Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,557, James Black, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N.L.
Black, James.
S. 31.557
CONTENTS

Alabama . 13.337
James Black
of Green Co. in the State of Alabama, who was a Private in the Co. — commanded by Captain Hadley of the Regt. commanded by Col. Little in the Carolina line for 1 year & 6 mo.
* Morgan County. Decatur Agency
Inscribed on the Roll of Alabama. at the rate of 60 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 2 nd day of July, 1833 and sent to M c Kenzie M c Kenzie Somerville, Alabama.
Arrears to the 4th of March. 1832. - 120.00 Semi-ann. allowance ending 4. Sept. 33. 30.00
$150.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Palmer, Clerk.
Book C Vol. 8. Page 43.
May 13th 1835 — See lets to Pen: agt at Decatur & Mobile to M. C. Houston Somerville — Alabama
May 26. '35 — See lets to Agents at Mobile & Decatur the one to cease to pay & the other to pay — order to pay Nov. 30. 1836 —

State of Alabama County of Morgan 3 rd  11 th Orphans Court
On this 26 th day October 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the said Orphans Court for said county (it being a court of record) now sitting James Black a resident of said County aged about seventy eight 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 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated
This applicant was born in Scotland (in the county or Shire of Argyll) about the month of September 1754. and emigrated in his 21 st year and landed at Norfolk Virginia and settled in the County of Cumberland on Cape Fear river North Carolina from which place he removed to the County of Robeson in N. Carolina where he resided when he entered the service of the United States and in the year 1782. in the month of August for 18 months under Capt. Joshua Hadley Lieutenant Hill. Enlisted known and mustered from that county to Wilmington and then to Genl Green's Camp on Ashby's Hills on Ashby river in South Carolina. Col. Col. Little commanded the regiment to which he belonged and as being the the Battalion. That he remained in the neighborhood of the said Camp until after Green was proclaimed which he thinks was about six months after his enlistment. During which time he was in no important battle though they had frequent skirmishes with the enemy.

He thinks he was discharged about Simmons after the close of the war after the company returned to Wilmington. which discharge as he believes was signed by Capt. Gaddy and Maj. Nelson (or Maj. Blagford) which discharge he has lost. That he marched through a part of South Carolina and in South Carolina. That he was well acquainted with the officers round about and several others whom names from the great lapse of time he has forgotten. That he has no record whatever of his age. That he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows of no person whom testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the pension and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the army of any state or territory whatever.
Sworn to and subscribed in James Black  open court the day and year aforesaid M c M c MacKenzie clk.
We John T. Rother and Matthew C. Houston residing in the county and state aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Black who has submitted and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy-eight years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion - Sworn and subscribed the day J. T. Rother and year aforesaid M. C. Houston M c M c MacKenzie clk G.C.

State of Alabama } I M M M MacKenzie clerk of the County Court of Morgan County } Morgan County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Black for a pension
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of office at office this 26 th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two and of American Independence the fifty seventh year
W m M c MacKenzie Clerk S.C.
And the said board do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a non-union soldier and served as he states And the board further certifies that it appears to him that John J. Rather and M c lellan who signed the preceding certificate are residents in the County of Morgan aforesaid and are credible persons and that their statements is entitled to credit
Chas. Peters Judge
19638 James Black

