Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2192, for James Summers, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
N. C.
Summers, James Lavinia
W 2192
BLH 61059-160-55
or Lerina
CONTENTS

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
I, WILLIAM HILL, Secretary of State, in and for the State of North Carolina, do hereby certify, that it appears from the muster-rolls of the Continental line of this State, in the Revolutionary War, that James Summers a musician . . . in Capt. Dixon's . . . Company of the 1 st . . . Regiment, entered the service on the . . . day of . . . 1777, for the term of the war , was Fife-Major 1 st of June 1778. private 1 st December 1778. Sergeant 1 st Feb'y 1780. A land Warrant was issued for his services 10 th Nov. 1783. Given under my hand this 6 th day of April 1853. 1853.
Warrant No 310 for 857 Acres
W. T. Hill
W. T. Hill Secretary of State

842.
1861 April 4 th Transferred from Nashville Tenn to Illinois from 4 th Sept 1860
Illinois Tennessee  Nashville Lavina Summers, widow of James Summers who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a Sergeant, McDowell
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 120 dollars 00 cents per annum, to commence on the 3d February, 1853.
Certificate of Pension issued 30 th day of June 1853.
and sent to Dwight L Jones, Nashville, Tenn.
clp
Recorded on roll of Pensioners under February 7 1853, Page 185 Vol. C

Mar 3/33
270449 Mar 11/57
Savinia Summers
Savinia wid of
James Summers Sergeant Col.
61.059 April 4th 1857
ad. 160 aa, Ap. 2/57
Ent. Alston
Disb. War. 1775-
Special S. Com.
pensioner under Act Mar 3/53
ad 53-822
John Spinks Gladeville Wilson Co Tenn
End P
19431-100
Vol 82, Page 91.

copy of Grant
No. 193

State of North Carolina No. 193 - Know ye that we have granted unto James Summers, a sergeant in the con- tinental line eight hundred & fifty seven acres of land in Davidson County on Red river - Beginning at a sugar tree on the north side of the river, on the lower end of the first bend below P. M c Ilwain's - runs east twelve poles on S. Leitch's line, South fifty six poles to a black oak, Leitch's corner then east three hundred and fifty eight poles to a Gum crossing Red river once - South three hundred and sixty nine to a Red oak - West three hundred and seventy poles to a poplar crossing one branch of red river - North four hundred and twenty five poles, crossing red river to the beginning - To hold unto the said James Summers his heirs and assigns forever dated the 7 th day of March 1784
J. Glasgow Sec.
W m P. Cumwell
Warrant No. 310 - W. Nelson S.D. -
John Elliott, Hugh Bell. Co. Co.

State of Tennessee
I William B. A. Harney Secretary of said State do hereby certify the foregoing to be a full, true & perfect copy of grant No. 193 from the State of North Carolina to James Cummins, as taken from the records in my office
Witness my hand at office in Nash- ville this 8 th day of March 1853
W. B. A. Harney Secretary of State

APPLICATION FOR A TRANSFER.
County of Saline
ss.
On this Twenty Seventh day of February 18 41 before me the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Saline personally appeared Levina Summers who, on her oath, declares that she is the widow of James Summers who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Dickson in the regiment commanded by Colonel in the service of the United States ; that her name was placed on the pension roll of the State of Tennessee whence she has lately removed; that she now resides in the State (District or Territory) of Illinois where she intends to remain, and wishes her pension to be there payable, in future. The following are her reasons for removing from Tennessee to Illinois is My children had moved to Illinois and I moved here to be with them and to enjoy their company  Levina Summers mark
Sworn and subscribed to, before } me, the day and year aforesaid. }
Henry J. Fry (JP)
¶ The oath to be taken before a duly qualified magistrate, whose official character and signature must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. The County Clerk, Secretary of State, or some other officer, must certify, under his seal of office, that the officer who administered the oath is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, Mayor, Alderman, or Notary Public, as the case may be, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
¶ The oath must be supported by the testimony of some respectable person, as to the pensioner's identity. He must swear that the person who has taken the above oath is the person described in the affidavit. The magistrate must certify that the witness is a person of veracity; and the affidavit must also be authenticated in the manner above directed.
¶ 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 be sent with 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 which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or small 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.

