Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File Old War Inv. File No. 48225 Old War Wid. File 10803, for William Nelson, [Blank]

SERVICE
NUMBER -
Not Rev. War M.W. Indian War
Nelson, William Sarah
Old War Inv. File No. 48225 Old War Vid. File 10802
CONTENTS
[Lined area for handwritten entries]
[Lined area for handwritten entries]

1182 N. West Indian War 1790-5
East Tennessee
William Nelson
Private
Captain Lepton's company of the Army of the U.S. under command of Genl. Wayne
1182
Ratio of disability, two thirds
Date of discharge,
Time of closing testimony, 17 March 1826
Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee at $5.33 1/3 dollars per month, to commence on the 17th of March 1826.
Certificate of pension issued the 30. of March 1826 and sent to the Hon. J. Blair House of Representatives
Arrears to 4th portion of Semi-ann. all'ce ending 4 Sep 1826 $29 95 5/8 $29 95 5/8
Act of the 25 April 1808.
see letter to Hon. J. Blair Sept 19. 1829 Increased to $8 per month, from 5 1/3 Sept 1829, and new certificate issued and sent to Hon. J. Blair Gainesborough, Tenn. on the 26th Oct 1829.
Admitted widow 10803

4753
Tennessee. Jonesboro.
Sarah Nelson.
of William died on the 10th. July 1851.
in the State of who was a private in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the _____ commanded by _____ in the U.S. Army line for Waynes War.
Inscribed on the Roll of Jonesborough at the rate of 3 Dollars 50 Cents per month to commence on the 13th. day of July 1851
Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of November 1851 and sent to
John Blair Jonesboro Tenn.
Act 3 Feb., 1831 Section the 1st.
G. J. Kelly
Recorded by Book
Vol.
Clerk
Page 222

State of Tennessee Washington County } Be it remembered that on } this tenth day of October } eighteen hundred and twenty } five, before me John Patterson one of the commissioners appointed by the Hon John M c Nairn district Judge & personally appeared William Nelson the applicant for a pension, and made oath according to law that on or about May 1791, he enlisted under Capt Jacob Fenton for a four of duty in the army then the against the Shawnee Indians, that he enlisted to serve six months after the arrival at Fort Washington, (early sooner discharged) that under said enlistment he marched with the army and was in the memorable defeat of St. Clair in which engagement he was wounded in the left elbow, the ball passing through the arm, and break- the lower bones & breaking the sinews so as to contract his hand & fingers in consequence of which injury he has been unable to support himself by manual manual labour; that he served under said enlistment until some time in October (when he was wounded and put into the Hospital at Fort Washington, where he continued until he was discharged and

when able to travel returned home which discharge in the lapse of time he has lost. he states that he would have applied for a pension before the present time, but that he was ignorant of the provisions on that subject, and did not delay on any other account; for his inability to make support for himself would have demanded an earlier application. he further states that he is not on the pension list of any state, or of the United States,
sworn to & subscribed before me this date first before written. William by  X Mark
John Patten
Trustee of Peace
and Canaan

State of Tennessee } Be it remembered that Washington County } on the 10th day of October 1825. before us William P. Chester & John E. Coffey examining surgeons appointed by the Hon. John M c Wain District Judge &c, personally appeared William Nelson, an applicant for pension and after being fully & carefully exam- ined by us touching his disability in conse- quence of a wound received in the arm of the  Resolute  Quay , at Ft. Blair, defeat, we are of opinion that said wound renders said William Nelson, two thirds, disqualified to obtain his subsistence by manual labour; that said Nelson was wounded, in the left arm by a ball which entered at the joint, and passed through the arm in an oblique direction breaking part of the lower bone, by reason whereof said arm has withered away, and the tendons so contracted that his fingers are drawn up, which injury cannot amount to less than two thirds, and as a permanent advance, in life or all probability the injury will increase

Sworn to & subscribed this day & year first above written before me the subscriber one of the commissioners appointed in the annexed commission.
John Potter William White Examining Justice of Peace Nelson Surgeon and Commissioner