The state of Alabama } Be it remembered that heretofore Morgan county } to wit, at a Circuit Court begun and held for the county of Morgan and state aforesaid at the court house in the town of Demopolis on the third Monday in April in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and twenty eight. A declar- ation in order to be placed on the pension list was filed, sworn to and ordered to be recorded and cer- tified. Which is the words and figures following to wit, The state of Alabama Morgan county.
Declaration in order to be placed on the pension list under the act of the 18 th March 1818.
Circuit Court April Term 1828, on this the 22 nd day of April 1828 personally appeared in open court being a court of Record for the county aforesaid having power to fine and imprison and proceedings according to the course of the common law. James Black being a resident in said county aged seventy four years next August. Who being first duly sworn according to law. doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to ob- tain the provisions of the acts of Congress of the 18 th March 1818 & joint May 1820. That he the said James Black enlisted for the term of Eighteen months on the day of August in the year 1781 in the state of North Carolina in the com- pany commanded by Captain Joshua Hadley in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Raper in the line of the state of North Carolina on the Southern continental establishment. That he con- tinued to serve in the said corps until Janu- ary 1783. when he was discharged from the service in Wilmington in the said state of North Carolina That he hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension except the present that his name is not on the roll of any state except North Carolina and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension. That being illiterate and uninformed person and always having lived in a retired and secluded part of the country having no intercourse with the intelligent and informed part of the community scarcely ever leaving home or having visitors he has until very lately remained ignorant of the

provisions of the acts of Congress for persons in his situation. That the application in his behalf is now made as early as possible consistent with his ability after he had received such information. That he has until within a few years been able by his personal labour to earn a bare support and expected assistance from no other source and not seek to find out the acts of Congress under which he now claims a pension.
Since in pursuance of the act of the 1 st of April 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of any property or any part thereof with intent thereby to diminish it as to being myself within the provisions of the act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of United States in the revolutionary war passed on the 18 th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed
Schedule as follows to wit
  One Bed & furniture worth  $ 10 00    Two cows & calves - - - - -  12 00    Three old Books - - - - -  1 00     $ 23 00  
his James X Black mark
That since the 18 th March 1818 the following changes has been made in his property that he has always been in indigent circumstances having only a few cows & horses that he has given a cow and calf to his daughter who has married and he has had two horses stolen from him. That he was by trade a blacksmith but has become too old and decrepit to follow the trade and has been so for a number of years that he is now so infirm that he is almost unable to do any work and only sometimes assists to do a little weaving that he has no family residing with him except one daughter who is young and herself and daughter both are unable to support themselves by their labour and that he has no other means of support except his labour and the services of his daughter and the property contained in the foregoing schedule and subscribed in open court  James X Black mark  28 th June 1828 J. P. Graham Clerk

19638 13.337.
James Black—
Send to Mr. Hile
Adm for 1 year and 6 months—
Alabama
M. W. McKenzie C.C. Somerville. Morgan Co. Alabama

BRIEF in the case of  James Black  County of Morgan  in the State of Alabama  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy eight 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.     Entered In 1782 1 — 6 As a  Gen. Green  Capt. Johnson H. D. Lee  Col. Little   
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Frequent skirmishes  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Robinson Co. N. Carolina  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
John L. Watson  Examining Clerk.
Feb 24

31557 Recd INVALID.
File No. 31,557
James Black Rev Rev Mr
Act: June 7 th 89 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 42
[Arrangement of 1870.]

James Black Revo. Alabama.
Rejected. See letter to Hon. John M c Hee, Tus- kalooza, Ala. June 14. 1828.
885

Ex'r.
INVALID.
REJECTED
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.
James K. Black P. O. nc
Service: _____
Enlisted: _____
Discharged: _____
Application filed: _____, 18____
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____

13. Knoxville ch Apr 30th 5
1336
Mr Stewart
J L Edwards Esq Comm of Pensions Washington City D.C.

Somersville Ala April 30 th 1835
Mr J L Edwards Comr of pensions
Dear Sir Mr James
Black a Revolutionary pensioner under the act of June 1832 and a resident citizen of this county (Morgan) has applied through me to the pension agent at Decatur and we are there informed that his name has not been forwarded with the other pensioners of this section of the country for payment at that place as it was no doubt the intention to embrace all the pensioners in this section of the country and certainly those in the county of the agency you will please to direct the agent at Decatur to place his name on the roll at that place and such other instructions as the nature of the case may require he is poor and needs his money or whether he must still send to Mobile as he has hitherto done. yours & M. C. Houston

