Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 36117, for William Melton, North Carolina

SERVICE
N.6.
Melton, William
NUMBER
S 36117
CONTENTS

Sp 19698
Illinois
William Melton
of Lawrence Co. in the State of Illinois who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Dixon - of the regiment commanded by Colonel Clarke - in the N. Carolina line, for the term of during the war from 1776 to 1783
Inscribed on the Roll of Illinois at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 9 th day of November 1826
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 th of Dec 1826 and sent to the Hon. E. H. Hance Senate U. States.
Arrears to 4th of Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 March 1827 $ 30.89
$ 30.89
{ Revolutionary claim, { Acts March 18, 1818, { and May 1, 1820. }
See letter 18 July 1827 to the Pensioner -
Duplicate certificate issued 22 nd Sept 1827, and sent to James M. McLean Esq. Lawrenceville. Ill.
Date of death not on A.B.

19.775
State of Illinois County and Circuit of Lawrence
§ § § §
On this Sixth day of November in the Year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and Twenty One, Personally appeared in open Court to wit, in the Circuit Court of the County aforesaid the same being a Court of Record William Melton aged Sixty Three Years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of 18 th March 1818 and the 1 st May 1820 that he the said William Melton enlisted to serve during the War. Some time in the Summer of the Year 1776 in the Company commanded by Captain Henry Dixon (afterwards commanded by Capt. James Read) in the Regiment commanded by Col. Thomas Clark, in the line of the State of North Carolina on the Continental establishment, that he continued to serve in the said Corps until the taking of Charleston by the British when he was taken Prisoner and remained a Prisoner until the end of the Revolutionary War, when he was set at liberty at Nova Scotia by the enemy and returned home but that his Regiment and Company were then dispersed and he was unable to procure a discharge That he was in the Battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth and at the taking of Charleston as aforesaid and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said Service, except the testimony of Benjamin Melton whose affidavit is hereto annexed.

And in Pursuance of the act of 1 st May 1820- I do solemnly affirm that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March one Thousand eight hundred and eighteen and that I have not since that time by Gift, Sale or in any manner, disposed of my property or any part there of with intent thereby to diminish it as to bring myself within the pro- visions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, passed on the eighteenth day of March, one Thousand eight hundred and eighteen and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the annexed schedule and by me subscribed and I do further swear that I lost the use of one of my eyes while in service as aforesaid and have since nearly lost the use of the other. That I have no children That my wife is above eighty years old and Infirm, and that I am in danger of becom- =ing chargeable to the county in which I live. That I am by trade a Tailor but am not able by reason of my age and infirmity to pursue that his or any other business
Schedule of property
M x Melton mark
one Bed and Bed clothing Kitchen and house furniture to the value of ten dollars The necessary wearing apparel of myself and wife

in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings and having power to fin, imprison, and inflict capital punishments.
L. M c Lean Clerk A H
I James M c Lean Clerk of the Lawrence Circuit Court in the State of Illinois do hereby certify that the fore going affirmation and the schedule thereto annexed and affidavit are truly copied from the records of the said Court. and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the Court that the total value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is eighteen dollars
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court the 7 th day of November A.D. 1821 and of the Independence of the United States the 46 th
L. M c Lean A H

Original Claim
Declaration in order to be placed on the Pension list of the 18 th March 1818.
State of Illinois } ss. Lawrence County }
On this ninth day of November 1826 personally appeared in open court, to wit, in the circuit court of the County aforesaid, the same being a court of Record, William Melton resident in said County, aged sixty eight years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the Provision made by the act of Congress, of the 18 th March 1818 & the 1 st May 1820 that he the said William Melton enlisted to serve during the war, some time in the summer of the year 1776 - in the State of North Carolina, in the Company commanded by Captain Henry Dixon (afterwards commanded Capt: James Read) in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Clark in the line of the State of North Carolina, on the North Carolina Continental establishment, that he continued to serve in the said Corps until the taking of Charlestown by the British when he was taken prisoner and remained a prisoner until the end of the Revolutionary war, when he was set at liberty at Nova Scotia by the enemy and returned home, but that his regiment & company were then dispersed and he was unable to procure a discharge. That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, except the present that his name is not on the roll of any State except the State of Illinois and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension - in the year 1820 I employed an attorney to make out my application, who failed to attend to my business - In the year 1821 I made application & from that time until the year 1826 S.