United States
West Tennessee District Sc d
To Doctor William P. Chester of Jones Borough Tennessee and Doctor John E. Coston of the same in East Tennessee District.
Pursuant to an act of Congress of the United States passed the 25 th of April 1812 entitled "An Act to review and continue in force, 'An Act to pro- vide for persons who were disabled by known wounds received in the revolutionary war and for other purposes' You are hereby appointed and authorized to examine William Nelson who claims to be inscribed on the pension list of the United States, you will examine him upon oath touching his wounds and upon said examination and your own inspection, you are to report in writing, and on oath or affirmation, your opinion of the nature of his disability and in what degree it prevents him from obtaining a subsistence by manual labour, and in your proceedings in the premises you are to be regulated and governed by said Act - Given under my hand & seal at Nashville this 28 th December A. D. 1824
John M c Naery

No. 1.
William Nelson's original claim for Pensions
Compulsions
12 3

United States
District of West Tennessee
I John McNairy judge of the courts of the United States for the Districts of East and West Tennessee By Authority of an act of Congress, passed the 25 th day of April 1812, entitled, "An act to revive and continue in force an act to provide for persons who were disabled by known wounds received in the revolutionary war and for other purposes," Do hereby especially authorize and commission Doctor William P. Sherler, Robert McBin esquire and John Patten esquire or any two of them, of the county of Washington and District of East Tennessee to take all evidence pursuant to the rules and regulations of the said act for the substantiating the claims of William Wilson of the county of Town of Jonesborough in the county of Washington and District of East Tennessee to be placed on the pension list of the United States, by reason of known wounds received in said War or since as prescribed in the fourth sect n of an act concerning invalid pensioners passed the 25 th of April 1808, while in the actual service of the United States, in the line of her duty, And when the same shall be completed, to return the evidence affidavits, certificates and proceedings had thereupon together with their commission to the Secretary for the department of War given under my hand & Seal at Nashville the 28 th day of December A.D. 1824
John McNairy District Judge

Sarah Nelson claim for pension Widow of William Nelson Revolutionary
Wayne War

Declaration of Sarah Nelson State of Tennessee } Washington County } May Term of the County Court } of Washington.
On this second day of May 1883 personally appeared Sarah Nelson before the Justices of the said Court of said County, aged about seventy years, and a resident citizen of said County & State and after first being duly sworn according to law and on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3 d of February 1883 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war. That she is the widow of the late William Nelson who was a Revolutionary Soldier, & for whose services on the said Revolution a pension was granted him at the rate of twenty five Dollars per annum as will appear from the Roll of the Pensions that her said husband continued to draw at that rate from the Pension sent at Knoxville, Tennessee to the day of his death, (or the payment preceding his death) that she being his second wife & married since her services were performed is unable to give any statement of said services, but refers to his proof upon which the pension was granted him, therefore but states positively that he was a pensioner, & received the pension before stated to her death. She declares further that she was married to the said William Nelson by one Joseph Longmire, Esq. an acting magistrate, authorized by law to solemnize the rights of matrimony, on the fourth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty eight in the County of Washington & State of Tennessee. That her said husband departed this life on the nineteenth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand

Eight hundred & thirty seven. that she was not married to him prior to the second day of January one thousand Eight hundred. but at the time before stated. She further declares that she is now a widow
Sworn & subscribed on the day. her Sarah J Nelson & year, first upon written mark
W. H. Smith. Clerk County Court.
Also appeared in open court Joseph Longinus & made oath in due form of law that he in his official capacity, as a Magistrate of said Court was called upon, & did solemnize the rites of matrimony, between William Nelson now and & Sarah Owen which he did perform by joining them as man & wife, on the fourth day of February one thousand eight hundred & twenty eight that he knew neighbors, to them, up to the time of William Nelson, which as stated by the widow was, on the Monday of July one thousand eight hundred thirty seven. & knows that Sarah Nelson is still a widow & unmarried.
For John Hodgson
Sworn to & subscribed
in open Court May 2 nd 1833
W. H. Smith Clerk
State of Tennessee I W. H. Smith clerk of Washington County do hereby certify that the foregoing is the original proceeding, had in the County Court in said matter
In witness whereof I have here- unto set my hand and seal of office at office in Jonesborough this 2 nd day of May 1833
W. H. Smith Clerk

