Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4,612, for William Newsum, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va. _____ _____
or Newsum, William _____ Newsum. _____
S. 4612 _____ _____
CONTENTS
carded
_____
_____

13.871
West Tennessee William Newsam
of Maury Co. in the State of W. Tennessee who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Nelson of the regt commanded by _____ in the War for time for 8 months from 1779
William Newsam. Records etc.
Inscribed on the Roll of W. Tennessee  Chap. 10 of 9 at the rate of 26. Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of July 1833 and sent to Hon J. R. Polk Columbia
Arrears to the 14th of March 1833 $53.32 Semi-ant. allowance ending Oct " 1833
$ 66.66
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Allison Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 90

Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department together with the an- swers of the Applicant.
Question 1 st When & on what year were you born? — Answer — I was born in South Hampton County State of Virginia on the 28 th day of August 1781 — Q 2 nd Have you any record of your age, disso. When is it? Ans r I have no record of my age, but have always been informed that I was born as above stated — Q 3 rd When were you living when called into the service, when have you lived since the revolutionary War, & where do you now live? Ans r I lived in the County of Newport News  Greensville , when called into service, after the Revolutionary War I lived in Norfolk Virginia until the year 1820. When I removed to the  the in the County of the  the State of Tennessee when I removed — Q 4 th How were you called into service, were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? & if a substitute for whom? Answer — I was a volunteer, always held myself subject to service whenever my services were required —

Ques. 5 th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops when you served; such continental or militia regiments as you can recollect, according to the general circumstances of your service?
Ans. I never was with any regular officers but Maj. Mason & the regular troops & officers at York when Cornwallis surrendered & was not then attached to any command. I refer to the foregoing declaration for my knowledge of the militia officers & my general services. Ques. 6 th Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given & what has become of it? - Answer. I never rec d any written discharge.
Ques. 7 th State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their knowledge of your services as a soldier of the revolution?
Ans. Hugh Shaw a preacher of the gospel and Robert Wortham Esq. are well acquainted with applicant and can testify as to his character for veracity &c. - Sworn to & subscribed in open court October 29 th 1882.
Geo. W. Martin Clerk
William Newcomb

William Museum
Dutcherian for Purvis
For J. H. Polk

State of Tennessee - Circuit Court - Maury County - October Term 1889. p. p.
On this 33 d day of October 1889. personally appeared me of a court before me William E. Kennedy, Judge of the Circuit Court of Maury County now sitting William Swindell and clerk of the Circuit Court of said, aged about 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 1889.
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named officers, and served as hereafter stated -
Applicant was born on the 28 th day of August 1781 - in South Hampton County, State of Virginia his father had died before this event, his mother a few days after - he was raised among his relations in different parts of the State - In 1779 he was living in Greenbrier County, applicant turned out as a volunteer, under the command of Capt. William Nelson, a son of General.

Atkinson, Capt. Atkinson and of this company were High Country Virginians , who did not know need or care for pay - furnished themselves, & held themselves ready in readiness, to fight, in defense of their own and their country's, invaded rights & honors whenever they were called on by circumstances and were not called until to do so. - In the Spring of 1879 - we went down to Hampden, on the coast, to prevent the British from landing, we remained here some seven or eight weeks, while we were for the British landed at Norfolk & then went to from Hampden we returned home & were until further orders discharged, and remained 3 or 4 months, ready in readiness to march at a moment's warning; the British showing had left Hampden & Rhodes in the mean time. In the fall of the same year we understood they were about to return; Capt. Atkinson this com- which applicant was a member pany, men, among the first to march - against them We again went down to Hampden for the same purpose as before - remained about six or eight weeks, were again discharged and went home, applicant there were no regular troops here & applicant, does not now recollect who had the principal command of the Militia.

Applicant with a few of his Young Companys went down to the city of Williamsburg where Col. Ennis, a militia officer was stationed with some 7 or 800 men, he was there attached to Captain Arnetheads company - He remained here about a month - appeared When the British came over with a force of some 4000 troops, drove us from our posts - The British troops were under the command of Genl. Arnold and Phillips, Col. Forster, also landed with his Light horse troops (about 80). Applicant was a young man who under the bold & dashing made the bold daring & dauntless attempt to surprise the British Genl. in quarters the night they landed at Williams- burg - we were discovered however by the guard They killed applicant, friend & constant companion Percy, the Bullette son of Judge Bullette - after an escape here, applicant returned home - and re- mained at home until after the British left Wil- iamsburg & went to Petersburg, when they took a their stand; Genl. La Fayette with his troops took his stand on the opposite side of the River to hold them in check check not being able to fight them -

The British troops were here no doubt according to previous arrangement, waiting the arrival of Cornwallis from the South - Genl. Lord Hayth being anxious to hear from Wallis - He ordered a Maj. Minor a regular Officer, to raise a Company of Volunteers, in the Coun- try to go out & reconnoitre Genl. Cornwallis's movements & send him information - H.C. Applicant volunteered to go on this Ser- vice, and were under the command of Maj. Minor - but were only out the first night - in this town the British took one of our men (a Mr. Bull) who had been stored to La Fayette with despatches - on this tour the British took from applicant a very fine horse, costing £80 - he never got it back a British prison ship - Applicant after words volunteered under a Captain Short, to go to the Siege of York - but did not reach there until the evening of the British surrender (we were here only 2 or 3 weeks) Then applicant was finally discharged - he has no written discharge, & has no documen- tary evidence of his services, he knows of no per- son whose testimony he can procure who can testi- fy to his services as a revolutionary soldier - Applicant lived in Norfolk at the time of

Virginia, after the revolutionary War, until the Year 1820 when he removed to & settled in the the State of Tennessee Maury County where he now resides — He is known to Hugh Shaw — — — a minister of the Gospel and Robert Wortham Esq. who are well acquainted with him and can testify as to his character for virtue and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution —
Applicant 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 or Territory — Sworn to & subscribed in open court October 29 th 1832. } William Harrison
George M. Harrison Clerk of the Maury Circuit Court
We Hugh Shaw a clergyman residing in the County of Maury State of Tennessee & Robert Wortham residing in the same Coun- ty State hereby certify that we are now well acquainted with Col. William Harrison who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing deed

declaration, that we believe him to be about sev- enty two years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion -
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court - October 29 th 1882 Hugh Shaw William Lawrence George A. Martin Robert Wortham Chair of the Magistrate's Court
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter and after hearing the interrogatories pre- scribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as the State . And the court further certifies that it appears to them, that Hugh Shaw who has signed the preceding cer- tificate is a Clergyman resident in said County of Henry, and that Robert Wortham who has also signed the same, is a resident of the same County, and a credible person, and that their state- ment is entitled to credit -
Will. E. Hamady Judge etc.

State of Tennessee Circuit Court Maury County October Term 1880.
I George M. Martin Clerk of the Circuit Court of Maury County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original pro- ceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Col. William Hudson for opinion - In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal (having notice of Office) at Office in Columbia this 7th day of November  October 1880.
George M. Martin Clerk

I do hereby certify that the foregoing declaration contained in this and the annexed sheets, is the original papers acted on in Court. I am acquainted with the Rev. Hugh Shaw and Robert Matthews whose certificate is in my & I know them to be men of character & truth.
James M. Folger June 11 th 1833.
William P. Furness Baltimore Pa.
Rev. J. H. P. Palk

William Neevson
for 1779 print 8 months $26. 66 4516. 100
Ex 14'2"
P 206.
No. 9. K Park Columbia,

BRIEF in the case of William Newsum  of Wayne County 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? about Seventy two 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.     Volunteer In 1779 As a Gen.   7 or 8 weeks Capt. Cornwallis   about 6 - 8 "   about 1 Capt. Arnystead   a few weeks Genl. Minton   2 or 3 weeks Capt. Shur  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none stated, skinning by  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Greensville Co. Va.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? clergymen & Robt. Wortham certifying to traditionary evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
D. Kink Examining Clerk.

