Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3695, for Charles Pierson, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Pierson, Charles
S. 3695
carded.
CONTENTS

13724
West Tennessee
Charles Pierson
Franklin Co in the State of West Tennessee who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Hardy of the Regt commanded by Col Edmund in the Virginia line for 12 months
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 62 1/2 Dollars 38 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of June 1833 and settl Edward Raper Winchester
Arrears to the 4th of March 140 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4/1/32 32 $150
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Not June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Daniel Bayd Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 92

State of Tennessee, Franklin County, ss -
On the 27 th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quorum Clifton's of said County now sitting, Charles Pierson, a resident of Franklin County State of Tennessee aged about Twenty 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 1831, passed June the 7 th 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as herein stated Entered the service as well as he recollects in the month of September 1794, being then a resident of Brunswick County, Virginia, as a regular soldier, having enlisted to serve Seven months, in Capt Hardy Taylor's Company of the 2 nd Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. Edward Edington. We marched to Halifax, on Roanoke, river - Here we joined Col. Cavendish Regiment, the whole commanded by Genl. Thos. Eaton; from there we marched to King's town in North Carolina where Genl. Ashe took the Command - & marched by the way of Salem, Hanes town to Charlestown in S. Carolina; from there

to Augusta, in Georgia, where we arrived at on the 14 th of February 1780. We was in the battle of Brier Creek in Georgia, in which we were defeated - Many of the American troops collected after the defeat at Purvis's burgh in S. Carolina - where I was discharged - Not expecting it was of any value, it has been lost or mislaid - I then returned home.
After my return home, a Call was made on the Georgia  North Carolina Militia, & now Lewis Brien being drafted for a three months tour of duty, employed the applicant as a substitute - Having taken said Brien's place, he was at- tached to Capt. Thomas French, Company of Georgia Militia, (having removed from Virg- inia to Rutherford County N. Carolina) - The Company was marched to Hanks Corner, in South Carolina, before joining the Army at Charleston, was surprised & made prisoners - Were put on board a prison ship, & detained Seven Weeks in the mouth of Ashley River - After the fall of Charleston, we were released on our parole & returned home. The prison ship, in which we were confined, was called "The Swan"
In a few months afterwards, he substituted for 18 months, in place of Hicks & Allen in Capt. Nash's Company at Halifax, in N. Carolina - Capt. Nash contained a

the recruiting service - He moved from place to place, recruiting until they arrived at Little York, a few days before the capture of Lord Cornwallis - We were not attached to any Regiment. I were soon after discharged having served eight or nine months - He has no documentary evidence on his person or power to prove his said services or any part thereof, nor does he know of any person now living, in his power to prove, by whom he can prove the same -
He was born in the County of Brunswick State of Virginia, about the year 1762, according to the best account he has of his age, having no record evidence - from thence, to Rutherford County, North Carolina, as before stated - returned to Brunswick County Virginia, there 18 months, then removed to Bath County N. Carolina, where he resided until about 18 years ago, when he removed to this County State, where he has resided ever since - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or annuity, except the present & declares that his name, is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state - He omitted to state having forgotten that an addition to the services before detailed, he volunteered as a private in Capt. William Douglass's Company of Mounted Riflemen

a short time before Hillsboro was taken by the Tories - After they fled from Hillsboro, Capt. Douglas pursued them, overtook them at Jonathan Lindsley's Mill, on Cape Fear Orange County, N. Carolina - where we had a severe battle, in which the vile Tories were defeated with great slaughter - Having served the full time he was discharged.
Sworn to subscribed in open court, 27 th Nov - 1832 3
Charles his Pearson mark
E Russell Clerk By W. H. Wagnon D. C.
We George Roberts, a clergyman & John Jones Esq - of the County of Statesboro and do hereby certify that we are well acquainted ed, with Charles Pearson, who has subscribed sworn to the above declaration - We believe him to be 70 years of age; that he is now Held in the neighborhood in which he resides to have been a Veteran of the Revolution, that we concur in that opinion on -
George Roberts
Sworn to subscribed in John Jones open court Nov 27 th 1832
E Russell Clerk By W. H. Wagnon D. C.

Charles Parsons
21079

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the War Department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as his State. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that George Roberts who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Franklin State of Tennessee and that John Jones who has also signed the same is a resident in the County State aforesaid and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Edmond Rupelo clerk of the Court of Pleas and quarter Sessions for Franklin County in the State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings in the matter of the application of Charles Pierson for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal of Office at office the 27 th day of November A D 1832
E Rupelo clerk of Franklin County Court By W. B. Blagden D. A.

21079.
Charles Pierson:
Tennessee.
20 Pines
W. H. D. from 1779 print 18 mths. $60.
These papers are with W. H. D. for proof. He has no proof but this should not in this case be an objection to the adm n of these claims, as the service was not worth.
Edward Russell, Clk. Franklin County, Tennessee.

BRIEF in the case of Charles Pierson,  County of Franklin,  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? About seventy 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.     Enlisted In 17 79. 7. pr. Gen. Th. Eaton, Gen. Ashe, Col. Edward Edrington, capt. Hardy Taylor, & Col. Caswell.   Substitute for one Levi Price. 3. Pr. Capt. Th. French.   Substitute for Miles Allen 80 & 9. " Capt. Nash.  
5. In what battles was he engaged?
 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Brunswick County, Va.  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. R. Turner, Examining Clerk.

Reo man
INVALID.
File No. 3695  Pierdon Charles P. Pison Box No. 1 line
Act: June 7/32
Index:—Vol. 4 , Page 296
[Arrangement of 1870.]

State of North Carolina Secretary of State's Office 25 th May 1833.
Sir
The name of Charles Pierson is not on the musterrolls of the Continental line of this State in the revolutionary war, neither do I find it on any other document in this office affording evidence of revolutionary services.
I am very respectfully your Ob t Serv t W. Hill
James L. Edwards Esq. Comm te of Pensions

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Charles Pierson, 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?
 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.