Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30587, for Moses Meers, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
N 6
Meers, Moses
830587
CONTENTS

19274 Kentucky
Moses Mears of Greenlee in the State of New who was a Mr in the Co commanded by Captain Shepherd of the 1st Regt commanded by Col Williams in the N.C. line for 9 mo 22 ds
Inscribed on the Roll of Honor at the rate of 32 Dollars 44 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Aug 1833 and L. W. L.
Willis Greensburg Arrears to the 4th of March 64.88 Semi-ant. allowance ending Sept 16.22 $81.10
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 19

State of Kentucky Green County S t on this 21 st day of January 1893 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Green county court now sitting Moses Meers a resident of the County and State aforesaid aged 70 years April next, 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 th 1892 - he States that (in the early part of the Revolutionary war to the best of his recollection) he volunteered and joined a company commanded by Capt Cobb, Eliphalet Davis was the lieutenant of the company and Adniram Allen was Ensign that he resided in Surrey County in North Carolina when he joined said company, that he marched in said company against the Cherokee Indians, from North Carolina to the Long Islands of Holston from there into the Indian Country on the Tennessee River, that the company in which he served was under the command of Colonel Joseph Williams; that at the Long Islands of

Yadkin they were met by a detachment of men from Virginia under the command of General Christy with which detachment they marched into the Indian country as aforesaid, that he continued in service 16 weeks under the commanders and in the company aforesaid, but had no written discharge —
he further states that during the progress of the revolutionary war he served against the British and Tories at least 6 months , that this service was rendered at short tours of from 2 to three weeks each, and under the command of Captains William Underwood and James Shepherd, who were commanded by Col William Lewis, that these tours of service were all performed in North Carolina against the British and Tories, and that he served as a volunteer in the militia each time, that he has no documentary evidence of his services and knows of no living witness by whom he can prove his services

he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Moses Mears
State of Kentucky Green County to on this 21 st day of January 1833 Charles Blevins a clergyman -an resident in said county and William T. Willis a resident citizen of said county who being duly sworn according to law, state that they are acquainted with Moses Mears, whose declaration is written on the other page and that we believe him to be 70 years of age, and that it is reported in the neighbourhood where said Mears lives, that he was a soldier in the American army in the revolution, and are convinced in the belief that said Mears was a soldier in said revo- lution as he is reported to be, sworn & subscribed the day & year above written - Charles Blevins Wm T. Willis
At a county court held for Green county at the court house in Greensburg on the 21 st day of January 1833 On the motion of Moses Mears who filed his affidavit for the purpose of being placed on the pension list roll under the act of Congress of 1832 also the affidavit of Charles Blevins, and William T. Willis

accompanying the same it is ordered to be certified that said William L. Willis & Charles Blevins are creditable testimony and that they believed the said Mears served as stated which is here certified to the secretary of War —
In testimony of the foregoing being the original proceedings in the case of Mears Mears application for a pension I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 22 nd day of Jan'y 1833
John Bant 1833 1/6
(Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page) Mears Mears Declaration for Pension
Mears Mears Declaration for Pension

State of Kentucky Set Green County
on this 19 th day of May 1833 personally appeared before me David Campbell a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Moses Meers who being duly sworn deposeth 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 recollections he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades, for 16 weeks I served as a private Soldier and Volunteer under the command of Captain Cobb in the militia Elphatet Jarvis was the lieutenant and Admiam Allen was Ensign — for 9 months I served as a private Soldier under the command of Captain James Shepherd, who was commanded by Col Williams. I was a volunteer and entered into service under said Captain Shepherd and Col Williams in Surry County State of North Carolina and served against the British and Tories this period of 9 months here named however I did

