Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,769, for Nathaniel Tatum, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Jatum Nathaniel
53769
carded
CONTENTS

25260 West Tennessee
Nathaniel Watson of Davidson Co. in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Edmund of the reg t commanded by Col. Austin in the Virginia line for 7 months
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of $3 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Dec r 1833 and 2 B Wharton Nashville
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 58 33 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 March 11 67 $70 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk. Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 83
18830

18, 830.
Wathaniel Saturn, of Davidson County, Ten- nessee.
from 1777 private 7 months $ 23. \frac{33}{100}
Can only allow as a private unless he prove service as Sgt. (the number of units) or a Sgt in 1st dist.
J. R. Wharton, Agent, Nashville, Tennessee.

BRIEF in the case of Nathaniel Saturn,  County of Davidson, 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?  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.     Drafted In 1777. About 8. As a pr. Gen. Capt. Edmonds,   Enlisted 1780. not stated 2 15 A substitute. Gen. Stephens,   " " Col. Faulkner.   " " About 2 3 8. Pr. Col. Elliott & Capt. Clayton.   Drafted " not stated 1 — A substitute. Gen. Lawson, Col. Downs-   Pr. man, Capt. Bynum, Major Holton, Major Pe-   ples, Capt. House; joined   Gen. Lafayette.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct. 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. B. Turner, Examining Clerk.

18830
Nathaniel Salem
Pension claim

In this 30 th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, now sitting, Nathaniel Tatum who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832 —
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated — He commenced service being drafted in October 1777, as one of the Militia, in Brunswick County, Virginia, under the command of Captain Edmonds, who commanded a battallion of Militia — from Brunswick County the battallion marched to Surrey County, in Virginia, where he was discharged having served about 8. days — About the 15 th day of August 1780, he commenced another tour, in Brunswick County, Virginia, being a substitute in the fourth regi- ment of Virginia Militia, under the command of Colo- nel Faulkner, his captain being a man by the name of Jones; the army to which, the 4 th regiment above men- tioned belonged, was under the command of General Stevens, & he marched from Brunswick County, to Hillsboro North Carolina, & from thence to Guilford Court house, & there remained under the command of the above mentioned officers until November, 1780. when his term of service expired , & he was discharged — his third tour he commenced in a battallion of Militia , commanded by Col. Elliot, his company being under the command of Capt. Clayton — in November, 1780; he marched under the command of the above mentioned officers, from Brunswick County, Virginia to Cabbin Point, where he remained in service until his term of service expired, about 8. days, when he was discharged — About the 1 st of Jany 1781, he commenced, another tour of duty, as a substitute in Captain Byrum's company, under the

belonging to the regiment commanded by Colonel Downman, the army being under the command of General Lawson, & from Brunswick County he marched, under the command of the above mentioned officers, in January 1781, through Petersburg Virginia to Stone's Mill, it being at that time the head Quarters of the army, - his company was, with several others, then detached, together forming a battallion under the command of Major Boyce - which battallion, was, stationed in Nansemond County, Virginia, where he remained under the command of the above mentioned officers until his term of service expired having served about three months, & was then discharged - He was called into service again in June 1781, his company then was commanded by Captain House being Militia, belonging to a battallion of Militia commanded by Major Peeples, and before he left Brunswick County when he commenced service this time, Major Holcomb, and he marched under his command to the point of fork, from which place, after several  marchings and counter marchings, he arrived at where he marched to Hanover County where his battallion joined the army under the command of General Lafayette. From thence, he being one of the army, marched by Richmond to New Kent County, on his arrival there his term of service expired & he was discharged - he further states that he has no documentary evidence, & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure to testify to his service -
I hereby relinquish every claim to a pension or annuity except the present, & declare that my name is not on any the Pension roll of the agency of any State -
Sworn to and subscribed in open court
October 31 st 1832 Sub Henry Ewing Clerk of Davidson County Court
Nathaniel his T. Saturn mark

