Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8506, for Joseph Pruit, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
n @
Druit, Joseph
R 8506
Born in Va.
CONTENTS

Know all men by these presents, that I, Joel Prout of Wake County in the State of North Carolina son of Joseph Pru- ite dis. of the Revolutionary War, have constituted and appointed and by these presents constitute and appoint John Gormley my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to receive from the Commission of Pensions my pension certificate due me as the heir above named, and to attend to any business which is now or hereafter may be pending before the United States Government to whom in I am interested, granting to him full power to give receipts make settlement etc. in as full and perfect manner as I myself could do, hereby confirming whatsoever my said attorney may do in the above mentioned case
Witness my hand and seal this 23 rd
day of Jan 1853
Joel Prout
John Gormley atty
North Carolina
Wake County
on this 23 rd day of Jan 1853 personally appeared before me the undersigned an acting justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid. Joel Prout who being duly sworn according to Law declares on oath that the above power of attorney is his free act and deed and the same is reasonable John Gormley atty

216. 500
Joseph Pruitt.
8506.
Rejected, in lab. 20 Oct 1888
C. F. Patterson -
Wilkesboro
N.C.

State of North Carolina
County of Wilkes
ss. August.
On this 1 st day of January  August 1833 personally appeared in open Court, before the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions of the County & State aforesaid, now sitting, Joseph Pruitt a resident of the County of Wilkes  Ashe State of North Carolina, aged Seventy Nine 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 th 1832 that he was born in the County of Pittsylvania State of Virginia on the 16 th day of July 1754 the record of which he has in his family bible now in his possession - and that he continued to reside in the said County until he was about Nineteen years of age, when he removed to Wilkes County N.C. - After residing in Wilkes County about four years, he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in Capt. Benjamin Cleveland's company of Minute men in the month of August 1776, and marched to Kingsford in the County of Burke, where they were stationed for two weeks, and thence marched direct to the Pleasant Gardens in said County where they joined the troops under Genl. Rutherford, and then marched by the most direct practicable route to the Cherokee towns of Watanga, Cowee, Oconaluftee, and some others not recollected. After their arrival at one of the Indian towns, Genl. Rutherford received an express from Genl. Pickett, (who had command of the South Carolina troops in the Nation,) requesting that a detachment of three hundred men should be detached from Genl. Rutherford's troops and sent immediately to his assistance. The request was immediately complied with, and the three hundred men detached for that purpose, (among whom the

disponent was one) - They had not taken up the line of march but a short distance, when another express arrived from Genl. Pickens stating that the Indians had fled, and that the services of the troops would not be required. They accordingly returned and rejoined Genl. Rutherford. Upon visiting the various Indian towns, they found them almost entirely abandoned, there being in them but a few straggling men, women & children, who implored for peace and whom they did not molest - after destroying their towns, corn & such other property as they could find, the army under Genl. Rutherford returned to North Carolina, and this disponent received his discharge from Capt. Cleveland at Wilkes C.H. and repaired to his home, having served for three months and nine days .
After this expedition this disponent served several short times against the Tories - The first under Capt. Cleveland in the capacity of a scouting party after three celebrated Tories on the North West side of the Blue Ridge by the names of Roberts, Coyle & Jones, but did not succeed in taking them - This expedition was performed principally through the Counties of Ashe & Wythe in N.C. and Grayson in Virginia, and in which this disponent served two months . In a few days after this disponent returned home, he again volunteered himself to go against the Tories under Capt. Cleveland - it being understood that a body of them had assembled on New River in Ashe County under Captain John Roberts, one of the three persons above mentioned - Capt. Cleveland with his men marched direct to the place where they understood the Tories had embodied themselves, and prepared to attack them, but upon making the proper enquiry as to their names

but they found their strength was too great (there being about three hundred of them, and only about thirty or forty of the Whigs) they accordingly retreated after capturing some few of the Tories who were sent out to reconnoitre, but whom they afterwards released  surrounded , upon finding that they were closely pursued - after the prisoners were released, Capt. Cleveland with his men recrossed the mountain where they were discharged and returned home - In this expedition this deponent was in service five weeks - In a few weeks after this deponent arrived at home, he again volunteered himself to go against the same body of Tories, and was attached to a company commanded by Capt. Sarkin Cleveland, but was afterwards transferred to the command of Capt. William Hall - They rendezvoused at Capt. Cox's on New River on the north west side of the Blue Ridge in what is now Giles County Va. and there marched down the River to near Grayson Co. in Virginia where they captured a Tory by the name of Oliver Roberts (a brother of the Tory Captain) whom they detained some time, in custody, and until he gave the most solemn assurances that he would from thenceforth join the Whigs, and that he would within a given time repair to Miller's Creek and join the Standard of Col. Bryan & Cleveland - which he afterwards did - After the release of Roberts, they crossed to the south side of the Mountain upon the waters of the Yadkin where they captured two other Tories, but who afterwards made their escape - They then recrossed the Blue Ridge in the hope of meeting with a body of Tories under the command of Col. Bryan, but who they ascertained had abandoned that part of the Country and took a direction towards the High Rock ford on Han