not serve fully out myself 4 months of this 9 months here named I rendered actual service myself, and to serve the balance of the 9 months I hired a certain James Hammons who served out the balance of the time and I obtained a discharge for 9 months service from Major Winston, I have lately made diligent search for said discharge but cannot find it - for 6 months I was a private soldier and served as a volunteer under the command of Captain William Underwood who was commanded by Col Williams and Maj. Winston. my memory has become very frail and I cannot now state with any degree of certainty the dates of the different tours of service above named but the first tour I served was in the early part of the revolutionary war, and the last tour was ended think one year at least before the close of the war. as to the length of my service I have stated it above with all the precision my recollections enables me to do and for such service I claim

a pension — I further state that I have no record of my age but from the best information I have I was born in the year 1762 in Surry County, State of North Carolina in the month of April.  where he was raised, and resided until about 32 years since at which time he moved to Green County Kentucky where he has resided ever since — I was once familiar with many of the recruiting officers and some of the regular officers but I do not now recollect their names, I am, very illiterate, only able to read and write a little. The principal service I ended in the several campaigns above named was rendered in North Carolina on Dan River, and on the Roanoke River also in South Carolina at a place called 96, I was in no engagement, but was near the battle and in hearing of the firing of the battle between the Whigs and Tories at the Shallowford, on the Holston River, above Salisbury I was marching with other troops, at the time when I was in service to said engagement, but did not arrive until the firing had ceased — who was the officer that commanded the Whigs then at the Shallowford I can't say certainly, to the best of recollection, that it was a Colonel Lewis who lived in Wilkes County, North Carolina.
I am acquainted with many of my neighbours who can state, what my character is for truth, and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution — amongst whom I should mention James C. Simpson, Thomas Holton, James Hask, and George Bell
subscribed before me, a justice of the peace for Green County Kentucky
David Campbell
sworn to & M. J. S.
McGee

State of Kentucky Green County Set.
on this 10 th day of May 1833
personally appeared before me David Campbell a justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid James Hough & George Bell
who being first duly sworn state as follows - we are each of us intimately acquainted with Moses Meers of Green County Kentucky who has sworn to and subscribed the foregoing Declaration for a pension, and we state that sd Meers is a man of respectability and truth, and any statement made by him on Oath or otherwise is entitled to full confidence and belief - and we have no doubt but that sd Meers served in the Revolutionary war as he has stated in his said Declaration. such to the neglect and good report and Sworn to and subscribed the day and date above written
before me intimated before signed - David Campbell JP 96
his James Hough mark his George Bell mark

30 587 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30,587
Moses Meus
His Rev. wife
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 268
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Kentucky Set Green County
May 10 th 1833
I David Campbell a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that, James H. Cook & George Bell
who have sworn to and subscribed the preceding affidavit in relation to the service of Moses Meers in the Revolution. and in relation to the character of sd Meers are all and each of them men of credibility and truth, and that full faith and credit are due and ought be given to their said affidavit. given under my hand the day and date above
David Campbell J.P.G.C.
State of Kentucky Green County Set
I John Barret Clerk of the Green county court do certify that David Campbell, whose name is signed to several forego- ing & above certificates is a justice of the peace in and for said county, and that his signature to the foregoing certificates and affidavits is genuine, and that he is regularly and legally qualified a justice of the peace, and was at the time of sign- ing the same, & that full faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal of office at Greensburg this 11 th day of May 1833
John Barret clerk of Green county court

Moses Mears.
Ke
from - Mate 9 mo 22 day
$ 32, \frac{44}{100}
M m T. Willis Greensburg. Ke

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Moses Myers which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? 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. VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

 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?  XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  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?  XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?  If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?    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?  XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
1, 2, 3 in part 5, & 7, not 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 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 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 shewn 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.
†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 authenticates 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 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

My best mail
Hon. Lewis Page
Secretary of War Washington City D.C.
Spec

Grenshugh Ky May 11 th 1833
Dear Sir
I return herewith, the pension declaration with an amendment of Moses Meers, in which amendments, as far can be done, the defects and errors of the first have been remedied. When the claim is finally acted on, please return it with an address to Mr Meers or to myself
Yours respectfully -
M m J Willis
Hon Lewis Cass Secretary of War