August 14, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-7/MCS Ch... William Nelson O.F.F.F. 10803
Irene Shepherd 2160 East Wood Street Decatur, Illinois
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to William Nelson, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon the military service of soldiers in that war. A careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the service of a William Nelson who died in 1847 or of any soldier named Berlyman Nelson.
The records of this office show a William Nelson (O.F.F.F. 10803) who served in Captain Tipton's company under General St. Clair in 1791 and was wounded during the battle of St. Clair's Defeat in the fall of 1791. This soldier lived in Washington County, Tennessee, in 1825. The place of his birth was not given. He died July 19, 1837, leaving a widow, Sarah, who was living in Washington County, Tennessee, in 1853.
This office has no way to determine whether or not descendants of William Nelson received pensions for military service.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

DISBURSING DIVISION
3-1860
IN YOUR REPLY PLEASE REFER TO DATE, INITIAL, AND NUMBER
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF PENSIONS WASHINGTON

There may be a county land record also, so search before writing -

SS 1000 Southend, Waller
Peninsular March 1896
Hon J. Pilbeam, H. C.
act. 25 ap d 1903
East Tennessee Rail

Hall of Reps. March 30 th 1826.
Sir:
I again enclose you the papers in the case of William Wilson, which has twice before been submitted to you - the require- ments of your last has been completed with - There can be but little difficulty now except in relation to the time when the pension shall take its origin - To regulate this, I submit to you the notice of looking to the same contained now produced, which was taken on the 6 th Jan y - informally - and which is enclosed -
Yrs respectfully
John Blair

Nelsons Pension
(case)
January 19 th 1826 to part of the estate of Nelsons estate very profiting very etc

State of Tennessee Gatlin County On the 4 th day of January 1826 personally appeared before me the subscribing one of the acting Justices of the peace in & for said County, who was under Arthur Stone and made oath that he was a soldier with William Nelson in the defeat of Genl. St. Clair, in which said Nelson was wounded, that said Nelson served faithfully the period for which he enrolled until wounded, when he was taken to the Hospital & then remained, in effecting his cure until the expiration of the term for which he had enrolled, his Arthur Stone sworn to & subscribed before me this date above Test G. Smith Justice of the peace
On the 14 th day of January 1826. personally appeared before me Henry Wolf, an acting Justice of the peace for the County of Washington within the state of Tennessee the subscribing who to me unknown as a man of respectability, & made oath, that they have been acquainted with William Nelson for the greater part of the time since Ninety two, that said Nelson has been almost wholly engaged in agricultural, or such parts thereof as he was able to perform, that he resided & still does in Washington County, on a poor broken spot of Mountainous land, & has used every exertion to raise a family, Jacob Brown sworn to & subscribed before me this date above Test Henry Wolf. Justice of the peace Thomas Brown

I am personally acquainted with the attesting Magistrate Henry Hopk, as also each of the witnesses, who are known to be respectable, the several attestation, in their proper signatures
January 19 th 1826
J. P. Glaen
Henry Hopk (seal)

Deposition of Doctor Isaac Taylor in the case of Sarah Nelson widow of William Nelson, a and Pensioner.
Additional witness

State of Tennessee Washington County July 12 th 1854
I certify on oath that I was personally acquainted with the late William Nelson, who was said to be imprisoned on account of a wound received in Hains defeat. That in his last illness of which he died I was called upon as the attending Physician, & did administer to him until his death, but medical aid could but little benefit him as he was paralyzed in his left arm shoulder & side. Which had sunk away & the whole system seemed to be little better than a skeleton, I know nothing of the original injury contracted by him nor indeed is any one now living whose knowledge would extend back to so far distant a period. I only knew that he exhibited his wounds & told me they were inflicted in the campaign aforesaid & for which he received a pension, before and up to the time of his death, as before stated he was a wreck in body & constitution. I complained of different affections, principally dropsy in the chest, which would be a very natural result of the hushing away of arm shoulder & side from the gunshot wound & might be deduced therefrom. (he also complained of gravel, but the deranged & wrecked condition of his system from the wound rendered him a fit subject for any malady to which man is subject seeing that he had not sufficient vitality to bear up thereunder. As to the precise time of his death I have no record but can positively state that he died some time about 1836.
Isaac Taylor Surgeon
I now subscribe the date above I also certify that the said Isaac Taylor is reputable in his profession. I have no interest whatever in this case. W. H. Smith Surrogate of the Probate

