Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8635, for William Reasons, North Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. b.
Reasons, William
N. 8635
CONTENTS

18,823
Suspended.
The Official character of the Prize before whom the declaration was made should be authenticated under the seal of Court by the certificate of the Clerk. There were no indictments in '75 for Byers as set forth in the declaration. There must have been more indictments than one (he must have served under more Capt's it is probable than Capt. Blood) if he served till 19 Sept. '81. By the discharge signed by Maj. Nelson it cannot be ascertained what period the applicant did service under any one indictment. The indictments in '75 were not for a longer period than 8 mo. which would not inculcate the applicant. It becomes necessary to state the rank held as a soldier & let the declaration be amended under said.
Wm Elder, Wm K. Smith, E. ...

State of Tennessee } March 4 th 1820 Montgomery County ss }
This Day before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Circuit Courts in & for the State aforesaid presiding in said County, came William Reasons aged 66 years resident in said County who being by me first Duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the pension made by the late act of Congress "enitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land & Naval Service of the United States in the revolutionary War" That in the said William Reasons enlisted in Graven County in the State of North Carolina in the Company commanded by Captain Reading Blount of the 5 th North Carolina Regiment commanded by Col o Buncombe on or about the 18 th of the fall of the year 1777, a soldier for the term of three years or continuous enlistment, that he continued to serve in said Corps & others in the service of the United States until the 19 th of September 1781 st when he was discharged from service by Col o John Colson of the 1 st Regiment to  at which  at  which  has  been transferred if any his said discharge is here with trans- mitted that he was in the battles of Brandywine & in the Battle of Germantown where he recd

A wound in his right knee & was also in the battle of Monmouth Courthouse where he received a wound in the left hip - that he was at the capture of Stony Point - When the Regiments were reduced he was turned over to the 2nd Regiment, commanded by Col. John Patton. From thence by furlough he returned to the State of North Carolina & joined the 3rd Regiment commanded by Col. Robert Maclen and afterwards marched to Charles Town South Caro- lina where he was taken prisoner & was exchanged at James Town Virginia from whence he drove a Waggon for Maj. John Nelson to Charlottetown North Carolina joined Maj. Joel Lewis 8th Regiment. At the close of the war started his arms at Hillsborough North Carolina That he is now in reduced circumstances & stands in need of the assistance of his country for support. That he has no further evidence of his services than the forgoing now in his power
Given & subscribed before Me this Day of year aforesaid
J. Mason
B. W. Humphreys

James Elder of the town of Blacksville makes oath that he is acquainted with the circumstances of William Parsons of the situation of his family & does believe that he needs assistance from his country for support
James Elder
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 4th of March 1820
John Humphreys Judge etc.
I Parry M c Humphreys Judge as aforesaid certify that it appears to my satisfaction that William Parsons aforesaid did serve in the army of the United States in the time of the rebellion or any war against the common enemy for more than nine months at one time an continuous service of that he is in such reduced circumstances in life as to require as- sistance from his country for support & I now transmit the proceedings & testimony to me addressed to the Hon ble Secretary of the War Department pursuant to the directions of the act of Congress I also transmit the 1 st Decla- ration made by said Parsons before Robert C. Foster.
Given this 4th of March 1820
Parry M c Humphreys

State of Tennessee
Montgomery Circuit Court
February Term 1823
J. Peter N. Mann Clerk of said
Court, do hereby certify that Parry W. Humphreys whose name is subscribed to the foregoing declaration & Bill of costs is now, & was at the time of signing the same Judge of the said Circuit Court. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & private seal having no seal of office this 22 nd day of April 1823 & 47 th year of the Independence of the United States.
J. Peter Mann Clerk.

Amended Revolutionary Declaration With Schedule
State of Tennessee      February Term 1823. Montgomery County ss      On this first day of March Circuit Court      3 1823 personally appeared in Open Court of Montgomery Circuit Court aforesaid, being a Court of Record for the said County, William Pearson aged 71 years, on the 21 st day of October 1823, resident of Montgomery County aforesaid who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on his oath declare he served in the Revo- -lutionary war as follows - See the original decla- -ration formerly forwarded to the War Depart- -ment, and herewith accompanies this amend- -ment. The following is the Schedule that is to say,
  174 acres of poor land now in dispute and undetermined in law worth about 124.00   1 Cabin worth about 50.00   1 Bed of Clothing 10.00   1 Pot no lid 50   1 pr of And-bons " 50   2 Horses 25.00   3 Cows & Calves 12.00   5 Punter plates 1.00   3 Ranges of forks " 25   1 Table " 25   2 Old chairs " 25   3 Old stools " 12 1/2 
$ 223.87 1/2 W. Pearson