We James Whittell a clergyman residing in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, and John Boyd, also residing in the same, declare that we are acquainted with Nathaniel Patum, who has sworn to and subscribed the above decla- ration, that we believe him to be 73 years of age and that he is a man of sobriety, industry honesty, veracity and integrity. That he is believed and reported in his neighborhood to have been a dis- ciple of the revolution, & that we concur in the same opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court James Whittell
October 30 th 1832 Sub Henry Ewing clerk of
Davidson County Court
State of Tennessee } ss.
Davidson County } Court of pleas and quarter sessions of said county October Term A. D. 1832
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 before named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the said court do further certify that James Whittell who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in said county and state and that John Boyd who has also signed said certificate is a citizen residing in the same county and state and that they are both respectable & creditable persons whose statements are entitled to full faith and credit
Signed in open court October 30 th 1832
W. W. Williams
E. P. Correll
J. Wharton
State of Tennessee } ss. Davidson County } ss.
I Henry Ewing clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for said county do hereby certify to whom it may concern that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Nathaniel Patum for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said court to be also affixed at office in Nashville on this Thirtieth day of October A. D. 1832
Henry Ewing.

State of Tennessee Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Davidson County } for said County. October term 1833
On this 22 nd day October 1833 Personally appeared in Open Court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting for the County of Davidson in the State of Ten- nessee, Nathaniel Salum, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Statement (as an amendment of his former declaration) for a pension under the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
I was born in Brunswick County Virginia, on the 12 th day of December A.D. 1757. I have no record of my age - I was living in Bruns- wick County Va. when called into service - After the Revolutionary war I resided in the aforesaid County and State, until the year 1806. Sometime in May when I moved to Davidson County in the State of Tennessee where I have resided ever since - I now live
In my first tour - 8 days, I served as a private - This my first tour lasted only 8 days - My second tour, I served two months and fifteen days, during all which I acted as a private (see former declaration) The third tour I served, lasted only 8 days (see former declaration) during which I acted also as a private - My fourth tour lasted 3 months (see former declaration) during all which time I acted as a sergeant - My fifth tour lasted one month, during all three weeks of said time I also acted as sergeant and one week, as a private - The length of the above tours, (except the fifth and last) was stated in my former declaration - During my last (fifth tour) after three weeks service, my company, in which I acted as sergeant, became so much reduced in numbers, that it was thought advisable, and they were actu- ally divided and distributed amongst the other companies, then I became a private - I served, in all, during the Revolutionary, seven months, during which time I acted 6 months and three weeks as a sergeant, and during the balance of the time I served

as a private — for which I claim a Pension — his Nathaniel T. Tatum mark Sworn to and subscribed in open court Aldw 22 d 1833. Test Henry Ewing Clerk of Davidson County Court
State of Tennessee ss
Davidson County } I Henry Ewing Clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for said county do hereby certify that the foregoing amended declaration of Nathaniel Tatum an applicant for a pension was made on oath in open court and that said court after examining said Nathaniel Tatum and hearing his statements are of opinion that they are entitled to full faith and credit
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said court to be also affixed at office in Nashville on this twenty second day of October A.D. 1833. Henry Ewing.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Nathaniel Datum , which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? no. VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV. †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1, 2, 3.
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.

Reuben
3769 INVALID.
File No. 3769 Nathaniel Saturn Prvt. Bvt. line
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 21 , Page 368
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Hon. Lewis C. ap Secretary of War Washington City

Honble Lewis Cass Secretary of war Washington City.
Nashville Nov. 7 th 183
Sir
I herewith return the papers with amended statements, in relation to the application of Nathaniel Saturn, & Thomas Douglass for pensions. — It will be seen that the deposition of Adam Binkley, concerning the services performed by Thomas Douglass, are not precisely in accordance with the regulations of the war department — The witness (said Binkley) was too old to attend court, and not being able to attend to his examination myself, on account of the pressure of business (he also, residing in a remote section of the country), his deposition, has consequently been drawn without any rule — I hope the department will overlook all formal defects, whatever, & permit an old and respectable revolutionary soldier to enjoy his rights, as none, I am persuaded, are more entitled to the assistance of the Government, and none are more needy — He has now two witnesses to testify to his having been in service, one whose deposition, is now forwarded, & one in his original declaration — In relation to

The claim of Nathaniel Saturn, I would also remark, that I know him well and that he is also a respectable but poor man — I would respectfully, bespeak the smiles of the department on the claims of these two men, as I know they would not be misplaced. — I am, Respectfully Mr. Abt. Servt. P. B. Wharton