Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3708, for William Potts, South Carolina

SERVICE
NUMBER
S. 6
Potts, William
S. 3708
carded
CONTENTS

19.030 West Tennessee
Williams Dotts
of Henry in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the comp y commanded by Captain Burgess of the reg t commanded by Col Hare in the Chattanooga line for 17 months and 10 days
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 37 Dollars 77 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of July 1831 and Little John St Dunlop Paris
Arrears to the 4th of March 1834 115 34 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep r 28 88 $144 42
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 92

Declaration of William Potts to obtain a pension under the act of Congress passed in 1832 State of Louisiana } September Session 1832 Living County. } on this 10 th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court - before the Justices of said court the same being a court of record and now in Session William Potts a resident of said county - aged about sixty five years or sixty seven years - who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to entitle him to the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 - That he entered the service of the United States about the age of sixteen years in the county of Union and State of South Carolina - at or near the close of the war the year he does not recollect - that he went as a draftsman under Capt Richard Burgess and Col William Foss and Col Benjamin Lauer in Rohbeck - that he served a three months term that he marched from Union county to Ancehuring in South Carolina - where he was stationed until his time of service expired - he returned home - and before a great while was again drafted and served about two months and ten days - under Capt James Wood - and Col Thomas Brannen - during which time we were engaged a part of our time in guarding Brannen's Black house

He again entered the service of the United States as a volunteer under Capt John Montmore and served about twelve months to the best of his recollection - that he was engaged during said time principally in Texas after the Texas in various parts of the state - that he was in the army at the time peace made that he knows of no person in this state by whom he can prove services - he has procured the services of affidavit of one of his old fellow soldiers and a copy of his acquaintance who resides in South Carolina of his services He states that his name is not on the pension agency of any state in the Union and he hereby relinquishes all claims to a pension except the present
William his Potts mark
Sworn to & subscribed in open court The 10 th Sept 1832
Thos K Portlock
We state that we are well acquainted with William Potts the present applicant for a pension - that he is understood & believed to have been a soldier of the Republican and that he is an honest man
Sworn to & subscribed in open court Sept 10 th 1832
C. S. Holland
Thos K Portlock
John of Morris Elias Bowers

We John L Sims & Thomas Potts clergymen of Henry county Tennessee hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Potts and believe him to be an honest man and that he is under -stood to have been a soldier of the Revolution John L Sims Thos Potts
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after an investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories pre- -scribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a soldier of the revo- -lution and served as he states - and the court further certify that it appears to them that John L Sims & Thos Potts - who has signed the pre- -ceding certificate is a clergymen resid- -ing in said county & state and that his statements are entitled to credit -
John Stradwick J.P. Seal Chairman of Henry County Court
State of Tennessee } I Thomas K Porter Clerk of the county Henry County } Court of said county do certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of William Potts for a pension
dependence
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at office in the town of Paris September 14 th AD 1832 & 57 year of American In
Tho K Porter CLK by S.C. Brown CLK

Wm Potts
owdm. J. 3708
Edward Pine B Mary Boboy Disposition

State of South Carolina Union District 3 John Rogers clerk of the Court of Sessions & Common Pleas. do Certify that John Norman Esq r before whom the within depositions was taken is an acting Justice of the Quorum in & for said District and his official acts as such are entitled to full faith & Credit
Given under my hand Seal of office at Union Court House This 5 th December 1831.
J Rogers att

State of South Carolina } Personally appeared before me Union District } John Norman one of the Justices of the Inferior for said District Edward Prime Senior and being duly sworn saith on his oath that he was a quainted with William Potts who formerly lived in this State but now said to be living in Tennessee and the said William Potts served a tour of duty with him in time of the Revolution ary war at Orangeburgh in the United States Service under the command of Col. or Major Fann dont recollect which whether he was Col. or Major at the time, sworn to and subscri- bed Before Me this 1 st Day of December 1831 —
John Norman J.P.
His Edward F. Prime Senior Mark

South Carolina } Personally appeared before me John Union District } Norman one of the Justices of the Quorum for said District Mary Bobo the wife of Solomon Bobo Senior and being duly Sworn Saith on an oath that She Recollects that her Brother William Potts who formerly lived in this State (but at this time said to be living in Tennessee) was gone from home a considerable time in the time of the Revolutionary War Said to be gone down the coun- try to serve at Tower in the United States Service that Richard Burgess was an officer in the company he went with; and that She Recollects that he went an other tour Said to be gone to the Block House Sworn to and Subscribed Before me this 24 th Day of November 1831
John Norman J.P.
Her Mary Bobo Mark

State of S th Carolina } I John Norman one of the Justices Union District } of the Inferior for said District do Certify that the within Named Edward Pierce and Mary Bobo is Persons of Credibility and that their oaths is Intitled to full Credit Given Under My hand and Seal this 14 th Day of December 1831
J. Norman J.P.
Wm Pitt
Nov. 2. 3708
Edward Pierce Mary Bobo Deposition

11.157.
William Potts, of Henry County, Ten- nessee.
from — perct. 10 months & 10 days.
$57.77 \frac{1}{2}
John H. Dunlop, Agent, Paris, Tennessee.

BRIEF in the case of  William Potts,  of Henry County, in the State of Tennessee.  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? A court.  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? About sixty-six 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 Ent. Serv. 3 draughts man Gen. Cap. Richard Burgefs, Col. W m Francis Col. Benjamin Ro-   Drafted. About 2 " 10. priv. buck Cap. James Woodson   Vol. About 12. priv. and Col. Th: Brandon. Cap. John Martin-   17. 10 dale.  
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Union County, N.C.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? By living witnesses and traditional evidence.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.

Rev. May
INVALID.
File No. 3708
William Potts
Port S.C. line
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 8 , Page 298
[Arrangement of 1870.]

11.157.
William Potts, of Henry county, Tennessee.
John H. Dunlop, Agent, Paris, Tennessee.

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 Potts , — 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? 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? 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? 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.

May
From C.W.
C.W.
Yours
Russian Agent
Washington
City

Dear Sir, Paris. June 24 th 1893
William Patten herewith returns his pension claim, and hopes that he has obviated all the objections or errors in his declaration in his affidavit made and enclosed. I should like to be informed - and have whether all the claims that have or may be sent back cannot be corrected before a Justice and of court accompanied with the clerk's certifi- cate this would facilitate and save much time to the old soldiers. The delay is sometimes great to wait from one court to an- other - yours
John B. Knepp

State of Louisiana Personally appeared William Patts before Henry county Judge John L. Nagler an acting Justice of the peace for said county and made oath 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 - that he served as a draftsman three months - under Capt Richard Burgess & Col Lane & Col Benjamin Rohbeck - that he served two months & ten days - under Capt James Woodrow & Col Thomas Brandan - that he served twelve months under Capt John Montindale - the precise period at which I entered the service during each of said periods - I am unable to state for the reasons above stated and for which service I claim a pension I was a private during the whole of said service
William his Patts mark
Sworn to before me on 6 th day of May 1893
John L. Nagler J.P.
State of Louisiana I Thomas K Porter Clerk of the County Court Henry County of said County do certify that John L Nagler whose signature appears to the foregoing certificate is now and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace for said county duly commissioned & qualified according to law & that all due faith and credit is and ought to be given to his official acts as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at office in the town of Paris the 6 th day of May A.D. 1893 and fifty seventh year of American Independence
Thos K Porter CLK by B.C. Brown D.C.K.