Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4528, for William Leech, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. b. _____
Leech, William _____
S 4528 _____
Leach _____
CONTENTS
carded

See letter to Pen. agt and Robt. Murray agt. 4. 1836.
Paid at the Treasury under the act of April 6 th 1838 from 4 th Sep r 1840 to 4 th Sep r 1841. Agt. notified June 6 th 1842
19200
up
ack
re of Virginia
who was a, in the Company commanded by Captain art of the regt commanded by Col. Davis in the Virginia line for 6 months
William Leach. Records A.K. Apr. 7 '42
Inscribed on the Roll of Miss. Pensions at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the day of Aug t 1833 and Santa Fe, N.M.
Lemmy Huntington
Arrears to the 4th of March 40.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending July 10.00
$50 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 87

No 15534.
Carroll Co William Seach
from 1780 private 6 mths.
$20
Stearns Owens Yea
Thos L Capt. Gillespie & Jennings Huntington,
James H Lee Clk.
Carroll County Court Tennessee

BRIEF in the case of William Leach of in the State of (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 71  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.     Vol In 1780 3 Private Capt Stewart, Col Davis   Drafted 1781 3 " " Morrison " Loftus  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rowan Co N C  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary evidence - Documentary Proof & Living Witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No County Seal 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Oyer Castor
Examining Clerk.

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832, State of Tennessee, Carroll circuit court.
Personally appeared in open court this the 17 th of October 1832 William Leach aged seventy one who made oath in due form of law & files the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
States that he was a resident of the county of Rowan at the commencement of the war of the revolution, and previous to the year 1780 he was called out in several excursions against the Tories, and on the 17 th of July he volunteered for a term of three months in the company commanded by Capt William Stewart in the corps commanded by Col Davis, Maj James Rutherford was his major, & who was afterwards killed at the battle of the Eutaw Springs, and that he served out his term of three months as will appear by his discharge here with filed during the first part of this service, the corps to which he belonged were ranging on the South fork of the Catawba river in N. Carolina for the purpose of keeping down the Tories until after the British Army under Cornwallis moved from South Carolina to Guilford County N. Carolina they were then encamped in the neighborhood of the British for the purpose of keeping down pillaging & plundering parties of the British army in which service he was engaged until he was discharged In this service he was in no regular engagement Further states that again in the year 1781 he was drafted for a term of three months under Capt Thomas Morrison & Col Loftis's regiment, the whole under the command of Gen Rutherford

During which term he served three months as will appear by the affidavit of one of his fellow soldiers which is hereto annexed & who is to affirm to ride this fact to court. In this service he went on what was called the Wilmington Campaign then in the possession of the British army after the surrender of Cornwallis the town was evacuated & shortly afterwards they were marched home & discharged. In this term he was in no regular engagement nor out of the state. This service closed the war or near 1780 for the state that he has no documentary evidence except his discharge as above stated to prove his services, and has no living testimony that he knows of except being known as who has certified as above stated that in the excursions before his regular service were merely skirmishes & for short periods of time but he firmly believes he was engaged as long in these excursions as the whole of his regular service. He hereby relinquishes any claim to a pension except the present & that his name is not on the pension roll of any state state
Sworn to & subscribed in William Leech open Court. this 17 th Octr 1832
James H. G. Clark, Rec B.M. Burrow & John Stewart,
residing in said county hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Leech who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be seventy one years of age & that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood to have been a soldier of the revolution and we concur in that opinion. James H. G. Clark } Sworn to & subscribed in open Court. } Brooks M. Burrow John Stewart

Quarrelsome by the count.
1. When and in what year were you born Ans. Rowan County, North Carolina, can't recollect the year, but will be seventy one the 4 th of December next.
2. Have you any record of your age & if so where is it.
Ans. I believe not.
3. When were you living when called into service when home you lived since the war are here are you now live
Ans. as before stated, in Rowan City North Carolina after the war the county was divided & he fell in Iredell, when continued until about thirty six or years ago, he came to Temple, Sam- uel City, afterwards moved to Wilson & from there to Illinois where he resi- ded seven years & from there to this county where he now resides.
4. How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer or a substitute & if so for whom
Ans. This question is answered in his declaration.
2. State the names of some of the regular officers with whom you served, such continental & militia regiments & the general circumstances of his service Ans. As well as recollects he never was with any regular officers, a chap Hogg joined them in the Wilmington camp

