Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6695, Jesse Bryant, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Bryant, Jesse
S 6695
CONTENTS
Carded

North Carolina
16.757
Jesse Bryant
of Wake in the State of N.C. who was a pr. in the Company commanded by Captain Watkins of the Va. line for 19 mo: 16 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of N.C. at the rate of 55 Dollars 11 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of Sept 33 and sent to G.W. Haywood. Raleigh - N.C.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1833 137.77 Semi-annual allowance ending April 34 27.55
$165.32
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by M Rice Clerk, Book E Vol. L Page 35

State of North Carolina Court of Pleas & quarter Sessions Wake County August Sessions 1832
On this 23 rd day of August AD 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the court of Pleas and quarter Sessions for Wake County State aforesaid now telling S ir Bryant a resident of the county of Wake & State aforesaid aged about four years who being first duly sworn according to law took on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the of the act of congress passed June 7 th 1832 - The aforesaid James Bryant declares that he entered the service of the United States as a substitute for Charles Key of the fourth Virginia Regiment and was under the command of Captain Watkins & Lieutenant Charles Jenkins he does not now recollect the name of the Col but believes it was Durell he does not recollect the day or year he entered the service or the time he left it - he continued in this service for fifteen months he was in the Battle of the Long Bridge across the Eastern Branch of James River where and where Genl. Fordier was killed he was then under the command of Genl. Mulberry and his Capt. Genl. Watkins he does not recollect the particular year in which the battle was fought but knows it was about a year after the command during his continuance of this service he was in no other engagement - He was confined in the Hospital in the town of Portsmouth Virginia for four months or thereabouts The second term of service he served as a drafted man in the Virginia militia 3 rd division

He was drafted in the county of Surry and state of Virginia and entered the service in the year of 1779 under Capt. Wilson he thinks (but from the of time is not certain of his name) he marched from Surry Court House to the town of Williamsburg in the state of Virginia and was placed under the command of Col. name not recollect he remained at Williamsburg about fifteen days & then returned but remained subject to the call of his officers & received no discharge thinks those drafted men were called state troops — He belonged to the third division of the Virginia militia or state troops was under the command of Capt. William Hart of Surry County Virginia he marched from Surry Court House into the county of Isle of Wight and then joined the other companies and were placed under the command of Major Durell and marched thence through a part of Surry Princess George into Dinwiddie and had an engagement in the town of Petersburg with the British forces — He believes Col. Clapham was there — Genl. Washington was near the battle ground and sent his aide camp — Hartwell Cook to return his thanks for the service rendered there was said to have been nine or ten of our soldiers killed & wounded — After the battle our army retreated to Chesterfield Court House & the British moved & went aboard

of their regiments from Chesterfield we went up the James River to the coal pits thence crossed to the north side of the River and then through the country to the town of Richmond from thence we passed through the country near Williamsburg where we were relieved by other Virginia troops and was discharged for that tour - They gave me no written discharge and I returned to the County of Surry this tour lasted about eight or ten weeks - The Virginia militia being drafted into companies for eight weeks tour - He remained at home until called on again about six months I was then mustered under the command of Captain Benjamin Putney at being about 1000 men from thence I marched through Surry across James River to the town of Wicwasic from thence to the town of Little York between Little York & Williamsburg I was placed under the command of the officers under Genl. Washington marched to the camp before Little York saw Genl. Mullenburg there also the Marquis De La Fayette and was in the battle and siege until the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and saw him deliver his sword I was sent off as one of the guards to the wagons under Seargeant Benjamin Pilot - the day after the surrender we were mustered in line & exami- ned by the surgeon to see who was able to go with the prisoners to Fredericksburg - I was soon found incapable of going I was then discharged & returned, received no regular discharge - In Virginia we were only drafted once and stood in Companies & divisions for the performance of tours of service and at all times subject to the call of

our officers - I served as a substitute as above stated in the 1 st statement - in 4 th  Virginia Regiment of Continental I served with the 5 th & 6 th Virginia and Genl. McLeinburg was Commander of this fourth Regiment Regiment I recollect being showing Capt. Eno. Watkins, Lieutenant Charles Ludkins.
Lieutenant Eno Smith, ensign William Boyce He was born in Surry County in the State of Virginia in the month of November A.D. 1757 - He has in his possession no documentary evidence of his service I know of no persons in this State whose testimony I can procure who can testify to my service I cannot precisely state the time I left - the service it was after the battle of Little York nor do I know the date of my return into the army.
I hereby renounce every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and I declare that my name is not on the pension of any agency in any State
Sworn to subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Ebenezer Bryant

