Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8106, David Bray, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
W.B.
Bray, David
S 8106
Born in Va.
CONTENTS
buried

to Son Lewis Williams. 7 Feb. 1830. M. G. Folger No. 2 1855
North Carolina. No. 23,303
116
David May
of Surry Co. in the State of N. Carolina who was a Pr. Ensign in the company commanded by Captain Moore of the Reg't. commanded by Col. Austin in the N. Carolina Troops time for 7 months 15 days Pr. 23.88 2 " 25 " Ensign 28.37
$52.25
Inscribed on the Roll of North Carolina at the rate of 52 Dollars 25 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 27 th day of Dec r . 1833 and sent to H. L. Williams A. R.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1833 130.62 Pension allowance ending March 34 26.12
$156.75
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book E. Vol. 69. Page 16

W o 1856.
State of North Carolina } County of Surry }
On the 8 th day of August 1832. Personally appeared in open court before Josiah Cowley, William G. Haire, and Richard A. Park, Esquires, in the Court of Pleas, and Quarter Sessions, now sitting. David Gray a resident of the Surry County in the State of North Carolina aged Eighty Nine 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. - He was born in Brunswick County Virginia in 1743. when he was early brought to Northampton County in this State where he lived until he was Twenty one Years old. He then removed to Burke County from whence he removed to Rutherford County where he was at the commencement of the revolution. During the revolution he removed from Rutherford to Surry County. Where he has remained ever since. The first tour he was in was as a Volunteer from Rutherford under Robin Moore as Captain. He went to Fayetteville against the Scotch. where when he served Three Months. Colonel Martin was there. He was an ensign He got no Miller discharge but was discharged. The next tour he went was to the Indian Nation against the Cherokees. Robin Moore was his Captain Col. James Craig ?

commanding. He was an ensign - He was marched to Flint River - He served on this tour three months, waiting four or five days - On his return from this tour he moved to Surry County - He was drafted shortly after under a German Captain whose name he does not recollect. Col William Shepherd commanding. Went to the mouth of Rocky River on the Dec. 2 d to Masts Ferry - He lacked eight or nine days of being three months on this tour but was engaged in it more than two months & twenty days. He was discharged but not in writing - He was a drafted man - The last tour he went was as a volunteer with Captain Samuel Dyer. Col John Armstrong commanding. This deponent was an ensign in the Company. He marched to Millersboro and was in the attack upon the hicket guards of the enemy. He was engaged in this tour about six weeks - He was always discharged but never had a written discharge. He has no record of his age - He has no evidence to prove his service except the last when Edward Smith and Bartholomew Marion who are witnesses were with him -
He is well known in this County to Lewis Williams, Joseph Williams & many others - He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
E David H. Hays

We Edward Smith and Bartholomew Marion do solemnly swear that we were with David Gray in his last tour when he volunteered under Col. Armstrong and that he acted as ensign & was in command of us when we attacked the British Pickett. When Smith left the army, the rest remaining some weeks after.
Sworn to and Subscribed
13 th August 1832. Bartholomew Marion mark
John Wright Clerk
By F. H. Armstrong etc
We Pleasant Blockerham Preacher of the Baptist Church residing in the County of Surry and Joseph Williams residing in the same County. Hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with David Gray who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty nine years of age - that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier and officer of the Revolution and that we concur in the opinion. P. Blockerham Sworn to and Subscribed the 14 August 1832 J. Williams
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the abovenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier and officer and

served as he states, - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that P. B. Cochran who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the County and that Joseph William, who has also signed the same is a resident in the County and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
R. H. Parker S.P. R. H. Parker W. G. Haynes J.P.
I John Wright Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, of Surry County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of David Bray for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the Seal of the Court the 14 th day of August 1832
John Wright Clk

Q.W. D. file 8106
Very Respectful Claim of David Bragg dec. of P.O.B.
Pr. of atty.
2 E 6
M. Thompson Filed Aug. 31. 53
Papers copy

POWER OF ATTORNEY—Revolutionary Pension Claims.
Know all Men by these Presents, That I,
Lewis W Bray
hereby constitute and appoint M Thompson my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, to prosecute the Claim of David Bray Jun for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or Increase of Pension, that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Agent to examine all the papers and documents in relation to said claim, on file in the Departments at Washington City, or elsewhere; to file additional evidence or arguments; and to receive the Certificate which may be issued for said Claim, which Certificate I wish made payable to Lewis W Bray
to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed; and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present. Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises.
WITNESS my hand and Seal this 9 th day June A. D., 185 2 .
Signed and Sealed in the presence of }
N. A. Blackwood
Lewis W. Bray 
STATE OF North Carolina } ss: COUNTY OF Surry }
On this sixth day of June A. D. 185 2 . before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Lewis W Bray and acknowledged the foregoing Power, of Attorney to be his act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand, } the day and year aforesaid.
N. A. Blackwood J. Peace.
20th Dec 1852