PENSION OFFICE MAR 28 1851

Mrs Lavinia Summers
West No 8th St Gladesville P.O. Mason County Tenn

Bounty land Claim
State of Tennessee Wilson County
On this 16 th day of February 1857 personally appeared before me the undersigned an acting justice of the peace for said county Mrs Lovina Summers a resident of said county aged 77 or 78 years who on her oath made the following declaration for the purpose of obtaining a bounty of land to which she may be entitled as the widow of James Summers who was a sergeant in the revolutionary war and who was entitled to bounty land as set forth in her former declaration for pension which is on file in the pension office in Washington City and that she is the identical Lovina Summers who is in right of the services of her said husband as applied for and was allowed a pension under act of March 3 rd 1855 at the rate of one hundred and twenty dollars per year which pension commenced on 3 rd February 1853 and she further states that in order to obtain a bounty land warrant as a pensioner which is justly due her for the services of her late husband as stated above and she further makes oath that she never has applied for or received any bounty land warrant for the services of her said husband as set forth above and she further declares that in order to obtain said bounty land she does hereby constitute and appoint John Spinks of Wilson County Tennessee her agent and attorney to recover from the government of the United States her bounty land and she respectfully refers to her original application filed in the pension office for all the facts and proof of the services of her husband and of their marriage on page 185 Vol a sworn to and subscribed before me the day and date above written Lovina Summers her mark Jonathan H. Hooker

proof of identity
State of Tennessee County of Wilson
on this 16 th Day of February 1857 personally appeared before me an acting justice of the peace for said County Benjamin Rice and Huston Thornton residents of Wilson County whom I certify to be persons of veracity and made oath in due form of law that they are well acquainted with Mrs. Lavina Summers whose signature appears to the fore- going Declaration and that she is the identical person she represents her self to be as set forth in said Declaration and that she signed the Declaration and power of attorney in their presents and that they are disinterested
Sworn to and subscribed before Ben J. Rice on the day and date above Huston Thornton Jonathan H. Walker
John Spinks
Please direct the warrant to Gladeville Wilson County Tenn
State of Tennessee Wilson County
I, Special Clerk of the County Court of said County of Wilson certify that Jonathan H. Walker Esq. whose signature appears above, was at the time when the foregoing Declaration and affidavit were made at the time of the date of the same an acting justice of the peace within and for the County of said and duly commissioned and qualified. In testimony whereof I have hereunto my hand and seal affixed the seal of my office, this 3 rd day of March 1857.
D. H. Blackburn

State of Tennessee Wilson County } On this 2 d day of March 1853 personally appeared before the undersigned and a justice of the peace and a Member of the County Court of said Wilson County, which is a Court of record Mrs. Levisa Summers a resident of said County aged seventy five years on the 9 th September last who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed February the 3 d 1853 granting pensions to such widows as was married to officers or soldiers of the Revolutionary war after the year 1800 &c
That she is the widow of James Summers late of Gaswell County State of North Carolina that her husband and the said James Summers was as she always understood from him rather was in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war that at or near the commencement of said war he was living in Gaswell County N.C. and that he entered the service say some time in the year 1775 or 1776 as a Mason or Sergeant and as an enlisted man she thinks for during the war in Captain Henry Dixon's Company she does not recollect his Colonel

Name or the number of his Regiment but thinks it was among the first Regiments raised and does recollect that The Major name as she understood from her husband that belong to said Regiment was Major Thomas Donohoe that he continued to serve for the greater part of said war that he was March first to the north and returned back and was March ed to South Carolina was engaged at the battle of Charleston S.C. was there taken prisoner but got away from the enemy in a few days that he was also at the battle of the Carolows Spring she thinks having again joined the army as soon as and has heard him speak of being in several other battles but she cannot recollect them that he continued in said service until nearly the close of the war as she under- stood from him and have often heard him tell others that he served during said war five or upwards of five years that his first Captain was promoted to the next Captain's name that he served under she does not recollect but recolle- cts having him speak of Henry Dixon's death same time during the war that he was honorably discharged and returned home
She further declares that she was married to the James Simmons in Caswell County North Carolina by Elder Joseph Brackin on the 6th day of February