I lived pretty much by charity from my relations neighbours in expectation of receiving a pension to remunerate them, when my declaration was returned and said to be informal which is herewith returned and my pension prayed to be commenced at its date.
And, in pursuance of the act of 18th May 1820 I do Solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time, by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & Naval service of the United States in the revolutionary War - passed on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.
I do further swear that I lost the use of one of my eyes, while in service as aforesaid and have since nearly lost the use of the other - that I have no children, that my wife is above eighty years old and infirm and that I am in danger of becoming chargeable to the county in which I reside - that I am by trade a Tailor but am not able by reason of my eye and infirmity to pursue that or any other Business. That since the 18 th March 1818 I have had no changes made in my property nor have I had any or disposed of any except what is set down in the following schedule which I now own -
his William V. Melton mark

Schedule of Property
One bed and bed clothing Kitchen & house hold furniture of the value of eighteen dollars the necessary wearing apparel of myself and wife - is all
William his Melton mark
sworn to and declared in open court on the 9 th day of November A.D. 1826. before the Honorable James C. Wattles, Judge of the Lawrence Circuit Court in the State of Illinois the same being a court which proceeds according to the course of Common Law with jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount keeping a record of its proceedings & having power to fine, imprison, & inflict capital punishment and possessing a seal.
J. M. M c Lean clerk of said court
I James M c Lean clerk of the circuit court of the county of Lawrence in the state of Illinois, do hereby cer- tify, that it appears, to the satisfaction of the court, that the said William Melton did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy, for the term of nine months under one engagement, on the Continental establishment, I also certify, that the fore- going oath & the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of said court; And I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is twenty five dollars. — In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said court on this ninth day of November A.D. 1826.
J. M. M c Lean clerk of the Circuit Court of Lawrence County aforesaid

April 17, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mr. B. H. Webster 1508 Ordway Place Nashville, Tennessee
Benjamin Melton, W. 2227 William Melton, S.36117 BA-J/MLB
Dear Sir:
You are furnished herein the records of Benjamin and William Melton, soldiers of the Revolutionary War, as requested in your letter of March 30, 1933. The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in their claims for pension based upon service in the Revolutionary War.
BENJAMIN MELTON, W. 2227
He was born in Albemarle County, Virginia; the date of soldier's birth and names of his parents are not shown in the claim. (He was pensioned as Benjamin Milton).
While residing in Caswell County, North Carolina, he served three months in 1776 under Captain Berry Turner and Colonel Henry Dixon and was in battle at a fort near Stono Ferry on the Ashley River. He was drafted in 1781, just after the battle of Guilford, and served three months under Captain William Hardin and Major Sharp, after which he returned home for forty days and then was again drafted and served one year under Captain Tilghman Dixon and Colonel Henry Dixon, during which time he was at the battle of Eutaw Springs and in a skirmish on Saint John's Island near Stono Ferry.
After the Revolutionary War, the soldier lived for some time in Caswell County, North Carolina, then moved to Warren County, Kentucky, where he lived until about 1820 then moved to Lawrence County, Illinois.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 17, 1832, at which time he was sixty-six years old and a resident of Lawrence County, Illinois, where he died September 6, 1843.

Benjamin Melton or Milton married October 17, 1833, in Lawrence County, Illinois, Elizabeth Fowler.
Soldier's widow, Elizabeth, was allowed pension as Elizabeth Milton on her application executed March 21, 1853, at which time she was aged fifty-two years and a resident of Lawrence County, Illinois, where she was still living in 1855.
It is not stated whether they had any children.
In 1833, one John Melton, aged sixty-seven years, was living in Lawrence County, Illinois; his relationship to soldier was not stated.
*****
WILLIAM MELTON, S. 36117
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 36117, based upon the Revolutionary War service of William Melton. Said papers do not show the date and place of soldier's birth nor the names of his parents.
William Melton enlisted sometime in the summer of 1776 in North Carolina, served as private in Captains Henry Dixon's and James Read's company, Colonel Thomas Clark's North Carolina regiment, was appointed corporal November 1, 1777, was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth and served until the taking of Charleston by the British when he was taken prisoner and held to the end of the Revolutionary War.
He was allowed pension on his application executed November 9, 1826, at which time he was aged sixty-eight years and a resident of Lawrence County, Illinois.
In 1821 the soldier was living in said Lawrence County, Illinois and referred to his wife "above eighty years old", but did not give her name; at that time he stated that he had no children. In 1827 he gave his address as Lawrenceville, Illinois, in care of J. M. McLean.

In 1821, soldier's brother, Benjamin Melton, made affidavit in Lawrence County, Illinois.
In 1827, one John Melton, Senior, made affidavit in said Lawrence County, Illinois, but did not state any relationship to soldier.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

1933, Apr. 17- Hst. to B.H. Webster (XRB)
36117
Rev INVALID.
File No. 36117
William Milton
Dr Rev Mr
Act: 16 th March 16 th
Index: —Vol. 2 , Page 269
[Arrangement of 1870.]

