Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 1,992, for John Knight, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
Nb.
Knight, John
81992
CONTENTS
Carded.

West Tennessee 7577
John Knight of Smith Co in the State of W Tenn who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Taylor of the Regt commanded by Col Lock in the W.C. line for 8 months
see letter to Pen Agent G A Ferguson 15 April 1837 Ret: 22 July 1838 A. Ferguson
Inserted on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of April 1833 and Sante Rickel Worthage
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 53.32 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 13.33
$66.65
{ Revolutionary Cla Act June 7, 18
Recorded by Samuel Bays Clerk Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 86

State of Tennessee Smith County Court August Term 1832
On this 28 day of August 1832, personally appeared in open court, before John Chambers, Colonel Chairman of the Garrison Justices of said court now sitting, John Knight, a resident of said County of Smith, State aforesaid aged seventy-two 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 act of Congress passed June 7-1832
That he entered the service of the United States as a Volunteer in the year 1778; that he was then a citizen of Granville County State of North Carolina; that he was first attached to Captain Richard Taylors company and afterwards to Capt. William Gills company; the field officers of the Regiment was Col. Matthew Bock, Maj. Hugh Breward & Maj. McCall or McCawly; the company rendezvoused at Granville Court House, and marched from thence through person & Caswell counties; applicant served five months on this tour upwards; never received a written discharge that he now recollects off, if he did it is either lost or mislaid so that it cannot now be found; applicant served in this tour in the same Regiment with Phillip Day and William Jones, both of whom are now living and are residents of Smith County, and no doubt will testify to my service as above stated.
Applicant also served a tour of three months as a volunteer shortly after the one of five months as above stated; that he resided in Granville County North Carolina at the time of entering the service on that tour also;

That he was attached to Captain John Hendersons company, and belonged to the Regiment commanded as well as now recollected by Col. Malmundy ; that he was in no engagement during this service, and was not out of the State of North Carolina during this tour as well as he now recollects; has no recollection of having received any written discharge, if he did it is either lost or mislaid - has no written evidence whatever of services during the revolutionary war, nor does he know of any person now living by whom he can prove this service of three months as above stated.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day & year aforesaid.
P. Pickett C.R.
John Knight
We Miles West a Clergyman residing in the county of Smith & State of Tennessee, and Philip Day residing in the county and State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Knight who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy-two years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood 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.
J. P. Tuttle CLO
Miles West Phillip Day
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 Miles West who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the county of Smith, and that Philip Day who has also signed the same, is also a resident of the same county, and is a credible person, and that their statements is entitled to credit.
John Chambliss Chairman of Smith County Court

State of Tennessee, Smith County } This day being the _____ day of August 1832 William Jonas & Phillips Day both citizens of said county person- ally appeared in and before the Justices of said county court and being first duly sworn according to law, States that they was in service of the United States with John Knight in the five months tour spoken of in the within declaration made & sworn to by said Knight; and that from their acquaintance with said Knight have no hesitation in certifying that that they believe said Knight served the whole of the time stated in his declaration. Sworn to, and subscribed, in open court, the day and year aforesaid.
12.371
State of Tennessee Smith County I Jonathan Pickett Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Sessions for the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that the fore- going contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Knight for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have here- unto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at office in Cordell this 10th day of September 1832 and 57th year of our Independence
J. Pickett Clerk

1837.
John Bright—
Smith Co
for 1778 private 8 months.
$26. 66 100
Taylor Locke N.C.
J. Pickett Carthage Tennessee
23 Feb 1833.

BRIEF in the case of John Knight  of Smith County  in the State of Tennessee  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? a Court -  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? —  3. How old is he? 70 Years.  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.     In 1778 — 5 (or upwards) private Gen. Capt. Richd. Taylor, Capt. Wm. Gilleland Col. Matthew Lock, Maj. Hugh Brant   Shortly after above 3 — do. Capt. Geo. Henderson,  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? —  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Granville County, N. Carolina  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence. First tour (of five months) proven by Wm. Jones & Philip Day -  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? No. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
R. F. Pleasant Examining Clerk.

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

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?
Yes
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?
Yes as to last
Four - first four proven by living witnesses -
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?
Yes (in part -)
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?
Sworn in Court
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?
Yes as to first four
XVI. †Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
Yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
to 7th 2.5 are all 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.

your papers must be regularly made out after the enclosed form & then forwarded to J L Edwards Esq Washington City who will return them & order them to be paid - Jm Bap.

Rev. State
1992
INVALID.
File No. _____
1992
John Knight Pat. S.C. line
Act: _____
June 7 1882
Index:—Vol. _____
2
, Page _____
210
[Arrangement of 1870.]

7517 Mar 27 Mrs. Knight Knappville, Staten Island New York
D. S. Edwards Commission of Pension Washington

Carthage Tennessee 14 th March 1837
J. S. Edward Esqr
Dear Sir from the inclosed papers you will discern that more than one payment is due to John Knight as a Pensioner and that from the instructions of the Agent for paying Pensions at Nashville the papers and proofs have to be returned to Washington to be submitted to your examination. You will please on returning them direct them to the dept or myself
Respectfully
A. Ferguson

July 20. P.O. NEW YORK N.Y.
Le
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington
In-att M.W.C.

Carthage Tennessee 10 th July 1838
Dear Sir
Mr John Knight a Pensioner living in this County has frequently told me of the injustice that was done him in making out his Declaration. He thinks that he stated only six months as the amount of his Service being told, at the time that six months would get him the same Pension that twelve months would. Under this mistake he conceives himself injured in this that he served in all more than fifteen months and was misinformed about the necessity of stating the particulars of each tour of Service. He states the following tours of Service. 1 st a tour of six months under Captain Richard Taylor and Pleasant Henderson and William Gill Lieutenants Wm Knight Euseyn Barnet Pulliam 2 d tour was under Captain John Henderson of Colonel Malmodey's Regiment this tour he served three months this was during the spring when the battle of Guilford was fought 3 rd tour of three months at Georgetown in South Carolina shortly after Genl Marion had made an impression on that place. 4 th tour was under General Marion near Monk's corner and at Mangas plantations of three months 5 th tour of two months at the same place last mentioned during this time the British evacuated Charleston

You will be pleased to refer to his papers and see which of the before mentioned loans was admitted and on which he receives his Pension of $2600.00 dollars his present Pension and designate those he did not mention so that he can prove up the balance of the loans of Service due him and thereby get his full interest of the Pension he is entitled to and suggest the plan he is to pursue in order to get full arrears as may be due him
With great Respect I am Sir yours &c A. H. Harkness
James L Edwards Esq Commission of Pensions Washington City