Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9,458, for Drura Pilkington, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Pilkington Drura
S.9458
carded.
CONTENTS

South Carolina 12481
do. to same Feb. 16. 1836 — order to pay August 26, 1837.
Drum Pilkington
Marion Dist. in the State of South Carolina was a private in the Company commanded Captain Taylor of the ————— commanded in the Virginia for 2 years
Not paid before
Inscribed on the Roll of South Carolina at the rate of 80 Dollars ————— Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 d day of May '33 — and sent J. R. Evans Cheraw Town S C Co.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 — 160 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1 st Sept. — 40
$ 200
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by William Miller, Clerk, Book E. Vol. 6 Page 77-

State of South Carolina Marion District
Devere Pilkington personally appeared before me, in open court and upon being duly sworn says That he was born in Amelia County State of Virginia on the 3 rd day of April 1762 - That the first service he was called to perform was in the Militia service when he was about 14 years of age - That he march with a detachment of Militia from Amelia County to Valley Forge under the command of Lieut. Sam l Cobb and upon his arrival there he was placed under the command of Capt. W m Taylor who he believes was of the regular Army - Genl. Woodford commanded the Brigade and all the Army was under the command of Genl. Washington from thence the Army marched to Monmouth and on the march he was taken Sick and he remained in the Hospital not far distant from Valley Forge for about seven weeks and until after the battle at Monmouth - That he joined the Army near the White Plains and from thence the Army marched either to Philadelphia or the North river - That he served in this service for the term of Eighteen months and then enlisted under the aforesaid Capt. Williams Taylor and of the 2 nd  three years Regiment - That the Regiment was marched to West Point and stationed on the open green near the fort - That his regiment then marched with others, marched under the command of Genl. Wayne to Stony Point and when the fort was stormed and taken - This was the first Battle in which he was engaged. After the fort was taken the Army returned to West Point - That afterwards (as he was informed) an express was sent from Genl. Lincoln to Genl. Washington for aid - That three Regiments were ordered on to Charleston S.C. and when the Brigade arrived at Fredericksburgh V a Capt. Taylor resigned his com

division and his company was then commanded by Capt. John Stokes - That Capt. John Stokes went home from Richmond V a and did rejoin the Regiment - he thinks the Regiment recd the City of Charleston S C early in May and was commanded by Genl. Lincoln and was soon afterwards taken by the British and soon afterwards he ran away and made his escape from the British and returned to Chesterfield County V a where his mother then resided - That after L d Cornwallis evacuated Charleston and had arrived in Virginia he was ordered out with the Militia and he went under the command of Capt. George Markham and joined the army at York under the command of Genl. Washington and was present at the capture of Cornwallis and was soon afterwards disbanded and which was the last service he performed. That he served in the Militia from at the commencement eighteen months and in the regular service (enlisted) for three years. That he is unable from his memory to state the dates of the several occurrences above set forth and he does not know that any of his old companions in arms are now alive and who could testify as to his services - He further states that he never had any regular discharge - That he resided in Virginia until the spring of the year 1789 when he removed to the District of Marion S C where he has since resided.
That he makes the above Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed 7. June 1832. And he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of any agency in any state.

Sworn to before me this 11 Nov. 1852 Diana Pilkington B. J. Earle presiding Judge of the court of Common Pleas Tipton in open Court at Mar. in the in the state & district aforesaid the day & year above stated.
We John Gibson & Samuel Bigham residing in the (the said John Gibson lately removed to Darlington District) said District and State do certify that we are well acquainted with Diana Pilkington who hath signed the foregoing declaration - that we believe her to be of the age represented by her - That we have been acquainted with her for about forty years - that she has supported the character of an honest upright citizen and that she is reputed & believed in her neigh- borhood to have been a soldier of the Revolution & we have never doubted the correctness of that opinion Sworn to & Sub.cribed } the day & year above stated }
John Gibson Sam l Bigham
B. J. Earle presiding Judge as aforesaid in Open Court

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after hearing 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 John Gibson & Samuel Beigham who have subscribed the preceding certificate are resident in Macon District and the statement is entitled to credit.
B. J. Earle Judge Judge in open court
I Edward B. Wheeler Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas in and for the District and do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Drura Pilkington for a Pension.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office at Macon Court house the 12 th day of October Anno Domini 1832
Edward B. Wheeler C. C. P. C.

Dorina Pelkington Marion District S. Carolina
Admit for 2 yrs as a private $80.00
Sp. Lts. J. H. Heath Madison Richmond Co. Age 17 1833
J. M. Evans Chesaw Town S. Carolina

BRIEF in the case of Dreana Pelhington  District of Marion — in the State of S. Carolina (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 70  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.     In 17 enlisted & served as stated in his second tour 3 18 private Gen. Woodford Capt. Taylor Capt. Taylor in his 2 d tour Genl. Wayne  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Stonypoint  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Amelia Co Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? authenticated 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
John H. Atton
Examining Clerk.

This is to Certify, That it appears from a List in this Office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Continental Line, during the Revolutionary War, as settled their Accounts, and received Certificates for the balance of their Full Pay, according to an Act of Assembly, passed the November Session, 1781, that a Certificate issued on the 1 st day of Decemr. 1781 , in the name of Drury Pilkington as Soldier of Infantry for £ 15. 9. 8 , which Certificate appears to have been delivered to M c Gordon and was given for services prior to the 1 st January, 1782.
{ No Seal of Office. }
Given under my hand at the Auditor's Office, Richmond, this
22 " day of April 183 3 .
J. E. Heath
AUDITOR.

Drura Pilkington
Sen
(Resemblance to Drura Pilkington's signature on voucher in 1857.)

Reo Aray
9458
INVALID.
File No. 9458
Deura Pilkington Priv. Res. War
Act: June 7. 1832
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 297
[Arrangement of 1870.]

J. J. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions Washington DC

Planters Mechanics Bank of S ca Charleston 11 Dec r 1835
J. G. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions }
Sir
I forward endorsed, for your inspection, Voucher of Drura Pilkington, a pensioner under act of 7 th June 1832. Upon which there is two years due. In preparing the endorsed Voucher I neglected to take the number of the certificate, but upon the return of Mr Pilkington should his claim be sanctioned, will rectify that error.
I am respectfully Your Obed t Serv t F. Samsan P o Agt.

Planters & Mechanics Bank of So. Ca Charleston 19 Aug 1837
J. E. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington Sir
I enclose for your Authority to pay Vouchers of Dora Pilkington, Henry Braswell and Levi Odom having 12 months and upwards due on them,
I am Very respectfully Your Of Servt
E. Spear Pension Agent

J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commifimae Pensums Washington D.C.

Planters & Merch s Bank of S (a) Charleston 2 nd Feby /36.
J. P. Edwards Esq. Comm. Pension of Pensims
Sir
I forward herewith Voucher of Isma Pilkington a Pensioner under act 7 th June 32 upon which there is two years pay due.
I am very respectfully Your Obed t Serv t
H. Samson Pension Agent

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Drusa Pelkington which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 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? yes 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? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes 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? yes

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? Citizens only 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? yes 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? yes XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 5 not 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 shown 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.