one Thousand Eight hundred and Three 1803 that the first child of her self & her said husband was born in Novr 1804 that before she was married to said James Summers her name was Levene Gillespie that her first child's name was Lydia that her husband the said James Summers died in said Wilson County Tennessee on the 21 st January 1820 that since his death she has not again inter- married but still remains his widow She further states that she has no docu- mentary or record proof in support of her claim & nor does she know of any one now living by whom she could prove her service that the old original record as kept by her husband which showed the dates of the births of her children was taken by her son Henry Dixon Summers some years ago in order to copy it & which she supposes has been lost or destroyed. She further states that her husband named one of our children after Capt. Henry Dixon her old Captain. She would further state that she always understood from her husband that he was entitled to (the said one thousand acres of land) for her service but which by some means he was wronged out of as he always said he got no benefit from it. She would further state that she understood from her husband that when he was taken prisoner at Charleston

That one of his fellow soldiers by the name of James Moran was taken prisoner also but where he now is she cannot say or whether he is living she does not know sworn to & subscribed before me J. F. Hooker the date above J. F. Levinna her Summers mark
State of Tennessee Wilson County 3 I Jonathan F. Hooker a Justice of the peace and a member of the County Court of said Wilson County do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above Levinna Summers who has this day appeared & made oath to the above declaration before me that she is the widow of James Summers and is a woman of truth and veracity and is entitled to full faith & credit and I further certify that from old age and bodily infirmity she is not able to attend at the Court & hence of her coming in order to make this declaration in open court In testimony whereof I have unto set my hand & seal this 2 nd day of March 1853 Jonathan F. Hooker J. F.

Laura Summers Declaration For arrears of Pension
Nashville Dec 20/56
Sir I herewith send you Laura Summers Declaration for arrears of Pension which you will please file with her original papers, to await the decision of the Court of Claims, & the approval of Congress which I understand is now pending. Respectfully
W.E. Jones
Court of Claims Washington City
W.E. Jones agt. Nashville Tenn.

State of Tennessee County of Wilson
Be it known that on this 29 th day of October 1856 before the undersigned a justice of the peace and a justice of the County Court of said County and State personally appeared Mrs. Lavina Summers aged 74 years with whom I am personally acquainted and who is I certify a creditable person and made oath in due form of law that she is the identical Lavina Summers to whom a certificate of pension was issued under act of 3 rd February 1853 2 nd section that she now receives under said act a pension $120 per annum as widow of James Summers who was a Revolutionary soldier that she has not again married but continues his widow and that she makes this Declaration for the purpose of obtaining the pension or arrears of pension to which she may be intitled under act of Congress of 4 th of March 1848 of the 3 rd February 1853 or any other act of Congress now passed or that may hereafter pass sworn to and subscribed Lavina her Summers LS mark { Attest B. H. Guill Attest A. F. Gandy } Jonathan F. Walker JP
State of Tennessee
County of Wilson on this 29 th day of October 1856 personally appeared Ben Rice and John Spinks to me well known both of whom I certify are residents of said County and creditable witnesses and made oath in due form of law that Mrs. Lavina Summers signed the foregoing Declaration in their presence and that she is the identical Lavina Summers who now receives a pension under act of 3 rd February 1853 and is the same person whom she therein represents herself to be they further make oath that they are disinterested Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written Jonathan F. Walker JP Ben Rice John Spinks LS

Know all men by these presents that I Lavina Summers of Wilson County and State of Tennessee a revolutionary pensioner of the United States under act of 30 February 1853 do hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint W m E. Jones of Nashville Tennessee my true and lawful Attorney for me and in my name to prosecute my claim to pension or arrears of pension as set forth in my forgoing Declaration hereby revoking all and every power of Attorney heretofore made by me to J. D. Combs or any person whatsoever and hereby authorizing my said Attorney W m E. Jones to receive my Certificate and confirming all his lawful acts in the premises witness my hand and seal this 29 th day of October 1856
Acknowledged before me
this 29 th day of October 1856 Lavina her Summers mark { Jonathan F. Hooker {
State of Tennessee } County of Wilson }
I Isaac Sch l Klein Clerk of the Court of said County do hereby certify that Jonathan F. Hooker Esq r is a Justice of the peace and of the County Court of said County which is a Court of Record duly elected commissioned and qualified according to law and was such at the time of signing the foregoing declaration affidavits and acknowledg- ment and that the signatures thereto purporting to be his are genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this first day of November A D 1856
I. Sch l Klein