Claim of David Bray Senior Act of 7th June AD 1832
STATE OF North Carolina } ss. COUNTY of Surry }
Be it known, That on this Seventh day of June A. D., eighteen hundred and fifty two , before the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Lewis M. Bray a resident of Surry in said County, and made oath according to law that he is the Grand Son of David Bray Senior dead (and Son of David Bray Junior dead)
who was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the County of Surry and State of North Carolina ,
at the rate of Fifty two dollars & twenty five cents  Dollars per annum; that he has been informed that the said Pension ought to be increased; that he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before me.
N. H. Blackwood Justice of the Peace.
Lewis M. Bray
I, N. H. Blackwood Justice of the Peace, in and for said County do hereby certify that Lewis M. Bray who executed the foregoing paper, is a respectable resident of this County, and is, I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth.
N. H. Blackwood Justice of the Peace.
I, Francis H. Armstrong Clerk of the County Court in the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that N. H. Blackwood before whom the foregoing papers were executed, was, at the date of the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths; and the name thereunto subscribed, is his signature.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my official Seal, this 10th day of August A. D. 185 2
F. H. Armstrong Clerk of Surry County Court.

STATE OF North Carolina COUNTY OF Surry } ss.
It is hereby certified that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me Francis
H. Armstrong
that David Bray States at the rate of $ 52.25 cts. eighth day of July
was a Revolutionary Pensioner of the United per annum and that he died on the eighteen hundred and thirty six
leaving surviving M c Bray  Hannah Bray , William Bray  David Bray . Amy Bray  Martha Albert & Reuben Bray and that
the only surviving children of the aforesaid. David Bray
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
my seal of office this 10 th  Two day of August . one thousand eight hundred and fifty-
F. H. Armstrong CLK

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
all y am
August 13, 1927
Inez Curtis Ansonville, N. C.
Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 8106, it appears that David Bray was born in 1743 in Brunswick County, Virginia.
When quite young he moved to Northampton County, North Carolina, and lived there until he was twenty-one years old, then moved to Bute County, and then to Rowan County, where he was living when he enlisted and served three months as Ensign in Captain Robert Moore's North Carolina Company; his next tour, served about three months as Ensign in Captain Robert Moore's Company, Colonel James Craig's North Carolina Regiment, and was out against the Cherokee Indians; after this he moved to Surry County, where he was drafted and served three month as a private in Colonel William Shepperd's North Carolina Regi-

ment; and afterwards volunteered and served th zeweeks enlistment in Captain Samuel Dyer's Company, Colonel John Armstrong's North Carolina Regiment, and was in a skirmish at Hillsboro. No dates of service given.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 13, 1832, while a resident of Surry County, North Carolina.
He died July 8, 1836, leaving no widow (her name is not stated), but the following children survived him- William Bray, Hanon Bray, Nathan Bray, David Bray, Amy Bray, Martha Alberty  Albright , and Reuben Bray.
A grandson, Lewis W. Bray, son of David Bray, Jr. is referred to in 1852.
Owing to lack of clerical force available for the purpose, only two histories are furnished each inquirer.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

1892 Dec 3 Age at time of applying for pension to Vint W B. Bray Springfield Mo.
1927 Aug 12 - 11th to Inez Curtis See letter in Daniel Lane W 26 195 Aug
Revman
8106
✓ INVALID.
File No. 8106
David Bray
Ensign 6th Cav. Regt.
Act: June 7th 1937
Index: Vol. 102, Page 48
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Rockford Ill Sept 14 th 1855
Dear V.P. Waldo
Dear Sir
There resides in my neighborhood a very old and very poor Lady who thinks she is entitled to a pension in right of her Father David Bray. David Bray was a Revolutionary Soldier. Died during the war as I am informed. He was originally from Rowan County NC. He was granted a pension of $52.25 per annum under act of 1832. which he drew up to March 4 th 1836. he died 8 th July 1836. leaving no widow and an only daughter above alluded to. I take it that there is no doubt about her being entitled to the pay up to the death of her father. say some $20. but I think she is entitled to an increased pay. But you are the only proper judge of this matter. I presume all of the old

gentlemen's papers are on file in your office.
Your kind attention to this matter would be gratefully remembered by a very deserving Old Lady
En. Keast. Yours most obedt. M. T. Folger