The following are his family, that is to say, Sarah my wife aged 57 years much infirm Richard Elliott aged 31 years, subject to fits from infancy and almost useless to me, Sarah P. Reasons aged 27 years, subject to fits from her infancy, Gulpah S. Reasons aged 19 years, Elizabeth A. Reasons aged 17 years & Plain William Reasons aged about 12 years of age. The three last named children are the only per- -sons of my family that are able to render me any service. I am also getting infirm at my age & unable to work much. It is uncertain how long my two daughters who are able to do any work will live with me - When they are gone the only person I can rely upon in my old age is my youngest son Plain William who is now a boy as above stated. W. Reason
Sworn to and declared on the 1 st day of March 1823 before me
Robt Mack Judge of the 6 th Judicial Circuit in the State of Tennessee in the cause now pending

State of Tennessee Montgomery Circuit Court
I Robert Mack judge as now presiding in said Court do find the total amount of the Value of the property of the within named declarant in the schedule set forth from the Evidence before me (which is principally his own oath) to be two hundred and twenty three dollars & eighty seven & a half cents in in my opinion.
Robt Mack judge do
State of Tennessee
Montgomery Circuit Court 3 February Term 1823.
I Peter H. Ward Clerk of our said Circuit Court do hereby certify that Robert Mack Esq. whose name is to the foregoing Certificate is now one of the Circuit Judges of the State of the State of Tennessee & is now presiding in the 5 th Judicial Circuit by partial interchange of ridings. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & private seal having no seal of office, at office in the town of Clarksville this Third Monday in February 1823 & 47 th year of American Independence.
P. H. Ward Clerk.

July 8, 1919.
Mrs. Allen L. Porter, 1325 Biltmore St. N. W. Washington, D. C.
Madam:
In reply to your personal inquiry of the 7" instant, you are advised that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. File 8635, it appears that William Parsons was born October 31, 1752, place not stated, that he enlisted in Craven County, North Carolina about the autumn of 1775, under Captain L. Gill, and on September 10, 1776, he enlisted as a Private in Captain Realing Blount's Company, Colonel Edward Buncombe's Fifth N. C. Regiment, from which he was transferred to Captain Charles Stewart's Company, Colonel John Patton's Second N. C. Regiment. He was at the battles of Brandywine and at Germantown where wounded in the right knee, Monmouth where wounded in the left hip. He re-enlisted June 1, 1778, in Captain Bradley's Company of the Tenth N. C. Regiment and was at the battle of Stony Point, he later went in Colonel Robert McRae's Third N. C. Regiment to Charleston, S. C. where he was captured and imprisoned and some months after exchanged at Jamestown, Va., from whence he marched to Charlotte, N. C. where he was discharged from the Third N. C. Regiment on September 19, 1781 by Major John Nelson.

While residing in Montgomery County, Tenn. he made two applications for pension, executed March 4, 1820 and August 21, 1822, and although they showed that he had served a sufficient time to entitle him to pension, his claim was never allowed as both of the applications were informal, failing to properly authenticate the official character of the judge before whom they were made and he never completed his claim by filing a formal application as instructed.
In 1823 he referred to his family, as follows; Barah, his wife aged 57 years and children, Richard Elliott aged 31 years, Sarah P. 27 years, Zilpah S. 19 years, Elizabeth A. 17 years and Plain William aged 13 years.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
I omitted battle of White Plains as he could not possibly have been at that place either at the real battle of 76 or the skirmish of 1781.
As Charleston surrendered in May 1780, he could not have been a prisoner 18 mos & discharged as shown by his ctf
AD.

W m Reasons, revo. Tenn. - susp d for a formal dec n . See letter May 28. 1823, to W m Elder.
8635-

Postcharge Purchasing
- Send to -
Mr. Alvin L. Porter
1925 Belmore St. N.W. Washington D.C.
William Dean Jones
July 7, 1919 Personal inquiry.

The books certify that William Reason a slave in the State of North Carolina was manumitted as a free & lawful citizen of the United States and given full power to sue and be sued Charlotte 19 th September 1881.
- Send to -
Miss Alice L. Porter -
1925 Belmont, St. N.W. Washington D.C.
William Reason -
July 7 1919 Personal inquiry.