State of Pennsylvania, I William the Clerk of the Court Washington County Court at East Liberty that Mr. A. Smith the whole principal of the said deposit appears to the foregoing affidavit to now and ever at the time of signing the same no other further or the same is true to the best of his knowledge & belief In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13 th day of July 1852 William the Clerk
Deposition of Doctor Isaac Taylor in the case of Sarah Nelson widow of William Nelson, a and Pease etc.
Additional witness

Witnesses Willing
Resolution of Peterboro Town in the case of Sarah Wilson widow of William Wilson a late residence
State of Tennessee I W. H. Smith Clerk of the County Washington County Court of said County do certify that W. H. Smith whose genuine official signature appears to the foregoing affidavit is now and was at the time of signing, the same an acting justice of the Peace in & for said County duly commissioned & qualified In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office at office in Lonebrough this 13 th day of July 1854 W. H. Smith Clerk

Stewart
FREE
[Faint handwritten mark, possibly a stylized letter or signature]
L. J. Waldo Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington DC

1 P. W. Wilson Esq. Commissioner of Pensions.
Inverness September 14 th 1854
Sir
Enclosed you will receive the deposition of Doctor Jonas Taylor who was the attending Physician upon William Wilson decd. in right of whom his widow Sarah has made application for examination of her claim. you report that evidence is required. attach this to the other papers & re-examine the claim & give her the result through me respectfully
John Blair

Wayne War 1791
Died July 19. 1837= in consequence of severe wound recd at St Clair's defeat.

Brief in the case of Sarah Nelson widow of William Nelson Washington County and State of Tennessee Sec 1 st act July 3 rd 1833
Claim, ("original," or "for increase.")
Proof exhibited, (if original.)
Is it documentary, traditional, or supported by rolls? If either, state the substance.
Sarah Nelson was an Invalid Pensioner - at a rate of disability of Total - in consequence of a severe wound received Nov 4 1791 at "St Clair's Defeat" See Invalid Pension Papers.
Death July 19 1837 - in consequence of the above wound - see Surgeons Certificate. Marriage is proved by the affidavits of the Justice of the Peace - who solemnized the rites of matrimony - widowhood is proved
(for increase) by the same testimony - all of which is properly certified by the Court -
Has additional evidence been filed since the admission of the claim? If so, what?
Also Nov 27/53 at $3 2 / 100 per month from July 13 1834 the close of the testimony
John Blair Esq
Name and residence of Agent
Jonesboro Tenn
J. C. Stewart
Examining Clerk.

2160 East Wood Street Decatur, Illinois
Bureau of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs:
I would like to know if William Nelson who was born in Va; moved to Washington Co. Tenn., and later to Rock Co., Mo. and died in 1847 was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Did he receive a pension? If so will you please send me a copy of his pension? There was a William Nelson who settled in Washington County and was placed on Invalid Pension Roll as private in Tiptons Co. U. S. F., Mar. 31, 1826. Was this man born in Va.? If so will you please send me a copy of his pension. It is possible that these two are the same man. Are any descendants of William Nelson pensioners. If so may I have copies of their pensions. Was Berryman Nelson a pensioner from the Revolutionary War? May I get a copy of his pension if he was?

Thank you for your trouble.
Yours truly,
Irene Shepherd.

