Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,134, for Abner Lasater, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
Nb.
Lasater, Abner
S.7134
carded.
CONTENTS

Order to pay 19. Oct 1837
16.544
State Carolina
Mary Isaac  Isaac Crattan in the State of Carolina who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Jones of the Regiment commanded by Colonel in the N.C. Cav for service
Inscribed on the roll of Carolina at the rate of 20 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of Oct. 33 and senior Mrs. and sen Ragland Tenn. —  —
Arrears to the 1st of Sept 1833. 57 — Semest. allow. ending June 30 10 — 67 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { 1st Jan 7, 1832. }
Recorded by State  State  — Clerk, Book E Vol. 6 1/2 Page 73

Declaration to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June 1832
State of North Carolina Chatham County
On this 12 th day of November personally appear me before us Abner  Abner  Frank , David Frank and Robert Frank . Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the County of Chatham now in Session. Abner  Abner  Lapule  Lapule , who being first duly sworn, according to law deposes and says that the following decla- ration is true to the best of his knowledge in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the Act of Congress passed on the 7 th of June 1832 That he was born in what was formerly called now Franklin County on the 13 th of April 1794 being now in the 79 th year of his age agreeable to the record of the respective ages of his family Children now in his possession and transmitted from the family, birth of his Father which which has been since burned. That

He entered the service of the United States in the early part of December 1780 as a volunteer in a troop of Horse, commanded by Capt. John Wolfe, in service of Orange County in New York State. That he received it in the County of Orange when he was informed that Sterling Heptown was the Gen- eral and John Wolfe the Major of his Com- pany. That immediately after he entered the ser- vice his Company was marched to New Brunswick in the State of New Jersey where he was in the army of General Greene. After which he was sent with others to New York for the use of the Army. That after having performed the dis- charge, as such, he was sent by General Greene as an express to New York. That in his return to the Army at New Brunswick he received the express. General Greene had ordered up the Express for he was then in the army of Cornwallis and the Company in which he volunteered had marched to New Brunswick Hill where he received orders before he was sent as an express to New York in New York where the Legislature was in session that after having executed the express his time being out he returned home to his father. That he then received

a discharge from his boat loan. With a loan, but they lost it if ever re-issued to some one. That after having received a discharge from the expiration of his first loan of 1000, in the early part of February in the year 1787, he again obtained the service of the United States, as a volunteer and was chosen in a company of 100 men, commanded by Capt. John Joseph Hopson. The Lieutenant of the com- pany was Joseph Speckney. The name of the company he can not recollect. That during this term of service he was a prisoner in keep- ing the forces in Cheek who were commanded by General and that he never went out of the State or the District of Columbia and that when he finished his term of service he returned home. But if he received a pension in writing he has no record. That he knows of no further testimony that he will his dear children that he hereby requests the claim for whatever to a pension as only ex- cept the present under the circumstances that his name is not on the pension roll of any State Yours Sincerely Sworn to as a true copy the day and year aforesaid

We Richard Drake a Clerk in an of the meth dist Episcopal Church residing in the County of Chatham and Joseph Johnson residing in the same. Hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Abner Loper who has resided with us for some time and and that he is a man of good character and we believe him to be in the 79th year of his age. That he is respected and believed to be a soldier of the Revolution in the neigh- borhood wherein he resides and that we concur in that opinion. Richard Drake sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid Joseph Johnson

That the said Court does hereby in our opinion affirm the judgment of the small and affirming the same, and that the by the said Court. That the above name is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in the said Court, and the several therein contained, that in appearance to their interest. Now there is a certain tract who has a the name of Joseph Johnson is a Colored man of the county of Chatham, and a resident of the county of Chatham, and that Joseph Johnson who has also signed the same is also a resident in the county of Chatham, and is a true and correct that their statement is entitled to credit
W. H. [unintelligible]
(David [unintelligible])
Robt. Bingham [unintelligible]
I as Clerk of the Court of [unintelligible] and [unintelligible] of the county of Chatham do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Abner Lofland for a [unintelligible] In testimony whereof I have hereunto annexed my [unintelligible] seal the
November 1852
Thos. [unintelligible]

Declaration of Abner Lasater as amended.
On the 15 th day of August 1833 personally appeared before us Abram Dean, Nathan Sherman, and Charles Lutterlok Justices of the court of Pleas and Quarters sessions for the county of Chatham now in session, Abner Lasater who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declarations in addition to those made on the 12 th Nov 1832.
The following are the questions propounded to Mr Lasater together with his answer upon oath
1 st Where and in what year were you born?
Answer - Born in Duke road called Warren or Frank in 1754.
2 nd Have you any record of your age? An. Yes in my Bible, set down by my father.
3 rd Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Answer. In Chatham, then - since - and now.
4 th How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute?
Answer. I volunteered.
5 th State the name of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served; such Continental and militia officers as you can recollect and the General circumstances of your service.
Answer. Colonel Webb, Roger Griffith - Captain
William Jones and Joseph Rosser - Lieutenant Starling
Mr Flower, and Ensign John Robinson, and Lieutenant

I left Hackney, that he volunteered for the  two distinct periods of time, the first commencing about the 14th of December 1780 and was terminated the 11th of March in the same year by a discharge from Captain William Jones, which is lost or mislaid and cannot be proved, the second enlistment commenced about the 10th of February 1782 and continued uninterruptedly for three months, when he thinks he received a written discharge but has lost it and cannot prove it. The last enlistment embraced an entire period of six months. The first Colonel under whom he served was Thomas Clades of South Carolina and the second, was Colonel Roger Griffith. Q. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom issued given, and what has become of it? A. No Sir, he did, in the first case from Capt. William Jones, which as stated above is lost and in the second case he cannot say, yes or no.
Alner Sarsfield
Q. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify to your character for veracity and the value of your services as a soldier of the Continental Army. A. Richard Drake and Joseph Isham Esqrs. He has no witness living by whom he can substantiate his statements but he can say that they were known before even their certificates.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after hearing their testimonies present to the War department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the Continental Army and served as he stated in the said further and that the affidavits to them that Richard Drake who has signed the certificate hereto fore made is a clergyman residing in Roxbury and that Joseph Isham Esq. who has also signed the same is a resident in Roxbury and is a creditable person and that their statements entitled to credit.
J. S. Sarsfield C, Letter to H. H. 21 V. S. H. 11

Rev. Mr. ...
I have the honor to inform you that the ... the original ... of the ... the ... of the ... the ... of the ...
28th August 1833.
Yours faithfully ...

2.3157
Abner Laseter
Chatham county
North Carolina
admkt by you
6 mo $20
2. when not in state
Thomas Bagland flk Pittsburgh Pa.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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. These 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 Henry L. Smith, Chatham county, North Carolina
   Period when the service was rendered Duration of the claimant's service Rank of the claimant Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served Names and Rank of the General and Field officers Battles in which the applicant was engaged Country through which he marched Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period Evidence by which the declaration is supported   Years Months Days     Volunteer 1780 3 Private Cavalry Capt James Lastington Big River Chowan Salisbury Wilmington 79 Chatham county N.C. Revolution   do 1782 3 Cavalry Capt Dyer  
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 day 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 (aa) 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 prisoner 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 is an 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 a 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.
[1] 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.
[2] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule [1] applies to continental troops only.
[3] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[4] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[5] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Rev. May
INVALID.
File No. 71 17
71 17 71 17
Act: 1870
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 215
[Arrangement of 1870.]