green during the battle but does not recollect any other of the Regular officers in command on that day - a portion of the twelve months he was ordered to take charge of a wagon was employed in hauling forage to the Cavalry which was commanded by Col o Washington before the battle - he served his twelve months and was discharged near Bacon Bridge & went home - leave was made by the time he came home - he rec d a discharge in writing he thinks signed by Col o Carter, - he rec d the balance of the pay due him & transferred his discharge - he has no written evidence by which to prove his services nor does he know of any living witness by whom the same can be proven - after the war he returned to Orange & got married lived there about fifteen years then removed to Lincoln County Kentucky & remained there about four years - he then removed to Clark Co County Tennessee lived there 21 years & then removed to Humphreys County after remaining one year in Carroll has ever since lived in Humphreys County - he hereby relinquishes all claim to any pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on

The petition roll of any agency of any state sworn to & subscribed in Open Court this Absalom D. Knight 23 d of April 1833 mark D P Hudson clerk
We Jacob Browning a Clergyman resident in said County and John Serratt a resident of the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Absalom Knight who signed the preceding declaration that we believe him to be seventy one years old - that he has resided the last 40 years in the neighborhood where he resides & has been a soldier of the Revolution and we con- cur in that opinion Jacob Browning J. D. Sworn to & subscribed Jno. Serratt The day & year aforesaid D P Hudson clerk
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after an investigation of the matter after putting the Interro- gatories presented by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states. The Court further certifies that Jacob Browning who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in said County that John Serratt resides in the same & is a credible person that their statement is entitled to credit Isaac Letter J. D. Isaac H. Moore J. D. Urban H. Carr J. D.

I Dawsey P. Hutson Clerk of the County Court of Buncombe County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Absalom Knight for a Pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my private seal at office in Reynoldsburgh this Twenty Third day of April in the year of our Lord 1833 then being no seal of office D. P. Hudson Clerk
Absalom Knight
24852
The above certificate was signed in my presence by Dawsey P. Hutson the Clerk of the County Court who has no public seal of office and is in the usual form
Reynoldsburgh
April 23 rd 1833
C. Johnson

24852
Absalom Knight Humboldt Tennessee
for 1780 prints 1 year $40.
West
Castle Lytle
of Court N.C. upon time and July 82
Dr. Hudson. At Court, Humphrey City Reynoldsburg Tennessee

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.
A Statement, showing the Service of Abraham Knight  Humphreys County, State of Tennessee
   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.     Jul 1 st 1790 to 1808 3 Rds. 1 " " privat part the term Collegonur Capt Cartle Ed Lytle 71 years State of S Carolina 7th district Traditionary Evidence Papers not authenticated  
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.

mm185
July 26, 1924
M. Estelle Knight Oxford, Miss.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 4483 it appears that Absalom Knight was born July 27, 1761 in Orange County, North Carolina.
While living in Ninety Six District, South Carolina he enlisted in July 1781, served as a private in Captain Carter's Company in the Tenth North Carolina Regiment, was in the battle of Eutaw Springs where he was wounded in the left arm by a bayonet, and was discharged July 1, 1783. 1782
After the Revolution he returned to Orange County, North Carolina and married, the name of his wife is not stated.
He subsequently lived in Lincoln County, Kentucky, Wilson and Carroll Counties, Tennessee, and was allowed pension on his application executed April 23, 1833

while living in Humphreys County, Tennessee. In 1836 his Post Office was Chalklevel, Benton County, Tennessee.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name of person paid, and possibly the date of death, you should apply to the Pension Section, Civil Division, General Accounting Office, 1800 E Street, N. W. Washington, D.C. citing all of the following data: "Abealom Knight, certificate 13841, issued June 26, 1833, rate $ 40 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Tennessee Agency".
Respectfully,
Used Secretary's Report 10" Rept. & could not use Col. Lytle as he was not Commissioner. the 10" at that time -
I saw the counter which he paid as that was was no record of his in Cassell Co.

State of North Carolina
Secretary of States Office
I William Hill Secretary of state in and for the State aforesaid, do certify that it appears from the musterrolls of the Continental line of this state in the revolutionary war that Absalom Night a private in Capt. Carters Company of the 10 th Regi- ment enlisted in 1781 for twelve months, and that his time was out on the 1 st day of July 1782.
Given under my hand this 4 th day of June 1833.
W. Hill

Nashville 14 th Nov r 1836
J. L. Edwards Esq r
Dear Sir
At the request of W m Abraham Knight a Revolutionary Pensioner of the 7 th June 1832 I herewith enclose his papers of Identity including his Pension Certificate for Inspection, there is one years pay due him up to the 4 th of September 1836 and agreeably to the instructions do not feel authorized to pay to him until directed by you, please to direct answer to him the Pensioner, to Chaulkwood Post Office Benton County Tennessee and much Obey
Yr Ob t Serv t
John M. Bais P. M. By S. Cantrell

JAS. STONE, PRESIDENT GEO. M. KNIGHT, VICE-PRES. F. L. LINKER, CASHIER
Bank of Oxford CAPITAL AND SURPLUS $ 75,000.00 Oxford, Miss.
June 19th., 1924
Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
I am very anxious to find out all I possibly can about the Revolutionary War record of one Absalom Knight, who, I think, lived in North Carolina or Tennessee at that time.
John Trotwood Moore, Director of Archives and History, Nashville, Tennessee, tells me that the name of Absalom Knight appears under the list containing heads of families in Caswell County, North Carolina, in the First Census, 1790, (what is now the State of Tennessee, being during the Revolutionary period, a part of North Carolina), but that he is unable to find any record of Absalom Knight's Revolutionary War record. Mr. Moore advised me to write to the Adjutant General at Washington, which I did, and he tells me that probably I can obtain the desired information through you.
I shall appreciate it very much if you will make this investigation for me and let me know the result of your search as soon as possible.
I am inclosing stamped addressed envelope for your convenience in replying.
Very truly yours,
M. Estelle Knight
MEK-d

1924- July 26- Act to Miss M. Estelle Knight. mmxj
Rev May
4483
INVALID.
File No. 4483
Hulolon Knight By M.C. Lines
Act: June 7/93
Index:—Vol. A , Page 210
[Arrangement of 1870.]