Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,266, for Samuel Stricklin, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. C.
Stricklin, Samuel
R 10,266
CONTENTS

35.532
Samuel Sticklin Zen.
let to J. H. Dew. July 17. 1843.
" " " " " Oct 11. " "
" " Hm A V B mm Mar 30 1844.
Oct 7 June 1832

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1863
10.266
P. O. Samuel Stricklin
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Com
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Jany 77. Hill - Rutledge Wilmington - Supt. 6 mo. " 79 Shute - Shepherd - Charleston - 3. June 87. Taylor - Moore - Xroads Dublin Co 3.

Hon J. L. Edwards Pension Commissioner Washington City Dist Columbia

Columbia Tennessee May 12, 1843.
Dear Sir.
The accompanying declaration, Affidavit & Certificate in the case of the applications of Samuel Stricklin for a pension is forwarded to the Honorable Department. The applicant is a man of the best memory of his age, and seemed to be more scrupulously anxious to tell nothing but the truth than any man I ever remember to have made an application for. He has been a citizen of the neighbourhood where he now resides upwards of 30 years. In conversing with his neighbours I learn that he is a most pious Christian & exemplary man, and is universally esteemed by his numerous acquaintances. He was once a man of good property, but his children have reduced him to absolute poverty & dependance. The neighbours are all interested in his favor & employed me to go down to his house 17 miles from this place to see him. My feelings soon became much interested in his behalf, and with much apparent reluctance he was persuaded to venture to come up to Court. His memory is somewhat impaired but he seems to retain his services in the War of the Revolution. I think his papers will be found to be strictly in conformity with the law & printed instructions of the department. I suppose there can be no doubt of his right to a pension for 6 months service as a sergeant & 6 mo. as a private & perhaps the 15. months as a State Guard. from the 7th June 1832 until his death I have often referred the department to such gentlemen as required. Direct Direct your letter to me at this place. The Clerk has procured a Seal of Office within the last two days, since I sent you the paper of Mr. Baldridge at the time of the Court. Our Court holds 3 terms, Yours truly &c. J. H. Dyer

10255

Columbia Tenn c . August 17, 1843.
Dear Sir
Your letter of July 10, is before me, I have examined its contents. You first require the applicant Isabella Baldridge to produce a certified Copy of the Marriage License. You will see that Capt Baldridge and his widow were married in Sredale County N.C. by the Rev d Mr. McCall in the midst of the War of the Revolution in 1780. Mrs B. tells me that she & her husband lived in Lincoln County N.C. & went across the river in Sredale & were married by a Presbyterian Clergyman, she says she has no distinct recollection whether they had a License or not as they were married in the midst of the War. I have written to the County Court Clerks of Sredale & Lincoln Counties for a certified Copy. but they say there is no record evidence of marriages at that time in their offices. They promise to make further examination & if they can find any evidence they promise to certify the facts to you.
You secondly require that the applicant "shall be more explicit as to the dates as to periods, length, stations &c" No service can be taken into the computation, unless it is clearly established as to length & grade. Mrs B. & her witness Alexander Baldridge say they cannot be more explicit than they have been in their declaration & affidavits. You will see that they are both conscientious & will state nothing, but as they distinctly recollect it. I think the law unreasonable & requires of the widow that that they cannot be presumed to know, such as exactness as to periods, length & stations. If the old soldier was alive &

the declarant himself the exactions would be reasonable; but they are certainly unreasonable as to the widows who have to rely upon their recollection of the relations of their deceased husbands & in this case Capt Baldridge has been dead about 26 years. - Again you require the production of the Commission of Captain. The applicant swears that the British or Tories at Cowen's ford burned their Waggons & destroyed all the old papers of the Capt. & amongst others his Commission, Alex r Baldridge & the widow both swear they have seen the Commission, that is the best evidence the case is susceptible of: and I think substantially complies with the spirit of the law.
Again you find fault with the family records of the births marriages & deaths, it is too recent to be availing as evidence. Inclosed you have a leaf of the Old pocket Bible, which I am informed has on it some of the family register that the one I sent you was transcribed from. perhaps you can decipher the writing I cannot. Two or three witnesses swear that the Most of the Register sent you is in the hand writing of Capt Baldridge made more than forty years ago: that seems venerable enough in all conscience. I assure you sir, that these persons not a name assigned to any declaration or affidavit connected with the papers in that case, but are persons of the Most reliable veracity and made in good faith. If upon a review of the declaration & proofs in this case you still reject the application I wish you to make out copies of the papers & furnish them to Col Aaron V. Brown Member of Congress from this district, that

he may have a special act passed for her benefit. I feel assured Congress will not hesitate to pass such an act with the proofs accompanying this application.
In the case of Saml. Strickland you have rejected in part, and require of him proof from some of the old soldiers in No 6 th who served with him. The old man's memory has failed him so much that he cannot give me any satisfaction & I am unable to make for him any additional proof. If there is any part of his services sufficiently proved to authorize a certificate to issue for him Audit the claim & send it to him, he is really an object of pity & is suffering for the aids his patriotic services entitle him to from his Country's bounty. Please let me hear from you very soon on this hasty letter.
Very respectfully your obedient humble servant.
Jno. H. Drew.