State of North Carolina Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions Wake County 3 August session AD 1833
The amended declaration of John Bryan in answer to the objections to the allowance of his claim
for a pension
1 st When and in what year were you born
Ans. I was born in Surry County in the year AD 1757. And have a record of my age as set down in the family Bible as in my passport
2 nd When did you enter the service mention the period of the war
when you arrived
Ans - On the (10 th ) tenth day of April 1775 I entered the service of my Country as a substitute for Charles Key a soldier of the fourth Virginia Regiment under the command of Captain John Watkins, Lieutenant Charles Ledkins, and served until the fifteenth of August 1776.
2 nd Again in the year 1778 on the (25 th ) twenty fifth day of March, I was in a division of the Virginia militia and served for twenty days at Williamsburg.
3 rd Again in the 1781 I belonged to a division of the Virginia militia under Major Dyer and my Captain was William Hart - and I was mustered into line on the (5 th ) fifth day of May and remained as such in my declaration and this term of service lasted for Eight weeks making said service two months
4 th Again in the year 1781 I was again called out as a member of a Virginia division in the fall of the year of the capture of Lord Cornwallis at Little York. This I believe was the last of October AD 1781 and I entered this service the (20 th ) day of August AD 1781 was in service the day of taking Lord Cornwallis and was discharged the next morning this service two months. - I have a written discharge for the names of the persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, who can testify as

to your character for veracity and then belief and to your services as a soldier of the revolution. Answer Wyatt Freeman, Bazelton with Reverend Little when Little and many others if required. I know of no witness now living that can prove my services.
Jesse B. Root
Sworn to and Subscribed in open Court J. B. Root
State of North Carolina the county of Iredell to all to whom these presents shall come, greeting: Whereas, the within copy of the records of the County Court of Iredell, held at the house of Jesse B. Root, on the 10th day of April, 1802, do hereby certify that the above are the original proceedings on an application to the application of Jesse B. Root for a Division and that the signature of the Mountain is the least present as the same is at the time of the application for the said Divisions, which are signed to the appointed part of the proceedings are all in their proper handwriting, and that they are all justices of said County.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of office the 20th August 1802
J. B. Root

Reuben
6695 INVALID.
File No. 6695
Jesse Bryant Priv Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:—Vol. 24 , Page 41
[Arrangement of 1870.]

We Wyatt Freeman, Bazyllas Pettis residing in the County of Wake and State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with S ir Joseph Bryant who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy four years of age that he is represented and believed in the neighbourhood where he lived resides in Wake  Wake County North Carolina  Virginia to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid Wyatt Freeman Bazyllas Pettis
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after the interrogations presented by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states and the court further certifies that it appears that Wyatt Freeman, Bazyllas Pettis who have signed the preceding certificate are residents in the county of Wake State aforesaid are credible persons their statement is entitled to credit, and the Court further certifies that Littlejohn Atty. who has sworn to and subscribed his name above, is a Clergyman and entitled to credit as such -
M c Guire Field B r Roberts Ebenezer Rogers
S ir Joseph Bryant 1707 15

State of North Carolina } Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions Wake County } August sessions
Personally appeared in open Court Little John the Reverend Little John Atley a clergyman of the Christian Church, who being duly sworn deposed and saith that he has been well acquainted with Isaac Bryant who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that he believes him to be seventy four years of age, that he has always been represented & believed in the neighborhood when he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution and that I concur in that opinion - and have no hesitation in saying that if any man deserves to receive a pension for revolutionary services it is Isaac Bryant sworn to and subscribed before me Benjamin S. King Clerk of Wake County Court this 25 day of August 1833
Littlejohn Atley
B. S. King
State of North Carolina Wake County I B. S. King clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions held for the County of Wake do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the court in the matter of the application of Isaac Bryant for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 5 th day of Nov 1832
B. S. King. clerk

Lepe Bryant.
10 11 - 2 -
Alamit as a piece. 19 mo 16 days 55 11
W. Haywood Raleigh N.C.

B R I E F objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jesse Bryant 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? Yes

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 ? Yes
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 ? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ? — 2, 7
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.