Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 895, Hezekiah Bryan, N.C.

SERVICE
N.C.
Bryan, Hezekiah Moary
NUMBER
W 895
CONTENTS

32,694.
Nashville
Tennessee
Nezekiah Bryan
of Marshall in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the Comp y commanded by Captain Dixon of the Reg t commanded by Col in the 10 N.C. Reg t one for one year
Inscribed on the Roll of Nashville at the rate of 40 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Feby 1850 and sent to Mrs. E. W. Jones, Mother of Rep s
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-annual allowance ending
Revolutionary Claim, paid June 7, 1832.
Recorded by J. S. Chase Clerk, Book E 2 Vol. 7 Page 82
Reported
Let. to J. M. Smith April 27, 1850

Declaration of Hezekiah Bryan in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of 7 th June 1832, making provision for Revolutionary Soldiers
State of Tennessee } Marshall County }
Be it known that on the 11 th day of August A.D. 1849 before me George R. May Esq. a Justice of the Peace of Said County, personally appeared Hezekiah Bryan of Said County aged about Ninety years, who having been first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions of the act of the U. S. Congress passed 7 th June 1832, viz
That he was born in South Carolina, District not now remembered, about the year 1759 or 1760, according to the tradition of his family, He was resident in Wake County, North Carolina, during the Revolutionary war, and served as a private soldier, as follows, viz. As a private in a Company commanded by Capt. under the Command of Colonel Boulton in the North Carolina Troops, raised soon after Gates was defeated at Camden; that he went as a substitute for Asa the who had been drafted; that he was received into the service on Deep River, on which River the Corps to which he belonged & which was commanded by Col. Boulton, remained for three months.

That during the period he was frequently engaged in scouting parties in pursuit of Tories, who were in the neighborhood of the American Soldiers, & when his tour of duty had expired, he received a discharge in writing from his commanding officer, for a tour of duty of not less than twelve months, but this Declarant is unable to state the precise period of that service having, on his return given his discharge to Asa Thomas in whose place he served, and not having kept any memorandum or record of dates, he cannot state it more particularly than he has done above, nor does he know of any person living by whom he can prove it more particularly.
He further declares that he served another "tour" of duty as a twelve months man, in the war of the Revolution, in a company raised in Wake County, in a company commanded by Capt. Dickson and one Lieutenant Dickson, in a Regiment which was commanded by Col. Dixon, or Dickson, and under the General Command of Genl. Greene, and entered the service as a private of said company at Granville Co. House, North Carolina about the day of June A.D. 1781; - and marched with his company through Hillsboro, Guilford, and Rowan Counties remaining a few days, at various points on the march, but finally going to the Hills of Santee, through Camden in South Carolina, in South Carolina, where he remained about two months. - Then he marched to a place called Fort Thompson, and was afterward with the American Army, while in

pursuit of the British before the Battle of Eutaw, and was in the American Army under Green, at the time of that Battle, but was not immediately engaged in the Battle, being with the Rear Guard, under the command of his Major Company & Regimental Officers.
He was then marched with his company back to the Hills of the Santee, where he remained for some time - He then re-crossed the Santee River, - passed the Edisto River to a place called the Round-O and then to a place called Pon-Pon, and soon afterwards marched to Bacon's Bridge on Ashley River, above Charleston, where his company remained two months or two and then marched back to Camden, - thence to Charlotte, in North Carolina, - then through Salisbury - then to Guilford C. House, and his period of twelve months Service having expired, he received a written discharge from his commanding officer or Dickson who was at that time Lieutenant Bell, and had been since the Battle of Eutaw, as near as this Declarant can remember, having served not less than twelve months, being discharged about the time of the beginning of 1781.  month of June after the Battle of Eutaw But this discharge had long since - perhaps fifty or sixty years ago, been lost or mislaid, so that no memorandum, or other record of any kind, now remains to show the exact date of the entrance of Declarant into Service, nor the exact period of his discharge, leaving this Declarant to depend wholly upon his memory, but this Declarant is certain and he so declares, that he served in all not less than eighteen months in both towns of his duty, and perhaps some months longer than the period for which he was engaged. In the 12 months term he was a substitute in the place of Frank Jones.