19.475
Peru open Wm Melton, G.L.S.
18 L.
Hon. E. K. Kane, Sen. U.S.
Recd 18 Dec. 1826.
1000 to 1826 of the Census

Senate chamber
Dec 15 th 1825
Sir
I herewith enclose an application for a pension
With great respect
Yr obed Servt
E K Kane

Laurensville free 2 July
Rec. July 18. 1827
War Department
Pension office Washington City

Lawrenceville Ill 2 July 1827
Inclosed you have a cert I wish to obtain a copy of my original Cert as a penthouse as the original is lost - Sent to the care of J. M. McLean in this place Wm + Melton

State of Illinois } ss Lawrence County }
Personally Came before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in & for said County William Milton and after being duly Sworn Deposition & Saith that that he obtained an original certificate to be placed on the pension roll of Illinois as a Revolutionary pensioner that he has never yet drawn any pay and that his said original certificate is either lost or misplaced and in consequence thereof he can't draw his pay & further this deponent Saith not his William X Milton mark
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 2 nd July 1827 — V. J. Bradley J. P. & C. Q.

APPLICATION FOR A NEW CERTIFICATE.
State of Illinois County of Lawrence ss.
On this fifth day of September 182 7 , before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace for the said county of Lawrence personally appeared William Melton who, on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain's Newry Dixon & James Reed in the regiment commanded by Colonel Thomas Clark — in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of Illinois — that he received a certificate of that fact, under the signature and seal of the Secretary of War: which certificate, on or about the fifteenth day of March 182 7 , at or near the Town of Vandalia was Lost — — — he knows not how but he believes by carry it from Lawrenceville to Vandalia  Vandalia to Lawrenceville
Sworn and subscribed to, before } his me, the day and year aforesaid. } William Melton Mark
See William J. H. C.
pay attention to these notes
NOTES.—The last four blanks are left for the applicant to set forth the time, place, and manner of the loss or destruction of the original certificate.
The oath to be taken before a duly qualified magistrate, whose official character and signature must be properly authenticated.
If the pensioner has never received a formal certificate, but has drawn his pension on a mere notification, as was the case in a few instances many years ago, he should leave out the above words in italics , and insert, in lieu thereof, "but has never received a formal certificate, and now wishes to obtain one."
The pensioner's oath must be supported by the evidence of another person as to identity. The person must swear that he well knows him to be the same person described in the above affidavit. The magistrate must certify that the deponent is a person of veracity. This oath must also be authenticated by the certificate of the proper officer, under his seal of office, setting forth that the officer before whom the affidavit may be made is a Justice of the Peace, Judge, or Notary Public, as the case may be.
When a person acting as an Agent or Attorney for a Pensioner, loses the certificate, the affidavit of that person is also required, which must be authenticated as above.

State of Illinois } ss Lawrence County
personally came before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in & for said county -
John Milton and after being duly sworn deponeth and saith that he well knows William Milton to be the same person described in the above affidavit
John Milton ss
Sworn and Subscribed before me & I also certify that John Milton is a person of veracity given under my hand and seal this 5 th day of September A.D. 1827 -
Horace Gilman -

State of Illinois § ss. Lawrence County §
I James M. McLean clerk of the Circuit Court of said County do Certify that Henry M. Gilhane whose name appears to the two foregoing affidavits is and was at the time of signing the same a duly commissioned & acting justice of the peace in & for said County & that full faith & credence is due to all his official acts
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 5th day of September A.D. 1827
J. M. McLean

State of North Carolina Secretary's Office
I William H. Sneed Secretary of State in and for the State aforesaid, do certify that it appears from the Musterrolls of the Continental line of this State in the revolutionary war, that William Melton a private in Capt. Dixon's Company of the First Regiment was mustered on the _____ day of _____ for the War, was appointed a Corporal on the 1 st Nov r 1777, and of whom nothing more is said on said Rolls.
Given under my hand at Office in Raleigh 8 th Nov r 1825.
W. H. Sneed

1508 Ordway Place, Nashville, Tenn., March 30, 1933.
Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C. Dear Sirs:
I am very much interested in obtaining as much information as possible concerning the Revolutionary War records of Benjamin and William Melton who lived in Lawrence Co., Illinois Illinois, when they received their pensions. I want this information so that several young women of the family will be able to present sufficient proof to join the D. A. R. I should like to obtain as many  about facts about these men and their families as you can give. Any information which you can give about these members of my family will be very gratefully received.
Sincerely Yours, B. H. Webster

April 17, 1933
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Benjamin Melton, W. 2227 William Melton, S. 36117 BA-J/MLB our
Mr. B. H. Webster 1508 Ordway Place Nashville, Tennessee
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter of March 30, in which you request the records of Benjamin and William Melton, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
You are furnished herewith the records of the above-named soldiers as requested, the data of which were obtained from the papers on file in claims for pension based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator