Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 21428, for Hancock Porter, South Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Porter, Hancock
NUMBER S 21428
Corrinne Kay
CONTENTS

16126 South Carolina
Hancock Porter of Union, in the State of South Carolina who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Brandon of the Regt. commanded by Col. Thomas in the South Carolina line for 13 months
Enscribed on the Roll of South Carolina: the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8 th day of July '33 and sent - Danl. Holden Unionville S.C.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 86.66 Semestral allowance ending 4 Sept. - 21.66 3/4 8108.32 1/2
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk Book E. Vol. 6. Page 77
order to pay 24 Nov. 1876
Paid at Treasury, under act 6 April, 1838, from 4 th Sept. 1840 to 16 October, 1840.

15291
Hancock Portus
Declaration
Admit as private
Bono 540. 83
Daniel Keolder
Unionville S.C.

South Carolina by Forster Union District
On this 6 th day of October 1832. personally appeared in open Court before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and Sessions, now sitting for said District, Handcock Porter, a resident of Union District, a good and true man, 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 Con- gress passed June 7. 1832. that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as here in named - " In April 1776. I entered the Service under Capt. Brandon (afterwards Col. Brandon), in Union District, and marched to Col. Thomas's where we still under his command, and then marched to Prince of St. Francis River, and from thence to the Indian Towns on the frontier - and after destroying the Towns, we collected at the point where the Linead Fort, was afterwards built; - from this place we marched in a direction to the Valley of the Mohawk, beyond the Mountains - And after our engagement with the Indians returned, circuitous- ly to the Linead Fort - and were dischar- ged by Col. Thomas - in October ; - having served about six months - I afterwards served two or three tours, under Col. Brandon and other officers, but cannot recollect the

the duty, nor can not say how long. I have no documentary evidence of my service, and can only refer to Capt. Joshua Palmer, and Joseph Mr. Jenkins to prove my service.
La the in Aragalony 120 p. annu By the Court I answer I was born in Lancaster County Virginia 1 d 2. I know nothing of my age. but from information - and have no record. -
3. I lived at Merrow, when I entered the Union and have lived there ever since.
4. I worked as a volunteer, and lived and tore for my brother Land Colt Parker.
5 th See with her. —
6. I was not any within the ship
I refer to the Rev. Elias Mitchell and a Captain Palmer to prove my character for truth and accord uprightness. — I do hereby relinquish my claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the pension and an clear that my name is not on the pension Roll of the army of any State.
Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Mr. W. A. Hale New Jersey
This Hancock & Porter mark

South Carolina Union District 1/3
We John Jennings a Chesyman residing in the District of Union, and Joshua Palmer residing in the same do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Hancock Parton, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbor- hood where he used to have been a Revo- lutionary Soldier, and that we are in that opinion.
Joshua Palmer John Jennings
Sworn to & Subscribed & the day & year aforesaid John M. Nease Pres Judge
And the said Court do hereby declare its opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after the interrogatories presented by the War Department, that the above named appli- cant was a Revolutionary Soldier and said as he states - and the said Court further certifies that it appears to it that John Jennings who has signed the above certification is a Chesyman resident in the District of Union, and that Joshua Palmer who has also signed the same is resident in the same, and an credible person, and that their statements are in all respects true. - John M. Nease Pres Judge
Pres Judge

State of South Carolina Union District } I John Rogers Clerk of the Court of Sessions & Common Pleas for the said District of Union, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the origin- al proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Hancock Porter for a pension —
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office at Union Court House this 15 th day of October 1832
J Rogers Clerk

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
June 12 th 1845.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The widow of Hancock Porter, ad- a Pensioner on the Roll of the South Carolina Agency, at the rate of Forty three Dollars and 33 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept r 1840, to the 16 th Oct r 1840-
Respectfully, yours,
W. D. H. Smith
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

Revolution
21428
INVALID.
own
File No. 21428
Hancock Peter
Br Rev War
Act: June 7 th 82 ea
Index:—Vol. 9 , Page 325
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Hancock Porter
March 2-1833
4.5 13
P 280-

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

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? 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? etc 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? 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.

State of South Carolina
Union District } Hancock Porter
Personally appeared before me and deposed as follows in order to explain & make more explicit his application for a pension under the act of Congress passed 7 th of June 1832. And States as follows -
"This deponent states on oath that his service as a soldier was during the Rev- olutionary war in defence of his Country against the British Tories & Indians -
On my first tour under Capt Brandan & Col Thomas I served six months as stated in my declaration;
I again served two three tours of duty. Same time under Col Steeny Capt Jolly, & again under Jolly & Brandan at Buckner Bridge, of one month each -
I was out another tour under Col Brandan the time of the Battle of the Cutawa one month but was camped with the force at the time of the Battle - I again was stationed at the Block House & served a tour of

duty of three months -
I again served another term of duty under my Colly and was stationed at Anacostia and was out at that time at the least one month. This deponent has no documentary evidence of his services but can prove by Capt. Joshua Palmer that he has performed part of the duties within specified -
Sworn to & subscribed
before me this 10 th May
1833 -
Hancock
This
Porter
marks
Jeffrey Palmer J.P.
3
I Jeffrey Palmer do certify that Hancock Porter is respectable and a gentleman of veracity -
Given under my hand
this 10 th May 1833 -
Jeffrey Palmer J.P.
.. 3 ..

State of South Carolina Union District - 3 J. John Rogers Clerk of the Court of Sessions Hammond Please do hereby certify that Jeffrey Palmatier is an acting Justice of the Peace - and properly authorized to admin- ister oaths and his official acts as such are entitled to due faith and credit as such & that his signature is genuine -
Given under my hand Seal of Office at Union Court House this the 10 th May - 1833 -
J. Rogers J. M.