This Declarant further State that he knows of no person now living by whom he can prove his service, and that he does not know of any Documentary evidence or Records by which he could prove the same,
He further declares, that he has never received any Pension or Bony Land, either from the United States or any State of this Union for said Revolutionary service, and he hereby relinquishes all claim which he may have to any such, except the present claim.
Subscribed and sworn to before me
Hezekiah Bryan
the day Year above written G. R. May 1810
Interrogatories propounded by the Justice of the Peace, according to form required by the the Department of the Interior (Formerly War Dept. Patent Office)
Question 1. Where and in what year were you born?.
Answer. I was born in the State (or Province rather) of South Carolina, but I do not remember the name of the District, about 1759 or 1760.
Question 2. Have you any Record of age & where is it?
Answer. I had a Record in an old Bible many years ago. but that Bible, I gave to a daughter now living in Perry County, State of Tennessee, & I do not know whether she still has it or not. I have no Record in my possession.

Question 3 rd Where were you living when called into the service? Where have you lived since the war of the Revolution, and where do you now live?
Answer. During the Revolutionary war I lived in Wake County, State of North Carolina, eighteen miles from Raleigh, with one H. L. Dreg. Jones, a Blacksmith, with whom I was learning the Blacksmith's trade. After the Revolution I lived in Mecklenburg County, State of North Carolina about 25 miles from Charlotte where I married Mary Powell about the year 1785 at the house of John Gurn, by the Rev. Mr. Nesbitt, a Baptist Clergyman, after publication of banns, according to law, at Haynes Meeting House, with whom I lived until the present time. We had eight children in North Carolina and then moved about the year 1810 to the Indiana Territory when Genl. Harrison was Governor, where we remained until about the year 1816 or 1817 when we removed to Rutherford County, State of Tennessee and lived several years, and about the year 1823 or 1824, we moved to Bedford County of said State, where we have lived until the present time, but now in Marshall County, (a new County since made out of Bedford & other Counties) - with the exception of the years 1847 & 1848, during which period we lived with a son in Hickman County of this State - but have lived since December 1848, in our old neighborhood in Marshall County (formerly Bedford) but I am too feeble in health, being with difficulty able to walk across the house, to undergo the fatigue a journey to the Court-house of Marshall County -

Question 4 th . Please State how you entered the service, whether as a drafted man, volunteer or substitute, mounted or foot?
Answer - I was a substitute, in one town, as I have already stated. I was a substitute for Asa Thomas and in the other, or twelve months town, I was a substitute for Frank Thomas  Jones . I was always an Infantry or foot soldier, & went as a substitute for drafted men.
Question 5 th
List the names of some of the Regulars, as well as the Volunteers & Militia Officers, with whom you were acquainted while in the service, as a soldier?
Answer - Of the North Carolina Troops, Militia, & State Line, I knew Colonels Dickson & Covington, Col. Lytle, Major McRae, Captain Sharp & Hall, Lieutenants Bell, Dickson & Sneed, with whom & under whom I served, as a soldier.
Of the Regular or Continental Army, I served under & knew Genl. Green, - I also knew Col. Colonel Lee Washington, besides a host of others. I also saw many South Carolina Officers, amongst whom were Generals Matias & Sumpter, and Col. Malmedy, or some such name, a Frenchman.
I believe I stated the particulars concerning my service, as near as I can distinctly remember the same, in my declaration.
Question 6 th . Did you ever receive a written Discharge?
Answer - I have already stated, in my declaration as fully as I can remember.

