Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3689, for Henry Pitt, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
N 6
Pitt, Henry
S 3689
Born in Va-
carded
CONTENTS

7537 West Tennessee
Henry Pitt
of Sumner in the State of West Tennessee who was a prisoner in the company commanded by Captain Glance of the Regt commanded by Col Caton in the north border line line for 8 months
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of April 1833 and Sent to William Brady Murfreesboro
Arrears to the 14th of March $33 32 Semi-annual allowance ending 20 Sept 13 33
$66.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 92
Certificate returned by W Brady June 5 and sent to H. A. Douglass Clerk of Sumner Co. Gallatin P.O.
Boyd

State of Tennessee } August Term of the Court Sumner County } Court 1832 - -
In this the 20 th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of said Court Henry Pitt a resident of the County of Sumner and State of Tennessee aged seventy seventy two 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 -
States that he was born in the County of Lee of which in the State of Virginia and resided in the County of Edgecombe in the State of North Carolina - He was born in the year 1760 - He has a record of his age in his Bible has given to him by his parents at his residence in this County - He was living in the County of Edgecombe in the State of North Carolina when called into the service, and still continued to reside in that County after the revolutionary war 'till the year '98 when he removed to the County of Sumner in the State of Tennessee where he now lives -
He entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated -
He belonged to a volunteer  drifted company commanded by Capt. Edward Clinch and served under him for the term of five months - The first Lt. of the company was William Hall, the major was Joseph Clinch and the Col was by the name of Eaton and the whole commanded by Genl. White - They marched through the State of South

Carolina in pursuit of the Tories, they marched also into the state of Georgia and had an engagement with the enemy at Bryan Creek - They re-marched into the state of South Carolina and remained in that state until they were discharged. He had a discharge but it is now lost; he thinks that it was signed by Capt. Clinch - After he was discharged he returned back to the state of North Carolina - he was called into the service a second time for the term of three months, under Capt. James Wilson, Lt. Wil- iam Fort - The object of this service was to protect the inhabitants of the country in the lower part of the state of N. Carolina against the depredations of the Tories - In this last service he had a discharge which has been lost also - He thinks the discharge was signed by Capt. Wilson - He does not now recall the names of any officers except those already stated -
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the roll of the agency of any state -
Sworn to in open Court Augt 25th 1832 Test A. H. Douglas Clerk
James Brizance a clergyman, residing in the county of Sumner and state of Tennessee and Henry Myers residing in the same county and state here by certify that we are well acquainted with Henry Pitt who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 72 years of age; that he is right and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn to in open Court August 25th 1832 Test A. H. Douglas Clerk
James Brizance Henry Myers

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 certify that it appears to them that James Brigan who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the County of Sumner, and that Humphrey Mims, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the said County of Sumner, and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. -
Abner L. Smalley
Thos Anderson
Wm Edwards
State of Tennessee } Sumner County } I, A. H. Douglas, clerk of the court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Henry Pitt for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office This 22 nd Day of August 1832, A. D. fifty seventh of American Independence
A. H. Douglas Clerk

8616
Henry Pitt Sumner Co. Tennessee
West
from - private 8 months, $26. \frac{66}{100}
Oliver Eaton N.Y.
William Brady Gastonia Rutherford Co.

BRIEF in the case of Henry D. Pitt  County of Sumner  in the State of Tennessee  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 72 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.     In 17 5. - Private Gen. John Sevier Col. Clinch Col. Benton   3 " Col. Wilson  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? No battle  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Sayount N Carolina  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? In a testimony  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.
Richard Catts Examining Clerk.

I am unacquainted with any such man as Henry Bate - and therefore return the warrant
Yours (Mr Brady)

Reuben ✓
INVALID.
File No. 3689
Henry Pitt
Print. Rev. Par.
Act: June 7. 1853
Index:—Vol. 21 , Page 296
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Henry Pitt

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Henry Pitt Sumner 6 th Infy 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? no 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? yes 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? yes 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? no 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? yes Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes 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?
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.