River, where this deponent afterwards understood they had been attacked and defeated by the Americans - After securing the country round through Grayson in Virginia for some time, they proceeded up New River near to its source, and after having captured several other Tories, they recrossed the mountain to Wilkes, C.S. and from thence were discharged and returned home - In this expedition, this deponent served for two months - Soon after this deponent returned home, he was again ordered out by Col Cleveland to go on a similar expedition against the Tories on the waters of New River in which he served two weeks - In a short time after this little expedition Col Cleveland received information that a number of Tories were embodying themselves near Ransom's Mills in the County of Lincoln, upon which he issued orders for all the Whigs in the County of Wilkes to turn out and oppose them - This deponent accordingly again turned out and marched under Col Cleveland towards Ransom's Mills - but before they reached the point at which they expected to meet with the Tories, they received intelligence that an engagement had taken place between them and the Whigs - in which the Tories were entirely defeated - Upon receiving this information Col Cleveland ordered his men to return and proceed back as far as Hamblin's old store, where they were stationed for some time to keep the Tories in check, as the neighborhood around that place was considerably infested by them - after the neighborhood was restored to a state of tolerable security, Col Cleveland discharged his men, and they returned home - In this expedition, this deponent served One Month - This deponent also performed one other tour of two weeks under Col Cleveland against the Tories on the edge of Virginia, in which they captured several, & executed some - after which they marched for Wilkes, when Col Cleveland discharged them, and they repaired to their respective homes - where this deponent remained

until the close of the War - This deponent further states that he has resided in Wilkes County  until about three years ago, when he  resided in the county of Ashe  removed to the county of Ashe  he has in the county of Ashe - He further states that he never received a written discharge for any portion of his services, nor has he any documentary evidence to prove them - but refers to William Spicer, and  and Benjamin Hanner, who served with him, as witnesses, whose testimony is hereto annexed, for proof of his services. His answer to the fifth interrogatory is contained in the general body of this declaration - He further states that there is no Clergyman residing in his neighborhood whom certificate he could procure - but he refers to Mr Robert Gaus & John Holloway Esqrs as persons to whom he is well known in his present neighborhood, and who can testify as to his character for veracity, and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever 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 & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid J. Martin clk. Joseph his Pruitt mark
On the day & year aforesaid, personally appeared in open court before the court aforesaid, William Spicer, who, after being duly sworn according to law deponeth & saith that he served with Joseph Pruitt the above applicant during the three months war performed under Genl. Rutherford against the Cherokee Indians, and further that the said three months war as set forth

and specified in the foregoing declaration as having been performed by the said Joseph Pruitt was performed by him
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
R. Martin Clk.
Wm his Spicer mark
On the day and year aforesaid personally appeared in open Court before the Court afore- said, Benjamin Hammon, who after being duly sworn according to law deposeth & saith that he served with Joseph Pruitt the above ap- plicant, during all of the several tours mentioned in the foregoing declaration except the three months tour against the Cherokee Indians, under Genl. Rutherford, and farther, that the said several tours of duty as set forth & specified in the foregoing declaration (with the exception aforesaid) as having been performed by the said Joseph Pruitt, were performed by him
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
R. Martin Clk.
Benjamin his Hammon, mark
We Robert Baucus & John Holloway residents of the County of Wilkes & State of North Carolina hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Joseph Pruitt who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; that he is re- sided & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution

and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
J. Martin Clk.
Robert his Baugus
mark
John Hallaway
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 Robert Baugus & John Hallaway who have signed the preceding certificates, and Benjamin Hammons & Wm Spies who have signed & sworn to the foregoing affidavits, are residents of the County of Wilkes, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credence.
John Martin Chairman
Joseph Pruitt further states that the reason of his making his declaration in the County of Wilkes, is, that he lives much nearer to Wilkes C.H. than to Ashe C.H. & that most of his intercourse and dealings is in the County of Wilkes, where he is much better known than in the County of Ashe, and where his family connections friends generally reside.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
J. Martin Clk.
Joseph his Pruitt A mark

I Robert Martin Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for Wilkes County North Carolina do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Joseph Pruitt for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 2 nd day of August 1833.
R. Martin Clerk by B W Gaf Beck
24. 500 Joseph Pruitt
8505
Rejected, due to 30 Oct 1833 C. B. Flanders W. H. Williams Mr. C.

Joseph Smith - Mar:
Rejected July 30th 1830 to J. F. Patterson Wilkesboro N.C.
Atch 17 June 1832

Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
8506 aw
P. O.
Joseph Pruitt
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18

Water Creek N 6 20 th Jan
Free
Haw.
Thomas G. Klingman
House of Reps
Washington City

Brew Creek P.O. January 20-1854.
Dear T. L. Clingman
I enclose your power of atty. for Pruit to myself. The history of his case is this his Father Joseph was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. about the year 1832 he employed Genl. S. F. Patterson to make out his case and made proof of seven months service. The papers was sent by Genl. P. to the Comt. of Pensions who returned in answer from the Comt. that the evidence of service was satisfactory. or conclusive yet Joseph Pruit's claim could not be allowed for reason that the nature or kind of service rendered by him did not come within the meaning of the pension laws. This as the account given me by Genl. Pruit I declined taking action in the case until I might see Genl. Patterson. and how what he remembered of the case and recently seen him. and his statement in substance does accord with Pruit's
My object is to request you to give Pruit's power of atty. to the same lawyer you gave Clement's papers and he will find in some of the files of pension papers in that office in the years I suppose 1832. or 33. the papers of Joseph Pruit and if his heirs are entitled to a pension. the proof in their behalf can be made
Pardon me for troubling you. we look on you as our representative - and if we can make or find in you a friend we shall. God knows our work no more we want no more
I am Yrs H. Bryant at Carmichael