In answer to the names of such persons as have known you in your neighborhood, and who can testify to your character as a man of veracity and their belief that you did serve in the war of the Revolution, as above described, in the Declaration.
I think that James Burlingame and Andrew Smith
have known me many years, that they could testify if called upon to do so. The Rev. John Rushmore, Dr. Robert Armstrong, Rev. Joshua H. Slocum of the Christian Society, have known me many years, and I have been originally a member of the Baptist Church, but am now of the Christian Society, (commonly called) Campbellites.
Others can be named if necessary, and I doubt not the Magistrate of the neighborhood could testify to the same. George B. May Esq.
Test. AB May  this Ezekiah Mark Bryan
Sworn to subscribed before me the day & year first above written. There are five interlineations above in blue ink, made before signing.
I hereby further certify that Ezekiah Bryan who has sworn to subscribed the foregoing Declaration & answers to Interrogatories, is an aged citizen of Marshall County State of Pennsylvania, about 90 years of age, & is known and reputed in his neighborhood to be a man of truth & veracity and is generally esteemed & reputed amongst his neigh- -bors, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, & that I concur in that opinion.
Owing to age, infirmity of body, & bubble

health, said Bryant is unable, with great danger to his life, to travel from his residence to the Court House of his County, at Lewisburg, a distance of about seventeen miles.
George R. May
Justice of the Peace Marshall County Tenn.
State of Tennessee, Marshall County,
Be it known that on the 11 th day of August AD 1849 personally appeared before me, George R. May a Justice of the Peace in & for said County, & State, duly qualified to administer to James Billington and Andrew Smith
citizens of Marshall County aforesaid, who are persons worthy of credit, as men of veracity and standing amongst their Neighbors, who having been duly sworn according to law, touching the matter of the application of Frederick Bryant for a Pension under act of 7 th June 1832, declare and say, as follows viz.
That they have known said Applicant for several years; - that he has lived most of the time for near twenty five years in Bedford and Marshall Counties (Marshall being a part of old Bedford) and that they believe him to be a man of more than ninety years of age; - that he has been known and reputed

amongst his neighbors to be a man of truth & veracity, and that he has been generally esteemed and reputed to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and the above named witnesses concur in that opinion, and consider all his statements made in the foregoing Declaration in relation to his Revolutionary Services, to be correct and true, as far as known to each of said Bryant .
They farther declare that they have no interest whatever in the application of said Bryant for a Pension
James Billington Andrew Smith
Subscribed and sworn to before me the day and year above written
G. R. May
Justice of the Peace
State of Tennessee Marshall County ? August 12 th 1849. That I have lived several years neighbor to Jeremiah Bryant I have been acquainted with the said Bryant for several years and believe that he is a man of truth and that he has that respectable amount of neighbors and that he was a soldier of the Revolution and is sincerely believed to be a true

such among his neighbors He is not less than ninety years of age and I believe all his statements above made to be entitled to full faith and credit. I am a Justice of the peace in his District in the County of Marshall
L. W. Hogg Seal Justice of the Peace Marshall County
State of Mississippi  Mississippi  Mississippi Marshall County
I, John Elliott, Clerk of the County Court of said County, having probate jurisdiction hereby certify that George R. May and L. W. Hogg, whose names are signed to the foregoing attestations, to the deposition of Hezekiah Bilgous & James Billington & And. Smith, in the matter of the application of said Bilgous for a Pension, are justices of the Peace of said County, duly elected qualified & commissioned; that their Com- missions are dated the 13th day of March 1834, and will expire on the 13th day of March 1834, and that the foregoing attestations to their depositions are true and correct. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal at my office in Lewisburg, Mississippi the 13th day of September 1834. John Elliott. Clerk

5497. Tennessee W. Mary Bryan widow of Nehemiah Bryan who served in the Revolutionary war, as a NC private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 40 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
30" January 1850
Certificate of Pension issued the 13" day of Aug 1850,
and sent to
Wm Geo. W. Jones, Woo of Reps
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 253 Vol. 3,

enquiry from H. O. Wheeler
Mary Bryan, widow of Nathaniel Bryan, a Rev. of Soldiers.
Declaration to obtain benefit of the act of Congress of 2 Feb. 1848.
Geo. W. Jones Hs. of Reps. Augt 12. 1850 Milton A. Haynes agent Cornersville Giles County Tennessee
Copy to Hon. Geo. W. Jones Hs. of Reps.