March 18. 1853
App d . of Sevinna No. 214 Summers widow of
James Summers, Wilson County Tenn.
Married — 1813 Husband died 1820
.. Feb 3 d Febrg 1853
Admitted $120 per Annum. Commencing 3 d Feb. 1853
Smith & Jones Nashville Tennessee
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, Pension Office, Official Business

Widow
WIDOW, &c.)
File No.
2192
Savina Summers
Widow
James Summers
Asst. Rev. War.
Act Feb. 3. 1853.
Index :—Vol.
M.
Page
254
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of Illinois ss. Saline County James H. O'Connell on his oath deposes and says that the above named Lucina Sammons is the person set forth in the above certificate or she is the same identical Woman that was drawed a petition in the State of Tennessee Sworn to and subscribed before me this the 27 day of February 1861 Henry H. Gray (J.P.)
I Henry H. Gray an acting justice of the peace with in and for the County of Saline and State of Illinois do here by Certify that the above named James H. O'Connell is a person under good character that I have been acquainted with him for some six or seven years and have never heard any thing against the said witness given under my hand and Seal the 27 day of February 1861 Henry H. Gray (J.P.)
CLERK'S CERTIFICATE--Illinois.
Luse & Wilson, Printers and Binders, Lafayette, Ind.
THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, } ss. Saline COUNTY. }
J. R. Warfield Clerk of the _____ County Court, for said County, which is a Court of Record, using a Seal, do hereby certify that Henry H. Gray Esq.; whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Certificate , was on the day of the date thereof, and still is an acting Justice of the Peace, within and for the said County of Saline duly commissioned and qual- ified to office, and as such full faith and credit are due, and of right ought to be given to all his official acts; as well out of as in Court.
In Testimony Whereof, I J. R. Warfield Clerk of the Clerks of said County court as aforesaid, have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of said Court at my office in Harrisburg on the 9 th day of March A. D. 1861
J. R. Warfield CLERK.

Raleigh 10 th June 1853. Messrs Smith & Jones Gentlemen
Your favor with the Pension Commissioners letter is received, and I herewith send you another certificate of the services of James Summers, but do not know that it is better than the one heretofore sent you. It contains all that appears on the Musterroll, and Warrant book, and I cannot give any thing more. I think it clearly appears he was in the service from the time he entered to the close of the war. I am sorry he causes you to incur an additional expense; the former Commissioners received my certificates as evidence without the Seal of the State, for which you must send one Dollar for the Governor's private Secretary, his fee. My fee 50 Cents. Don't send Tennessee, Rail road or Georgia money. I am glad to learn my relations about Nashville are well. My family are in tolerable health except myself. I have not been well for some weeks past.
Yours respectfully
W. Hill

Revolutionary Pension claim of Levina Summers, widow of James Summers - a Sgt in the Knox Continental Line
Act 3 d February 1853.
Smith & Jones Attorneys Nashville. March 12, 1853. Tenn

State of Tennessee on this 3 d day of Wilson County 5 March 1855 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for said County Mrs. Hester Smart a resident of Rutherford County aged Sixty Six years who makes oath that she was ever acquainted with James Summers of Rutherford County North Carolina from her earliest recollection that he then lived in said Rutherford County and from her earliest recollection she always understood from him & others that the said James Summers was a Soldier or officer in the Revolutionary war as a regular that she has often heard him speak of being in the service that he was engaged in service through the greater part of the war also recollects on one occasion of hearing him tell that while he was out in the service he was marched to the north and while there & in the State of New York he was permitted to visit a relation by the name of Hardin that he as- certained that they had suffered much from the Tories but the particular officer or the length of time he served of course affiant cannot tell only from what she has heard from him about further states she will recollect the circumstances of the said