paige, he was said to be a regular officer in the field army of Washington. They were joined by Gen Butler Brigade of Militia. The balance of this question will be found answered in the body of this declaration.
Did you receive a discharge & if so what has become of it?
Ans. This is also answered in his declaration.
Question State the names to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can testify as to your character for vera- city & their belief in your revolutionary services.
Answer
I am well acquainted with the Rev B. M. Burson & John Stuart Esq. do here by declare their opinion And the said Court do here by declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & after putting of the interrogatories specified by the war department that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier as he has stated and the said court further certifies that it appears to him that the said Burson, Mr. Burson and John Stuart Esq.
are both credible persons & their statement is en- titled to full credit.
Wm B. Tinsley
one of the Judges of the Circuit Courts of law & equity State of Tennessee
State of Tennessee Humboldt County } October Term 1832.
I James H. Lee Clerk of the Circuit of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing are the original papers in the matter of the application of William Leach for a pension.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private seal (there being no other) at office in Humboldt this 18th day of October AD 1832.
James H. Lee Clerk.

Treasury Department,
SECOND COMPROLLER'S OFFICE,
April 28, 1854
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States;" and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which Pensioners may receive their pensions from the Pension Agents,
the Adm'r of William Leach, dec.
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Jackson, Tenn. Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and Cents per annum under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1851, to the 4 th Sept. 1852.
Respectfully, yours.
19200
J. M. Brooks Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

I do hereby certify that William Leach did serve three months in the Revolution War in the year 1781. — in Col. Loftins Regiment, in the Corps commanded by General Rutherford — given under my hand and seal this 13 th day of October 1832
Henry Thomas State of Kentucky Dyer County This day personally appeared Henry Thomas and made Oath in due form of law that the above statement contains the truth to the best of his recollection Sworn to and subscribed before me E. A. M c Corkle an acting Justice of the peace in and for Dyer County the day and date above written
Edwin A. M c Corkle
J. Pease.

information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau. William Leach * S. F. 4 528
    DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Previous to 1780 ✓ called out in several excursions against Tories N.C.   July 17, 1780 3 mos. Pvt William Stewart Daniel   1781 3 mos. Thomas Harrison Lafayette   * pensioned Seach   
Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Rowan Co., N.C.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 17, 1832. His ch. was ab.
Residence at date of application, Carroll Co. Tenn
Age at date of application, 6 in Rowan Co. N.C. Dec. 4, 1761
Remarks:
No data as to family.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Memphis Tenn 4/7/12
Russian Office Washington D.C.
Dear Sirs.
Will you kindly inform me whether William Leetch of N.C. was a Presbyterian or not? He married Capt James Knox's daughters, (Naomie).
Yours truly (Mrs) Jh Keene
# 4 - S. Claybrook Memphis, Tenn.

1912 Apr. 16 Hist. To Mrs. J. L. Kline V.L.M.
Rev. Hays
4528
INVALID.
File No. 4528
* William Leach
Print Rev War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index:—Vol. A, Page 219
[Arrangement of 1870.]
* William Leach. Records corrected Apr. 7 1904 d.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
May 27 th , 1842.
Sir:
Under the date of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States,"
William Beech, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Jackson, Ten. Agency, at the rate of Twenty Dollars and 32 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 , has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1840 , to the 4 th Sept. 1841 .
Respectfully, yours,
William L. Parris
COMPTROLLER.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

M 277
28 March 1836. Pension Office
Mr Seach Jackson, Tenn. N.W.

Waukegan Jan 14 th March 1886
Hon Secy of War Dr Sir
Enclosed please find Mr. William Leach's pension papers as also his certificate issued from the War Office of the U.S. As Mr. Leach has five payments now due him it becomes necessary as I am informed to return his papers to the War Department for examination, have the goodness to pass on these documents at your earliest convenience and return them to me at this place with such remarks as the circumstance requires and very much Oblige Dr Sir your most Obt. Servt.
Robt. Murray

Mr Melville Brigham Dr Sir
Mr Hughes tells me that you are a good hand to cut a cotton screw and tap
M ch 27 th
28 March 1836.
Pension Office
Mr Leech Jackson, Tenn 7/11

Whitington, Le June 19. 1833
f
July
Hon: Lewis Cass
Secretary of War.
Washington D.C.
June 20
"Pension application"
3

Huntingdon June 18 th 1833. Application of William Loach for a Pension. Gillespie & Jennings Agents.

William Leach

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Teach which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? No II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? Not Stated 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? Not Stated 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? 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? No

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? No
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?
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? No
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 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.