United States of America State of Tennessee Bedford County
On this 12 th day of April 1850, personally appeared before me, Meredith Blanton a Justice of the Peace and also a Justice of the County Court of said County, duly qualified and commissioned to administer oaths by the laws of said State. Mary Bryan, a resident of said County, and State, aged about 86 years. Who having been first duly sworn according to law. Tells on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed February the 2 nd 1848, entitled "An act making further provision for surviving widows & soldiers of the Revolution" viz.
That she is the widow of Hezekiah Bryan, deceased, who was a private in the war of the Revolution in the Company commanded by Captain Dixon, in the Tenth Regiment of the North Carolina Line, and to whom a certificate of Pension was granted on the 18 th day of February, at the rate of forty dollars per annum, and who died on the 30 th Jan y 1850 in Marshall County Tennessee. She further declares that she was married to the said Hezekiah Bryan, on the 24 th day of September, in the year, one thousand eight hundred and eighty, five or six; - That she was married to

the said Rev. Mr. Kenhiah Bryan, at the house of John Powell, her father in the County of Mecklenburg, State of North Carolina by the Rev. Mr. Neaseman, a clergyman, and that she was not married by licence but by publication of banns, which publication was made at Haynes' Meeting House, in said County, and that she knows of no person now living by whom she can now prove her said marriage, and that she has no record in her possession nor does she know of any family or church record by which she could prove said marriage. She states that she is informed and believes that her late husband, in his original Declaration, made in 1849 states the time and place of his marriage, and she begs leave to refer to said declaration now on file in the Pension Office at Washington City. She states that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but that the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1800, or 1794, viz. at the time above stated.
Declarant states further that she raised eight sons and daughters, during the lifetime of her husband, the oldest of whom, Elizabeth Barretson, is now sixty three years old, and a resident of Marshall County, State of Tennessee, who is the oldest person now living who has known the declarant & her late husband that length of time.
She states that she knows of no record evidence of any kind whatever by which she can prove her marriage, but she asks leave to produce any which she may hereafter discover, should

2 it become necessary,
She declares that she is still a widow - not having remarried since the late Heshiah Bryan, death which took place as before stated.
Mary her  X Bryan mark
Signed and sworn to in our presence
John W. Bryan
Margaret A. R. Brant
Sworn to & subscribed before me on the day and date above written viz on the 12 th day of April 1850.
Meredith Blanton (J.B)
State of Tennessee } Bedford County }
I Meredith Blanton, Justice of the Peace of said County, and State, do hereby certify that Mary Bryan, widow of Heshiah Bryan, deceased, a Revolutionary Soldier, is to the best of my knowledge & belief about eighty six years of age, and that from age and bodily infirmity she could not travel, with safety to the Court House or Shelbyville, in Bedford County, State of Tennessee, I also certify that she is known & reputed to be a woman of veracity and that I concur in that opinion.
Meredith Blanton (J.B)

State of Tennessee Brayson County
I, Andrew Vannoy, Clerk of the County Court of said County hereby certify that Meredith Blanton Esq is a Justice of the Peace of our said County, duly qualified to act as such, and was on the day of the last of the foregoing certificate of attestation, and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his, are genuine and attested to full faith & credit, as such
Given under my hand and the Seal of said County, the 17 th day of April 1850
Andrew Vannoy
Clerk
By his deputy John H. Overal