KEMPINSKY-JONES-BUTTS MERCANTILE CO.
VANDALIA, MISSOURI
Vandalia Mo Jan 9 1918
Commissioner of Pensions, Pension Bureau Dept. of Interior Washington D.C.
Sir:- Will you please send me the pension record of Tom Newsome (Nerreson), Revolutionary soldier, served in Virginia, Marshall Co. Tenn.
Very Resp't.
(Miss) Belle Butts

1918 Jan 18 Hist. to Belle Butte.
Rev May
4612
INVALID.
File No. 4612
* William Newson Patti Van Neila
Act: June 17 1932
Index:—Vol. A , Page 273
[Arrangement of 1870.]
* William Newsum Records corrected Apr. 6, 1904, a

Williams Museum

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Jan y . 4 th 1833
SIR :
I return herewith the papers in support of the claims of the persons whose names are hereto annexed.
These papers are in several respects defective. Each case is accompanied by a brief. The objections are contained in the negative answers, in red ink, given to the questions.
Particular attention should be paid to (the accompanying regulations, &c.) the explanatory notes subjoined to the brief.
The extraordinary press of business in this office, arising from the great number of claims under the act of June 7, 1832, has hitherto prevented us from attending to the applications sent by you. The investigation of the cases presented under this law has been difficult and laborious, and notwithstanding the greatest exertions have been made by this Department, an earlier attention to your business has been found impracticable.
The brief has been prepared to meet all cases, and thus to save the excessive labor which would otherwise be imposed upon the office, and which would consume so much time as to render the delay two fold greater than it now is in the investigation of claims and writing letters. Each case is considered correct in all respects except in relation to those questions to which a negative answer is affixed. No other alteration or addition will be required.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards
Hon. J. K. Polk House of Representatives
{ William Newsum John Mitchell William Alexander

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Newsum 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? 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? No

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? yes XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? _____ Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? _____ 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? eto XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? ans w ord
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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of William Newman a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Aug 1779 3 mos. Pvt. William Nelson ✓ Va.   Feb 1780 3 mos. William Nelson ✓   " 1 mo. Ames ✓   " 3 1/2 mos. Major Miners   1781 2 1/2 mos. Short ✓  
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Greeneville County, Va.
Date of application for pension, Oct 29, 1852
Residence at date of application, Henry County, Tenn.
Age at date of application, born Aug 28, 1761
Remarks: Soldier's father died before his birth and his mother
a few days after. Their names are not stated.
After the war soldier lived in Norfolk, Va. until 1820
There is no other data as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

William Ainsworth announced destination for a Prussian. —

The amended declaration of William Stevenson for a Pardon involves the provisions of the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832 -
State of Tennessee } Want of Pleadings Entered Marshall County } Superior Court June 1833 -
being the 11 th day of June 1833 -
This day personally appeared in open Court William Stevenson and after being duly sworn made the following amended declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of Congress of 7 th June 1832 - to wit, - In his former declaration he stated the length of his service under the command of Col. T. Nelson, to be about seven or eight weeks, but upon fur- ther reflection he is now satisfied that he must have served upon that tour about three months - Upon his second expedition un- der the command of the same officer Col. T. Nelson to Hampton in the fall of the same year, he stated in his former declaration the length of his service to be about six or eight weeks; - He is now satisfied in his own mind that his said second tour was for a longer period, - and he thinks for at least three months more; his tour to Williamsburg is stated in his former declaration to have been about six months. He is satisfied that the said three tours were at least a month in duration of is exactly stated in his declaration. Upon his fourth tour, under the command of Col. T.

Alma, - it is stated in his former declaration to have been for a few weeks; - He now states that the length of time in his said fifth term was then at least three weeks & perhaps four; it was between three and four weeks. - His fifth term under the command of Col. Stark to go to the siege of Yorktown stated in his former declaration, - is correctly stated in his former declaration to have been for between two and three weeks. - De- -rect states that he is now perfectly satisfied that his time during these various terms - was at least eight months. He left no written memoranda of his time or the length of time - but on reflection on the subject and reviewing his recollections - he knows he was in actual service at least eight months. -
William Newsum
Sworn to & subscribed in open court June 11 th 1833
Thos. J. Porter Clerk
By Deputy Wm. E. Errington
I the undersigned Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County and State of Virginia, do hereby certify that the contains the original forging annexed declaration of William Newsum for a Parole, as cited in Court. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office June 11 th 1833
Thos. J. Porter Clerk
By Deputy Wm. E. Errington

Mrs. H. S. Edwards
FREE
James S. Edwards Esq. Commission of Pensions War Department Washington City.

Columbia. June 11 th 1833
Sir
Endorse is the amended Constitution of William Penn for a Prussian. Be pleased to direct the case as early as convenient & advise me of the result.
J. S. Edmonds Esq r Comm. of Prussians.
I am Very Respectfully Yr obedt Servt Samuel H. Smith