1935; Aug. 14, Irene Shepherd inf. this soldier not identical with Wm. Nelson who died in 1847, Mc.
A.M. Indian 1790-5
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 10803
Sarah Nelson
Widow of
William Nelson
First W. S. Army
Act: July 4 th  1863
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 80
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sept. 18 1827

678
Southampton
My
Dear Lord, I am very sorry to hear that you are ill and I hope you will soon be well again. I am writing to you to tell you that I have been very ill but I am now better.
Yours sincerely, J. H. Williams

N o 89 3,243 May 19/53 Sarah Nelson Wid of Wm Nelson a Private Capt. Tiptons Co of the Army U. States under the command of Genl W Clair Trm Husband an Invalid Pension
Act 3 rd July 1853 - Half pay
Oct 31/53 Suspended for Surgenus Bulf as to cause of death of Soldier McCosh.
Also Nov 27/54 at $35 00 / 100 from July 13/54 the close of the testy - J. E Stewart
John Blair Jonesboro Tennessee -

75 100
Mr James L. Edwards of the Pension Office War Department Washington D.C.

Dr Sir,
Leicester 13 th Oct 1829
I send you William Nelson's original certificate together with your letter requesting the same to the end that you may forward me the new certificate embracing the increase of pension respectfully
John B. Black

FREE
How I. S. Waldo. Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
May 1853
[Faint mirrored handwriting from the reverse side of the paper]

Hon:
Jonesborough May 11. 1853
J P Waldo commissioner of Pensions
I enclose you for the applicant Sarah Nelson her declaration with the affidavit of the Magistrate who married her, as also the proofs of Nelsons death & the copy of death supposing this sufficient, as Nelson was an invalid & that fact fully established. On examining her claim in its turn you will give me the result for her
respectfully
John Blair

M m Nelson
Pension claim
A stylized signature, possibly reading "G" or "B", written in a cursive style with a horizontal line through the middle.

State of Tennessee Carroll County
Be it remembered that on this seventeenth day of March 1820 before me Robert McLean person- ally appeared before me Arthur Sloan one of the citizens of said County, & whose reputa- tion for truth is unimpeached, & made oath According to law, that he said Sloan was under the command of Capt. McCormick, in the defeat of St. Clair, that William Nelson the applicant for a Pension was also in service, that said Nelson was wounded in said service as stated in the foregoing depositions: that said Nelson served faithfully until wounded, when he was taken to the Hospital & there remained in effecting his cure until the expiration of the period for which he had enrolled. Sworn to & subscribed before me subscriber one of the Commissioners mentioned in the foregoing commission the day & year first above written
Test
Robert McLean Commissioner
Arthur Sloan marks

Be it remembered, that on this 13 th day of March 1826, personally appeared before me the subscriber one of the commissioners named in the foregoing commission; in the Town of Jonesborough County of Washington State of Tennessee, the subscribers Jacob Brown both of whom are known to me as men of veracity & deposed & stated, that they & each of them have been acquainted with William Nelson for the greater part of this term, since 1792, that S d Nelson has resided on a moun- tainous & unproductive piece of land in the County & State aforesaid, & has for that time been engaged in such kind of agricultural pursuits, as he was able to endure: using every industry to support a dependent family. Sworn to & subscribed before me the day & date first before written
Test J. Patten one of the commissioners mentioned in the foregoing commission.
Jacob Brown
Thomas Brown

William Nilsson Pension claim
as Invalid
Invt. act 25 April 1808
Recd. Dec. 1825
Hon. J. Blair H. R. recd. 7 Dec. 1825

State of Tennessee      Sept 3 rd 1825 Washington County
Then personally appeared before us John Patton and Robert M c Lean commi- sioners appointed by John M c Kinney judge of the Courts of the United States for the Districts of East and West Tennessee for this special purpose. The Subscriber John Hughes and made oath according to Law that he is intimately acquainted with Wi- lliam Nelson of said County personally present and states that during the Winter of Seventeen hundred and ninety one this Respondent was under Genl St Clair with the said William Nelson now present & at the unfortunate Defeat of St Clair he saw said Nelson wounded in the left elbow and was the first man who administered any relief to him by tying up his Arm with his legged said Arm being broke off and hanging down loose that said Nelson was convey- ed to the Hospital at Fort Washington and there this Respondent left him he further states that they were under the command of Capt Jacob Wilson who was killed that he now sees S r Nelsons arm and it is shrunk away in consequence of the wound which he knows of his receiving as before stated in the defeat of St Clair.
his John H Hughes mark
Sworn to and Subscribed before us this 3 rd of Sep r 1825
John P. Hovey Com.
Robert M c Lean