8635
P. O. William Reasens
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18 .
Discharged: _____, 18 .
Application filed: _____, 18 .
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.
_____ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _____, 18 .
1909 July 8. History to Mrs. Allie E. Porter. Aus

State of Tennessee
Montgomery County Set
This day being the 21 st of August 1882 came William Reason before me Parry W. Humphreys one of the judges of the courts of law & equity in & for the State aforesaid & made the following addition to his Declaration made on the 4 th of March 1882 - before the said Parry & Humphreys for a pension he declares & says that he did enlist therein stated in the 1775 - & at the time of said Declaration he supposed his en- listment had been for three years but he now supposes that he must have been mistaken as to the term of his enlistment as the State made in the War Depart- ment satisfies him that no enlistments for the term of three years were made in that year 1775 - but upon further reflection he believes his first enlistment was with a Captain Living Gill who had at that time was enlisted in said County of Brown that he marched

in Gills Company under Genl. Caswell to Morriss Bridge, & in the Spring of Seventy Six Capt Gill having retired he entered Bartram Reading Blount Company by enlistment for three years, & he continued to serve in Blounts company under different Commanding Generals while the Regiments were reduced at Valley Forge after which reduction he entered the Company of Captain Charles Stur- ant in a Regiment Commanded by Col. John Patton which was the 3rd Regiment of North Carolina Brigade Commanded then as he believes by Genl. McIntosh, in that Company he was in the Battle of Monmouth & White Plains, where he was Discharged. He then entered Service with Cap- tain G. Bradley of the North Carolina Line (for the term of 18 months to the best of his remembrance) he was then marched to Charlestown in South Carolina under Com- mand of Col. Robert Maclure & Gen. Hagan at Charlestown he was taken prisoner in which situation he remained for nearly 18 mon- ths & was exchanged at James Town in Virginia he was then marched into North Carolina, with

Employ of Maj: Nelson Who gave him the Discharge annexed to the former Declaration, that his term of Service had expired hundred before he was captured at Charlestown - but he continued in Service at the Battle of Bunker Hill & was unfortunately taken prisoner as aforesaid.
W. B. Coston
I sworn to & subscribed before me the Day & date first before written
Parry M c Cluskey
I am Satisfied that William Reason also Served in the As a common Soldier in the Army of the United States in the time of the Revolutionary war against the Common enemy for more than nine months on Continental Establishment & I hereby further certify that James Eldon whose affidavit is annexed to the first Declaration is a man of Character & Creditability - I transmit this annexed Decla- ration together with the former to the Hon- ble Secy of War - Curing all the Treas- ury

to me adduced — Done by me this 22 nd of August 1822.
Parry M. Humphreys One of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Law & Equity for the State of Tenn.
State of Tennessee Montgomery County 4th
J. P. Mann Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Parry M. Humphreys Esquire, is now, and was at the time of subscribing the former Declaration of William Reason for a petition on the 11 th March 1820, and is now Judge of the 5 th Judicial Circuit of the State of Tennessee. In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & private seal having no seal of office This 22 nd day of August 1822 & 47 th year of Independence of the United States.
Test J. P. Mann Clerk. b. b.

State of North Carolina Secretary's office 24 th May 1823.
I William Hill Secretary of State in and for the State aforesaid do certify that the name of William Reasons stands on the Musterrolls of the Continental line of this State in the revolutionary War as follows viz. "William Reasons mustered Capt. Blount's Company 5 th Regiment 10 th Sept r 1776 for 3 years, p t Jan y 78. dis d June 79. See him re-enlisted for 18 mo s ." - Again as follows, "William Reasons p t Bradley's Company 10 th Regiment 1 st June 79 for 18 mo s See him in 5 th Reg t ."
Given under my hand at Office the date above
W. Hill

Copy
War Dept., Pension Office
May 28, 1823.
W. Elder, Clarksville, Tenn.
Sir:
The documents forwarded by you to this Dept. in support of the claim of William Reasons to a pension on account of Revolutionary service, have been examined, from which it would appear that he served a sufficient length of time to entitle him to a pension but on account of the informality of these papers, his name cannot yet be admitted to the pension list. He must make another declaration, in every respect conformable to the blank herewith enclosed and forward the same to this Department. The informal declarations will remain on our files.
I am &c J. L. E.