Washington December 20 th 1833
Sir
I am a Brav of Livingston County North Carolina claiming as a military soldier of the Revolution in the following manner
1. He served 3 months under Robin Moore to of town and Alexander Martin as Colonel — This was at the beginning of the revolution when the Scotch Tories were embarked about Fayetteville — 2. The next term was for 2 months and 25 days as an ensign, under Robin Moore as Col. and James Haring as Colonel, against the Tories in the battle of Guilford which I think the history of the country tells us was in 1776 or 1777 — 3. The third term was under a German Col. name is not recollected and Colonel William Shippen — In this term he served 2 months and 20 twenty days 4. The fourth and last term he served as a volunteer under Col. Samuel Bryan, Col John Christian — In this term he served 1 month and 15 days as an ensign —
Recapitulation
1. 3 months as a private soldier 2. 2 months & 25 days as an Ensign — 3. 2 months and 20 days as a private soldier 4. 1 month & 15 days as an Ensign
In support of the claim of Mr Brav I will

assert that he is one of the oldest men in the County where I reside, that I have known him well ever since I was a child, that he sustains a good character and though poor is as respectable as any other man in the County - He is entitled to full faith and credit in all that he may state on this subject or on any other subject whatever -
I have further to say that Edward Smith who smokes bottle / out of the season of David Bray is entitled also to full credit on any thing he should say on this or any other subject - Mr Smith is a member of the Baptist Church in good standing -
Also that the clergyman Pleasant Blackham who preaches in behalf of the Baptist Church is a preacher of the Baptist Church and in good standing and entitled to credit, that Joseph Williams has been black of said County of Surrey for many years and is entitled to credit, and that Isaac Lufeland is a respectable man and entitled to credit -
I certify all this proof that the claim of this old and worthy man have more than 50 years of age will be specially allowed -
I am very respectfully your old and most obed Servt.
Levi Williams
James L. Cummings Esq.

Laura Bracy 39502
10000 10000 10000
Hon. L. Williams P.R.

North Carolina Surry County } Then came before me Matthew December the 24 th 1832 } ell. Hughes one of acting Justices of the Peace in & for S d County & State David Bray a revolutionary soldier & made oath that in the second tour mentioned & set forth in his declaration he served as a volunteer against the Cherokee Indians & that he always served in the State troops of North Carolina & in the capacity & during the time set forth in his declaration herein annexed he further swears that by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear more 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 in his de- claration & in the grades then set forth Sworn to & Subscribed before me this day & date above written
Test Matthew ell. Hughes J.P.
his David K. Bray mark
North Carolina Surry County } Then personally came December 24 th 1832 } before me Matthew ell. Hughes one of the acting Justices of the Peace in & for S d County & State Maj r Joseph Williams & Isaac Cokeland who after being duly sworn state upon their oaths that they are well ac- quainted with Edward Smith & Bartholomew Hearman who has been sworn to prove the service of the present applicant which is attach- ed to this declaration that they are both men of good character & entitled to credit on their oaths sworn to & subscribed before me this day & date above written
Test Matthew ell. Hughes J.P.
J. Williams Isaac Cokeland

10th Febth 1833 I John Wright Clerk of the Peace for the County of Surrey do hereby certify that Matthew Dickins whom I have sworn to be the foregoing affidavit was and is a sworn and acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County & that all and every his officers ought to be given to his officers acts as such. In testimony whereof I desire to set my hand & seal of office at office January 19th AD 1833 John Wright Cee By F. H. Mansel DC

Feb 7 M c at Mr Evans
James J. Colman Esq Comm ee of Directors Williams & Co Washington

Washington February 7th 1838
Sir.
I enclose to you the papers in the case of Mr Daniel Brey formerly a pensioner of the United States — The old man died some time since and the children wish to draw the pension or the part of a pension to which he was entitled at the time of his death —
I am respectfully your Obt Servt.
Lewis Williams
James L. Edmonds Esqr —

BRAY & ROGERS, TORNEYS AT LAW,
26 SOUTHWEST COR. OF SQUARE.
VINT. N. BRAY. CHAS. D. ROGERS.
Springfield Mo. June 27-1891.
Pension Department Washington D.C.
Dear Sir,
I desire to get the age of David Bray who drew a pension for services during the Revolutionary War. What was his age when he sent in his papers? When did he send in his papers? He was living in N. Carolina, I think in Surry Co. Did Betsy Bray, Stephen Bray, Bryant Bray, Peter Bray, and John Bray draw a pension for services in same war? If so give me the same information in regard to them as to David Bray, also where they lived. I am trying to trace my family back as I am an heir

BRAY & ROGERS, ATTORNEYS AT LAW,
126 SOUTHWEST COR. OF SQUARE.
VINT. N. BRAY. CHAS. D. ROGERS.
2
To some money in England. Give me as full information as you can. Send me the amount of the charges. Hoping to hear from you soon I am Sirs.
Yours very Truly Vint. N. Bray