State of Tennessee Marshall County
On this 27 th day of July 1850, before me, John Leonard a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly qualified to administer oaths, personally appeared Elizabeth Carlton, a resident of said County, aged about 68 years, who having been duly sworn, deposes and says, that she is the oldest child of Hezekiah Bryan, and Mary his wife. That according to a family register made in a Bible by her husband, from the family record of her father, about the year 1809, which record was afterwards transcribed in another Bible by John Carlton, about the year 1822 or 1822, and is now in her possession, and is in the following words.
"Elizabeth Carlton, daughter of Hezekiah Bryan and Mary his wife, was born August the 27 th day 1788." deponent is now nearly sixty four years old. This deponent can remember as far back as the year 1794, and can remember of hearing her father and mother talk with their parents and others about their marriage, which she she has a clear understanding, from that time to this, took place about two years before the birth of the deponent. Her mother's Maiden name was Powell, and her father's (the grandfather of deponent) name was John Powell. They were married at the house of John Powell, as deponent always understood, who lived near to Haynes' Meeting House in Mecklenburg County, State of North Carolina; - but this deponent speaks of this as a family tradition. This deponent knows of her own personal knowledge that her father & mother lived together as man and wife from about the year 1794 until 1850, when the

laid Hezekiah Poryan, departed this life, in Marshall County, State of Tennessee. During all this time, this deponent well remembers that her father & mother were reputed and believed to be husband & wife and so lived together, and during the last years of their union as man & wife, both were members of the Baptist Church. This deponent never heard from any source, whatever any intimation or charge that her father & mother were not lawfully married, and they have always been treated & respected as man & wife. They raised seven children, besides this deponent. This deponent was the oldest child. This deponent knows that the record, from which her age has been taken, was made by John Carlton  the the husband of this deponent, and was taken from another taken from her father's Bible about the year 1809, by her first husband Bird Stokes, who is now dead. Her last husband John Carlton has not been heard from lately, except a rumor that he had departed this life, somewhere on the borders of Mississippi.
Deponent is not interested in the application of her mother for a pension - The words "Carlton, and she " starlined above - before signing —————
Signed, and sworn to Elizabeth Carlton before me on the day a year first above written
John Leonard (JL) Justice of the peace in and for Marshall County

STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA,
OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.
I, WILLIAM HILL, Secretary of State, in and for the State of North Carolina, do hereby certify, that it appears from the muster-rolls of the Continental line of this State, in the Revolutionary War, that Hezekiah Bryan a private soldier in Capt. Dixon's Company of the tenth Regiment, entered the service on the 15 th day of June 1781, for the term of twelve months and left the service on the 16 th day of June 1782.
Given under my hand this 1 st day of Septem r 1849
W. Hill Secretary of State

No 37,760 Kephiah Bryan Trn
Letter Hon. George W Jones 14 th Dec r 1849 " " " " " 24 Feb 1850
cut 7 Mar '38

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. 89.5
Abary Bryan, Widow
Herzekiah Bryan, Priv. Rev. War.
Act: Feb. 2, 1848.
Index:—Vol. A , Page 81
[Arrangement of 1870.]

County Court of Marshall County State of Tennessee, November Term begun and held at the Town of Lewisburg on the the first Monday of November 1849 Said Court being a Court of Records.
Be it remembered that at the November Term of said Court, present Asa Holland Thomas Hardison and James B Gowell, Esquires, Justices of said Court assigned to hold the pleas thereof, the foregoing original proceedings in the matter of the application of Hezekiah Bryan, for a Pension, as a Revolutionary Soldier, to wit, the Declaration of said Bryan made before George R. May Esq, one of the Justices of the Peace of our said County, duly qualified to administer oaths, on the day of the date thereof, together with the said May's attestations & certificate, & the Depositions of James Billington and Andrew Smith taken before said May, with his attestations, and the Certificate of L. W. Hogg, one of the Justices of the Peace of our said County, as well as a Notice of our County Court, were produced in open Court, and the same being fully understood by the Court, and it appearing to said Court that said papers are taken & attested in due form of law; - And it also appearing to the Court that James Billington & Andrew Smith are the neighbors of said Bryan, and that they are known and esteemed in their neighborhood as men of undoubted veracity;