James Simmons, after marrying to a Miss Levina Gillespie of Gasconade County Mo which marriage took place some time in the year Eighteen hundred and two or three (1802 or 1803) affiant was not at the marriage but she then lived about 6 miles from Gillespie, but was visited the circumstances and a short time thereafter she heard the justice of the peace Joseph Braskin say that he married them She further states that about the year after 1811 1810 or 1811 removed from Gasconade County to Wilson County Tennessee and in a year or two afterwards the said James Sim- mons removed and settled in the same neighborhood himself & wife Levina that they remained together then as man & wife up to the death of the said James Simmons which occurred in the year 1820 or 1821 that after his death the said Levina his widow remained unmarried and is still living and is still his widow affiant has been well acquainted with her ever since and has always been called & considered a truth full woman. affiant further states she is disinter- ested in the claim to a pension which she is informed the said Levina has made in virtue of her said

husband the deceased said James Summers did I want to ask cried before me the date Jonathan F. Hooker above widow (JF) Abijah Smart mark
State of Tennessee Wilson County 3 I Jonathan F. Hooker a justice of the peace in & for said County do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Mrs. Abijah Smart who has this day made oath to the above affidavit before me that she is a woman of truth and intitled to credit and I further certify that I am not interested in said person claim witness my hand & seal this 3 rd day of March 1853 Jonathan F. Hooker (JF)
State of Tennessee Wilson County 3 on this 3 rd day of March 1853 personally appeared before me and signed a justice of the peace in & for said County Philip Smart who I certify is intitled to full credit and a resident of Rutherford County aged sixty eight years & made oath that he was well acquainted with James Summers & his wife Lavina of Wilson County in that his first acquaintance with them was

in the year 1812 that they then lived together as man & wife and so continued up to the death of James Summers which occurred in 1820 or 1821 that since his acquaintance with said Summers he has often heard him speak of being in the regular army in the Revolutionary war from the State of North Carolina that he served a considerable time in said war that he was entitled to bounty land was always regarded as having been engaged in said Revolutionary war but in what capacity he affiant cannot say but understood that he was an officer of some grade but affiant does not recollect what - that since his death his widow the said Levina has not again married and is still living near affiant but in Wilson County
affiant further states that as well as he recollects he has heard the old man Summers say that he named one of his children Henry Dixon after one of the officers under whom he served in the Revolutionary war affiant further says he is dissatisfied with the pension as claimed by said Levina sworn to & subscribed before me S. F. Hooker (JB) R. H. Philip Smart

State of Tennessee Wilson County 3 I know all now by these persons that I Laverne Summers do hereby constitute and appoint Martha & yours my true & lawful attorny for me to prosecute and recover for me a pension an certificate in title of my husband James Summers and and I request the Commission me of pensions to deliver to them the said Certificate as soon allowed without my hand this 2 nd March 1853 without Laverne Summers mark
State of Tennessee Wilson County on this 2 nd day of March 1853 personally appeared and before the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for said County Mrs Laverne Summers and acknowledged the execution of the above power of attorny to be her act and deed and I further certify that I am not in any way direct or indirectly interested the foregoing claim to a pension as claimed by said Laverne Summers In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal the date above written Jonathan F. Hooker JP

State of Tennessee on this 2 nd day of March Wilson County 3 1853 personally appeared but on the undersigned a Justice of the peace in & for said County John Sparks a resi- dent of said County aged about fifty eight years and makes oath that he was well acquainted with James Simmons and his wife Lavinia Simmons and has been well acquainted for several years before his Simmons death and during his acquaintance he always understood that he was a soldier in the revolutionary war from North Carolina he has heard the said James Simmons say that repeatedly that he lived in person County North Carolina that he was engaged in in the greater part of the war that he was entitled to bounty land for his services which he has not got  or had been ignorant of that the said James Simmons died in said Wilson County about the year 1820 that he left his widow the said Lavinia who is still living & is still his widow that affiant further states that from his first acquaintance with them both they was living together as man & wife and so continued up to the death of the said James Simmons and affiant would further state that the said Lavinia is in all respects a trust- ful woman & entitled to full credit that he is well acquainted with their first child Lydia who from her appearance affiant would suppose was forty eight or nine