State of Tennessee § James Session 1833 of the Carroll County § Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions.
Be it remembered that on this day the seventh of June 1833, personally appeared in open Court William Leach Sen a resident cit- izen of said county of Carroll, and who after having been duly sworn agreeably to law, made the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832.
That at the commencement of the war of the revolution he was a resident of Rowan county N. Carolina and that previous to the year 1780, he was called out in several excursions against the Tories, and on the 19 th of July he volunteered as a private for a term of three months in Capt. William Dunarts company & under Maj. Rutherford & Col. Daniel Maj. Rutherford was afterwards killed at the Eutaw Springs, he states he served out his term & rec d a discharge which is herewith filed. In this campaign the corps to which he belonged were man- ing about on the south fork of Catawba River in N. Carolina, for the purpose of keeping down the Tories until after the British Army should evacu- ate the South Carolina, & when Cornwallis marched to Millenburgh N. Carolina, they were then marched in the neighborhood of the British for the purpose of keeping down the plundering and pillaging parties of the British Army. In service he was engaged until he was dischar- ged.
And again in the year 1781 he was drafted for another term of three months under Capt. Thos Morrison in Col. Loflins Regt. The corps under Col. Rutherford, and served three months as will appear by his discharge & also the affidavit of one of his old fellow soldiers. This last discharge he has not found since the filing of his former declaration his witness is too old and firm to ride this far to Court, as he lives in another county.

In this campaign he went in what was called the Wil- mington Campaign, then in the preparation of the Battle Army, after the surrender of Cornwallis, the Town was evacuated & they were shortly afterwards marched home & discharged, in this town he was in no reg- ular engagement nor out of the State of Mary- land. He further that in his excursions against the Tories before his regular tours were very frequent and numerous, and frequently very short periods of time. At this length of time he can not give any satisfactory details of the same, but he is confident he was in the service of his country as a soldier against its enemies, in those excursions six months, making the whole of his services as a soldier of twelve months, for which he asks a pension.
He has no documentary evidence except his dis- charges to prove his services, nor can he prove the same by any living witness except one John Lybrand Thomas, as above stated. He states that his name is not on the pension roll of any state, and he has by every claim to a pension except the present.
Inverness, Scotland in open court
June 11 th 1838
Edward Irwin Clerk
55 William Leek
Question by the Court, where & in what year were you born
Answer, Rowan County, Maryland, I can't recollect if I was ever told the year, but from the best information I have, I will be seventy five the 1 st of December next.
Question Did you have any record of your age & if so where is it.
Answer I believe not.
Question B. Where were you living when called into, where have you lived since the revolutionary war & where do you now live.

Answer as before stated, In Kanon county, N. Carolina, after the war the county was divided I fell into Fredell where I continued near thirty years when I removed to Pembroke, Hoke county after removed to Wilson county in the same state, then I removed to Illinois where I lived seven years when I moved to this county where I now live
Question 4 th How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute & if so for whom.
Answer This question is answered in the body of his declaration.
Question State the names of some of the regular officers with whom you served, such con- tinental & militia regiments as you may recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Answer as well as he recollects, he never was with any regular officers A Major Hogg joined them on their way to Wilmington, he was said to be a regular officer, and they were also joined by Gen. Butler's brigade of militia (The balance of this interrogatory is answered above)
Ques: Have you received a discharge & if so what have become of them.
Answer, I did two for my regular forces & they are hereto attached.
Question
State the names of persons in your pres- ent neighborhood who can testify as to your character for veracity & their belief in your revolutionary services.
Answer
I am well acquainted with the Rev d W. H. Beighman and John Stuart Esq.

We Wm Bigham & John Lee are residents citizens of said Co. do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Leach the above applicant for a pension that we believe him of the age he represents himself that he is reputed & esteemed in the neighborhood where he resides to be a soldier of the revolution & we concur in that opinion
Wm Bigham John Stewart
Sworn to & subscribed in open court June 11 th 1833.
Edward Lewis Clerk
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter & proceedings of the interrogations, specified by the war department, that the above applicant William Leach was a soldier of the revolution & served as he has stated and we further certify that it appears to us that Wm Bigham who has certified above is a regular minister of the gospel & that him and John Stewart who has also certified are respectable and credible persons & their statement is entitled to full credit.
H. Wright J. Richard Wilson Nesbitt J. B. Armstrong
State of Tennessee Canoe County } I Edward Lewis Clerk of the Court of pleas & Quarter Sessions in & for said County State aforesaid do hereby certify that James H. Lee whose name is signed to the original proceedings of the Circuit Court for said County in the matter of the application of William Leach for a Pension here to attached was at the time of signing his Certificate to the same still is Clerk of said Court that his signature thereto is in his own proper hand writing & I do further certify that the foregoing amended proceedings are the original proceedings of this court in the the application of James Leach for a Pension
James H. Lee
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix the Seal of said court at office in Huntingdon this 11 th day of June A.D. 1833. Edward Lewis Clerk