It is therefore certified by this Court, that satisfactory evidence has been this day produced before us in open court, as well from the papers aforesaid as from the Certificate of Hon. Bill Secretary of State of North Carolina, dated Sept. 1. 1849, that the aforesaid Hesekeiah Bryan was a soldier of the Revolution in the War of Independence, and served one year in the Company of Capt Dixon, as a private of the 10 th Regt. North Caro. Line, and also another term as a substitute for Asa Thomas, in a Regiment commanded by Col Coulston of  the , which term was for not less than six months; — that said Bryan is about Ninety one years of age, and has been for many years known & reputed amongst his Neighbors of our said County, to be a man of truth & veracity, and also a soldier of the Revolution. This Court concurs in that opinion, and certifies that all his statements in the foregoing Declaration are entitled to full faith & credit: and also that said Bryan is physically, from infirmity, to come to the Court-house of his County.
In testimony whereof we have in open Court signed our names, & ordered the Seal of said Court to be affixed.
Asa Holland (Seal) W. L. Hardin (Seal)
James H. Gwinn (Seal)

Mary Bryan Ezekiah Widow of H. Bryan Tennessee
Act 2 Feb 1850.
Married 1785 Husband died 30 Jan'y 1850 Adm d per fri $40 per annum Court 30 January 1850 Certificate of the County Court, as to death of Ezekiah Bryan
Nashville Roll
Application for Pension under act of 2 Feb'y 1848.
Wm G. Jones N of R

May Term of the County Court of Marshall County, State of Tennessee, 1850.
Be it remembered that, at the May Term of the County Court of said County, said Court being a court of record, begun and held at the Town of Lewisburg on the 6 th day of May, being the first Monday of the month, 1850 in and for said County of Marshall, Satisfactory evidence has been exhibited to said Court, in open Session, that, Hezekiah Bryan, who was an applicant for a pension, as a Revolutionary Soldier and to whom a Certificate of Pension issued on the 15 th day of February 1850, was a citizen and resident of said County of Marshall and State of Tennessee, and died on the 30 th day of January AD 1850, leaving a widow named Mary Bryan, and that said Hezekiah Bryan at the time of his death, resided in said Marshall County, and that his widow, the said Mary Bryan, has resided since her late husband's death, in the County of Bedford, State of Tennessee.
In testimony whereof I, John Elliott Clerk of the County Court of said County have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office, at Lewisburg, on this 6 th day of May 1850
John Elliott
Clerk of the County Court

Mary Bryan, widow of Nicholas Bryan a Rev. of Soldier Va
Application for a Pension under act 3 Feb. 1848
Deposition of Elizabeth Card- ston, as to marriage of H & Nicholas Bryan.

State of Tennessee Marshall County
I, John Elliott
Chair of the County Court of said County, do hereby certify that John Leonard whose name appears to the foregoing certificate of attestation, was on the day of the date thereof an acting Justice of the Peace of our said County. Fully qualified to act as such, and that the signature foregoing purporting to his is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of the said County, this 29 th day of July A.D. 1850
John Elliott
(Seal)
By his Deputy J. G. Elliott

37710
A.
Hezekiah Bryan
Rev. & Soldier
Col. Dixon Col —
10 th N. C. Inf t
Tennessee
Application for Pension
Under Act 7 June '32
granted by p er 1830
on 4 March 1830
Milton A. Haynes
Attorney
Corneersville
Giles Co
Tennessee
Care of
Hon Geo. W. Jones M.C.
of Tenn.
H. of R. Washington

House of Representatives February 15. 1854
Sir
Your letter of yesterday's date in relation to the Case of Hezekiah Bryan is before me
You will be pleased to issue a Pension Certificate, to him, for " the Service of one year " which you say " may be allowed " under the act June 7 th 1832 and enclose to me -
Please him as the Washington roll
Respectfully G. H. Jones
Col J. S. Edwards Censor of Pensions