years of age appear further makes oath that he is diminutive
Sworn to and subscribed before me this date above Jonathan F. Hooker (JP) John Spinks
State of Pennsylvania Wilson County 3 I Jonathan F. Hooker a justice of the peace in & for said County do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with John Spinks who has this day appeared and made oath to the above affidavit before me is a man of truth & integrity & truthful facts and credit is due to his statements
Without my hand and seal this 2nd day of March 1858 Jonathan F. Hooker JP
State of Pennsylvania Wilson County
I, Josiah S. McClain, Clerk of the County Court of said County do hereby certify that Jonathan F. Hooker, whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing Declaration, Acknowledgment, Certificate & Affidavit is now sworn at the time of signing the same, a Justice of the Peace, and Justice and Member of the County Court of said County (which is a Court of Record and has a public seal by law) duly commissioned and qualified as such according to law.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Court this ninth day of March 1858. J. S. McClain Clerk of the County Court of Pennsylvania

569
Levin a Summers Widow of James (Tenn.)
Let to. Smith & Jones May 17 1853
Act Feby 3. 1853

842 Tennessee, Mrs.
Sarina Summ- widow of James
who served in the Revolution
war, as a Sergeant
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate 120 Dollars 00
Cents per annum, to commence the 4th day of March, 1812
3 rd February Certificate of Pension 30 th day of June
and sent to
Smith & Jones Nashville Tenn.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners and JUN 20 1812 Page 185 Vol. 9

9 61.059
Her Aug

Nashville Tennessee April 18. 1853
Sir.
We enclose herewith the Certificate of Mr. Hill Secy of State Iowa, as to the Revolutionary Services of James Sumner, in the Rev. War.
On 12 th of last month (March) we mailed to you the claim of his widow Levina Sumner, of Wilson County Tennessee, to pension under 2 nd section, Act of 3 rd February 1853, we request therefore that the enclosed Certificate be filed with her papers.
Very Resp y Yr Ob dt Servants Smith & Jones Attd.
Hon. Loren P. Waldo Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.

State of North Carolina Cascad County 3
I Abisha Shade Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Cascad State aforesaid hereby Certify that I have examined the records in my office for the evidence of the marriage of James Simmons and Lavinia Gillispie and am unable to find any such record.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of my office this 13 th day of May A D 1853
A. Shade Clerk

December 15 th 1860
Dear Sir, I have removed from Tennessee to Illinois and therefore send you my certificate as a Pensioner of the United States which was issued to me at your office on the 30 th day of June 1853 which was signed by B McKelland and L. T. Waldo Commissioners of Pensions and recorded on page 185 Vol A 8 which has been paid in Nashville by your agent Joel M Smith Esq r your agent for paying Pensioners in the Agency of Tennessee which was on the 11 th of September and the 4 th of March and as I am more in need and less able to maintain my self now than I was when first received my Pension you will therefore please receive my first certificate issued for Tennessee and send me another specifying the same amount to be paid at the same times the Agency only changed from Tennessee to Illinois You will also please send a blank with the certificate directed to me Galatia Saline Co Ill I have received my Pension for September 1860 as your agent in Nashville Joel M Smith will testify Yours with Respect Savina Summers

Nashville Tennessee March 12 th 1853.
Sir
We enclose herewith the application for a Revolutionary Pension of Levina Summers, Widow of James, a Sergeant in the Continental Line, from North Carolina, under Act of 3 rd February 1853, accompanied by proof of marriage and of his service &c.
Please examine her claim, and report the result to us.
Very Respectfully Your O bt Servants Smith & Jones
To the Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D. C.