State of Tennessee Sep 24 th 1825 Then personally Washington County Affirmed Before Me John S. Atkinson and William O'Callaghan at ten o'clock in the forenoon for the County the Subscriber Stephen Nedman was made oath according to Law that he was intimately acquainted with William Nelson of the State of Tennessee Washington County Now personally present and states that during the campaign and expedition of 1791 the Deponent was under Genl. St. Clair with the M c Nelson Regiment and at the unfortunate defeat of St. Clair he saw M c Nelson sitting by a tree bleeding wounded in the left arm and afterwards saw him in the Hospital at Fort Washington there left him he further states that they were both under the Command of Genl. Isaac Titton who was killed that he now sees that M c Nelson's arm is now worn away in consequence of the wound in which he knows of his receiving as before stated at the defeat of St. Clair Further the Subscriber Before Me the day above. Stephen his Nedman sworn to and subscribed to { Mark Before Me the day above
John S. Atkinson
William O'Callaghan

State of Tennessee Washington County
We the subscribers being the commissioners appointed by the Hon. John McNairy District Judge for to take & certify the testimony of William Nelson an applicant for a pension, do hereby certify that the foregoing testimony was duly taken & subscribed, and that the respective witnesses are reputable, & entitled to credit, according to the best of our knowledge & belief. and further certify that the examining surgeons who gave the foregoing certificates are such and very reputable in their profession, and of the almost veracity as men, that we know the applicant William Nelson, & his manner of life for many years has been, that of a farmer when able to attend to business, that he has resided in Washington County for many years, & resided there at the time of taking the foregoing testimony, which testimony was closed before us on the 24 th day of September 1825. except the declaration of the applicant which was made on the 10 th Oct 1825
In Testimony & confirmation of all which we have to these presents set our hands & seals, & added our official characters this the 12 th day of October 1825
James Patten (Seal) Justice of Peace & commissioner
William T. Candler Justice of Peace (Seal) and of commissioners.

H
D
/

September 5 th 1829
On this date above we the subscribers William P Chester & John E Cason two of the acting Surgeons & Physicians of the County of Washington, did proceed to examine William Nelson, a pensioner in the list of invalids of the United States, & who was a soldier in Captain Hiptons Company in St Clairs defeat, and from the most uninterleaved evidence, & full & satisfactory examinations, it appears that since the period at which the said William Nelson was examined in order to be placed on the Pension list the injury received by him in the service from a wound in the left arm from a ball which entered the joint of the said left arm & passed through the same has grown worse, & more injurious to him by occasioning the flesh & sinews to shrink away, so as to deprive P Nelson of the use of said arm so that in our opinion he is not only incapacitated from obtaining his subsistence by manual labour to any extent but is wholly unfit to labour & is entitled to a full pension in consequence of said increased injury
Signed
William P Chester
Surgeon
State of Tennessee Washington County
John E Cason
Surgeon
On the day of the above date William P Chester, & John E Cason, the above subscribers appeared before John G Eason an acting Justice of the peace for said County & made oath to the truth of the facts contained in their said certificate, I also certify that said Physicians are reputable in their profession.
John G Eason Justice of the peace

I certify that John G. Eason is an acting magister of Washington County, known to me
John Blair M.C. 1 st District of Tenn.

Papers in the case of Wil- iam Nelson respectfully submitted to the Surgeon General for his opinion as to the propriety of granting an increase of Pension on the evi- dence contained in affidavit marked F.
War Dept.
Pension Office,
Sept. 19. 1829.
J. L. Edwards
From the enclosed papers I am of opinion that W m Nelson is entitled to full pension as stated in the affidavit marked F.
G. Houll Surgeon
Sept 19 th 1829.