Nashville Tenn Nov. 9 1849
James L. Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
I herewith enclose the papers in the case of Hezekiah Bryan, an applicant for the Benefit of Act of 7 June 1832; said papers being as follows.
1. Said Bryan's Declaration, with Justice Certificates dated 11 Augt. 1849. 2. The Depositions of James Billington and Andrew Smith, as to Bryan's age, character &c. 3. Official character of Justice certified by County Court Clerks. 4. Certificate of W m Hill, Secretary of State, re showing 12 months service. 5. The Submission of said papers to the County Court of Marshall County, and the approval thereof by said Court

Also the letter of W.H. Collins, Comptroller &c dated 24 th October
The extreme age and helpless condition of the Applicant must be my apology for asking as early an answer, as may be consistent with the duties of the Office.
These papers, if to be amended, you will please return to me, at Cornersville, Giles County, Tennessee,
I am, Very Respectfully,
Your obed Servt Milton L Haynes Jr
Care of Hon Geo. W Jones, M.C from Tennessee.

Pension Office Nashville Tenn April 19 th 1880
Sir
I am informed by a Mr Milton A Haynes of this State that he had obtained a Pension for Hezekiah Bryan under Act of June 1832. and that said Bryan died before the issuance of the certificate of said pension leaving a Widow, and requesting me to furnish him with the proper form and instructions necessary to enable his proper Representatives to draw the amount due.
The only difficulty in my mind, is whether the fact of the Pensioner having died before the pension was granted, will make it necessary to use a different form from the one prescribed by the Department in case of De d pensioners generally. Be pleased to give me the desired information as early as convenient
I am. Very Respectfully,
Your Ob d Serv t
F M Smith
Pension Agent
J L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

Raleigh N.C. Compt Office 21 st Oct 1849
Dr. Sir
I find upon my table a letter from you dated Aug 15 th 1849 which does not show upon its back my endorsement as having been answered. I have examined its contents, and have made a thorough examination of the records in this office for the name of Hezekiah Bryan (or Bryant), and have not been successful in finding either.
I am very respectfully Your obed Servt
J. M. Collins
Your fav off ce has been received and placed to your credit.

No of Reps Jany 25. 1850
Sir:-
I would respectfully call your particular attention to the application of Ezekiel Bryan for a Pension, for services rendered in the war of the Revolution, and the proof in support of the same, which I filed in your office about the 10th of December last.
You will find upon examination, that Mr. Bryan in his declaration, alleges that he served one term of six months and another term of twelve months, is all eighteen months.
For the alleged term of six months, he furnishes no sustaining proof and consequently rests alone upon his declaration sworn to, which perhaps is not sufficient to establish his right to pension for that part of his services, notwithstanding the high and unimpeachable character of Mr. Bryan, for moral integrity and veracity.
Supported and sustained in it is by such men as Rev. Andrew Smith, and Esq. Billington the intrepids, and George R. May Esq. and also the Court of Marshall County, composed at the

time if my memory serves me of Asa Holloman James A. Powell and I think James V. Ewing Esqrs. all men of the first respectability, whose Statements always command credence, in the Com- munity where they are known -
In support of the twelve months term of Service which he alleges to have rendered, he has, not only his own high character supported as before stated, but, he furnishes from the records of North Carolina, evidence as certified to by William H. Sible Secretary of State, that a man of his name, served in the manner and at the time specified in the declaration of Mr. Bryan. When it is recollected that he made his declaration before the date of Sible's Certificate, and from his memory - coupled with his character for truth and in- tegrity, it does seem to me that the twelve months Service is not only prima facie proved but is established beyond a reason- able doubt. Nothing further could be required but positive proof of his identity which I take it, is requiring of him an impossibility at this distant day, near seventy years since the Service was rendered - I hope when you shall give

to this case a personal examination, in that fair and liberal spirit, which while it carefully guards the public Treasury from imposition and prostration, renders to the claimants under the law full justice, your mind will arrive at the same conclusion, to which mine has, that Mr. Bryan has fairly and fully made out his case and has shown beyond reasonable doubt, that he is one of that "venerable band of the asserters of the rights of man" for whom special benefit the act of June 7th 1832 was passed.
Respectfully G. M. Davis
Col J. L. Edwards Commr. of Pensions