53-
ESSEX
Street
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Branch of the Bank of the State of Ala. Decatur 4th May 1835
Dear Sir
Several persons have applied at this agency, with certificates of pension whose names do not appear on the list furnished by you for our guidance. Among them are David Green of Limestone County, Certificate dated 24 Jany 1835 - N o 29.665 & endorsed "payments to be made by A. S. Gann at Mobile" also James Black of Morgan County - Joseph Lookingbill of Marion, & several others from different Counties, some of whom say they have heretofore rec d their pay at Mobile & some from Nashville Tennessee -
Please inform me as early as convenient what shall be done for these old men -
Yours Sincerely the In st Atty

Branch of the Bank of the State of Ala. Decatur 4th May 1835
Dear Sir
Several persons have applied at this agency, with certificates of pension whose names do not appear on the list furnished by you for our guidance. Among them are David Green of Limestone County, Certificate dated 26 Jany 1835 - N o 29,665 & endorsed "payments to be made by G.S. Hamer at Mobile" also James Black of Morgan County - Joseph Lookingbill of Marion, & several others from different Counties, some of whom say they have heretofore rec d their pay at Mobile & some from Nashville Tennessee -
Please inform me as early as convenient what shall be done for these old men -
Yours Sincerely the Br d Atty

is. etc? the instructions will be care- fully attended to - no certificates known with endorsements such as you mention have appeared here yet
Very Respectfully
A Greene Pension Agent
P. M. Mayes (signature)

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Black 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? 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? 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? 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?  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? yes  XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes 
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 North Carolina
Secretary of State's Office
I William H. Sill Secretary of State in and for the State aforesaid do certify, that it appears from the musterrolls of the Continental line of this State that James Black a private soldier in Captain Lytle's Company of the 10 th Regiment enlisted in 1782 for 18 months, and that nothing more is said of him on said rolls.
Given under my hand this 22 nd April 1833.
W. H. Sill

Nov 28
Jas Black Alam
13337
J. J.
Dear Sir
Can you send me a list of your publications
Yours truly W. H. King
1836
ans: Nov. 30. 1836

Mr. of the Bank of the State of Ga. Decatur 14 th Nov 1836
J. L. Edwards Esq Commissioner Sir
In accordance with instructions under date 29 th Sept. —
I enclose for your inspection and approval, James Black's Papers —
Very Respectful
for the bank
James Darnall Esq
per Pro R. Green Esq

20655-
James Black, Declaration Ala Morgan Co Capt Hadley (N C) Aug 1781 to 1783
Rejected
Hon John McKee recd 3 June 1828

The State of Alabama § Morgan County § To James Blagham clerk of the circuit court for the county of Morgan afor- said do hereby certify, that it appears to the sat- isfaction of the court that the said James Black- did serve in the Revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months under an engagement, on the continental establishment I also certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the records of the said court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount, in value, of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Twenty Three Dollars. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private seal (having no seal of office) at office on this 8 th day of May 1828 and of American Independence the 52 nd year
James Blagham clerk of the circuit court of Morgan County -

State of Alabama
I John M Taylor presiding Judge of the fifth judicial circuit of said state which includes the county of Morgan do hereby certify that James B Graham whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is now at the date thereof the clerk of the circuit court of the said county of Morgan that his said certificate is in due form - Given under my hand at Lehamburg this the 13th day of May 1828-
J. M. Taylor
20655-
James Black,
Declaration
Ala Morgan Co
Capt Hadley (N O)
Aug 1781 to 1783
Reverts to J. M. Taylor
John M. Taylor
Recd 3 June 1828

State of North Carolina
Secretary of State's Office
I William Hill Secretary of State in & for the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears from the musterrolls of the Continental line of this State, that James Black a private in Capt. Lytle's Company of the 10 th Regiment enlisted on the day of            1782 for 18 months. That Jas. Black a private in said line enlisted on the 1 st Sept r 1782 in Capt. Bailey's Company in said 10 th Reg t for the term of 12 months - Nothing further is said of them on said rolls, I cannot therefore say that they did, or did not serve out the time for which they enlisted.
Given under my hand this 9 th June 1828.
W. Hill