Washington Sun
June 20 1853
Sir
We have sent you the additional warrant you require in the case Savina Summers widow of James (died 1853 Revolutionary) and in reply to the parts of your letter relating to the mode of the court instructions of Mrs. Summers deduction we have to state that we have complied with your regula- tions as you will perceive that the Justice declares that she is not able to attend in open court and it has been decided that that officer has found that a Justice of the peace in Tennessee is a Justice of a Court of record and is a member of and constitutes a part of our Court which is a Court of record & has by law a public seat we hope you will allow this Claim as soon as possible as the old lady is very needy Smith & Jones

Wm Hill Esq Secy of State
Dear Sir.
Within you will perceive that the Comm n of Pensions requires a different Certificate in the case of former summers.
Please shew the length of service if practicable & send in the new Certificate & return this letter.
Yours truly
Smith & Jones
Your relations are all well here.
W.H.

Pension Office, May 7. 1853
Gentlemen,
One of Our rules requires that the declaration of a widow applying for the benefit of the second section of the act of 1853, should be made " before a Court of Record ". this rule must be complied with in the case of Mrs Leona Summers, who applies for a pension as the widow of James Summers, a Revolutionary soldier, before it can be disposed of.
The proof of service of the said soldier is also defective. His name does not appear in any of the records of Revolutionary soldiers on file in this Office, and the certificate of the Secretary of State of North Carolina filed among the papers is not admissible on the ground of uncertainty. I state as follows:-
"Entered the service on the - day of 1777 for the time of the war - was first Major 1 st of June 1778 - private 1 st Dec. 1778 - Sergeant

1 st Feb. 1780" &c.
It is not stated whether he served continuously during the whole of this period - and - if this be inferred there is no data from which to determine the precise periods of service in the several grades - which is indispensable to arrive at the amount of the pension due.
A new certificate of the Secretary of North Carolina (under seal) setting forth particularly the whole service of said soldier, and distinguishing the periods of service in the different grades specified, is also required.
Very Respectfully J. M c Wade Commissioner
Messrs Smith & Jones Nashville Tenn,

Brief in the case of Levina Summers, widow of James Summers Wilson County and State of Tennessee act 3 rd February 1853.
Claim, ("original," or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditionary, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Service of Husband proved by certificate of Secretary of State of North Carolina, for a period of over two years as Sergeant Marriage substantiated by parol testimony - witness certified to be credible.
(If for increase.)
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Messrs Smith & Jones Nashville, Tennessee Name and residence of Agent
R Bedder Examining Clerk.

Pension Agency Nashville Tenn
April 1st 1861
Sir
In reply to yours of 27 th ult I have to inform you that Lucia Summers widow of James, a pensioner under the Act of July 1853 2 nd Sect at the rate of One Hundred and Twenty Dollars per annum has been paid at this Agency up to 4 Sept 1860
Respectfully Yours Colt Serb
J. M. Smith
Per Agent
Commission of Pension Washington (City)

THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.
To all to whom these presents shall come, GREETING:
BE IT KNOWN, THAT Hon: William Hill, _____
whose name in his own proper hand-writing, is subscribed to the annexed Certificate, is, and was, at the time of granting the same, Secretary of State in and for the State of North Carolina. _____
and that his said Certificate is in due form.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, HIS EXCELLENCY, DAVID S. REID , our Governor, Captain General, and Commander-in-Chief, hath signed with his hand these presents, and caused our GREAT SEAL to be affixed thereto. Done at our City of RALEIGH , on the 10 th day of June , in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and fifty- three , and in the seventy-seventh year of our Independence.
David S. Reid.
BY THE GOVERNOR:
Sam l J. Adams, jr.
Private Secretary.

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
I, WILLIAM HILL, Secretary of State, in and for the State of North Carolina, do hereby certify, that it appears from the muster-rolls of the Continental line of this State, in the Revolutionary War, that James Summers a Musician in Capt. Dixon's . . . . . Company of the first Regiment, entered the service on the . . . day of . . . . . 1777 . . for the term of the War , was Fife Major 1 st of June 1778, private 1 st Dec r 1778, Sergeant 1 st Feby 1780. A land warrant for his services as a Sergeant for six years, was issued on the 10 th of Nov r 1783, on the cert. of a Field Officer. Given under my hand this 10 th day of June . . . 1853.
W m Hill Secretary of State