Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1753, William Crain, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. b.
Brain, William
S. 1753.
Born in N.C.
Carded.
CONTENTS
[Blank lined area for notes]
[Blank lined area for notes]

13382 West Tennessee
William Crain of Hardin Co. in the State of W Tennessee who was a Private in the Company comman by Captain Walton of the R.G. comman by Col. in the North Caro line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 80 Dollars Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 day of May 1833 and sent to William Crain Boliver.
Arrears to the 4th of March 160.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 40.00 $200
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 74

State of Tennessee } Court of pleas and Quarter sessions Hartman County } January term 1833.
Declaration of William Crain in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
On this day the 10 th of January 1833. personally appeared in open court before the justice thereof, the County Court of Hartman County now sitting William Crain a resident of said County and State aged eighty one years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Statement in order to obtain the benefit of said act.
That he was born in the year 1752 agreeably to the best informa- tion he has on the subject, in Granville County State of N. Carolina he has no register of his age, neither does he believe that he has ever seen any register of it
That he entered the service of the United States in Wilks County N. Carolina and served under the following named officers herein after stated, viz.
He volunteered as a minute man in the Spring of the year of 1781. under Capt Waller in the month of March as well as he now recollects, and went to Salisbury to learn the exercise and remained there 18 days during which time we were drilled by an officer but does not recollect his name returned home, remained there for but a short time when he again entered the service as a volunteer for two months under Capt Waller and marched towards the head of the Catawba for the purpose of keeping down the Tories he was not long in service before he joined Col. Cleveland's regiment, and continuing on on the Catawba for some time, but was in no engagement, Col. Cleveland was in the  the country to raise more men, and to put down the spirit of the Tories in that part of the country we shortly afterwards got on the neighborhood of Major Ferguson's Brigade but Col. Cleveland was not then disposed to give him battle He remembers of seeing when Ferguson & his Army had passed and heard him frequently spoken of by the officers and sol- diers but never saw him until the battle, Col. Cleveland was shortly afterwards joined by Col. Sevier & Campbell and their regiments, the Army now appeared to increase every day and they made towards Ferguson in order to give him battle, He was in the battle of Kings mountain

2 He continued in the army for sometime after the battle and was engaged in guarding the prisoners until they were sent  sent  to  to  Moraviantown  to Moraviantown when he returned home having served out his term of 10 months as he believes. He again entered the service under Capt. John Cleveland some of Col. Cleveland, for ten months as a mounted Gun Man, and served some times on foot sometimes on horse back, during this tour he was in the battle of Ramseur's Mill, and was engaged in keeping down the Tories but does not recollect of being in any other battle during this tour. He acted as a Minute Man and was at home several times during the term of ten months for which he had volunteered. He again entered the service as a volunteer he does not recollect for how long. He believes that as he had volunteered as a minute man that he was liable to be called out at any time, at least he always went when called on. That during this expedition he was at the battle of Cross Creek, they then went down towards Wilmington and was away from home for some time but does not recollect how long.
He again in the year of 1782 in the latter part of the year as well as he recollects volunteered under Capt. John Stonecipher, and marched to the Moraviantown to put down the Tories but when we got there the Tories had dispersed the people treated us very kindly & we had no fighting to do we all had buck's tails in our hats. He does not recollect how long he was out during this expedition. Neither is he certain how long he served during the above campaigns spoken of, he is now old & frail & does not recollect dates nor time precisely, but can say with certainty that he performed as much as & was as much engaged in actual service from the time he first volunteered until the close of the war as any of the Militia in that part of the country where he lived. He believes he served upwards of two years and a half.
He does not recollect of ever receiving a discharge. His military service was well known to the persons whose certificate is here annexed, marked A. That he moved from Wilkes County Alabama to Franklin County Georgia, with Capt. John Stonecipher, he does not recollect the year he left Alabama it was shortly after the war. He remained in Georgia

until the year 1795. When he determined to migrate to the west and he being a poor and illiterate man and expecting to go into a strange Country procured the Certificate of the person here annexed the most of the persons who signed said Certificate were knowing to his services, as a soldier in the revolutionary war He moved in the year 1795 to what is now called east Tennessee from thence to Middle Tennessee, Thence to this Henderson County - in the Western district of Tennessee, & from thence to this county where he has resided for the last four years.
Joel Grain is acquainted with him and can testify as to his actual services in the army of the revolutionary war Samuel Jackson & Richard Hobbs of this county are acquainted with me & can testify as to my veracity and that to what is reported of my services as a soldier of the revolution -
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. Wm H Grains Thom to subscribed the day & year aforesaid - 10th of January 1833. Mark Thos H Ward an clerk
I Joel Grains a citizen of Hardeman County do hereby certify that William Grains who has sworn to & subscribed the above only declaration served in the army of the S. Carolina Militia for sometime during the revolutionary war I believe for as long if not a longer time than he has stated above in his declaration, I was out myself with him during one term of three months as well as I now recollects and I had a substitute employed for 18 months (at different times) and I know that William was in the army more than I and my substitute both put together. He was pretty generally from home in the army from the time the British first was heard heard of at Charleston until peace S. Carolina until peace was made -
Sworn to & subscribed in open court the 10 day of January 1833. Joel Grains Thos H Ward an clerk

we, Samuel Jackson & Richard Fortner residing in Hardin County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Grains who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 82 years of age, that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides, that he has been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed in open court the 11 day of January 1833.
S. B. Jackson Richard Fortner
Thos H. Hardeman Clerk
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories presented by the war department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Joel Brown, Samuel Jackson & Richard Fortner who have signed the preceding certificates are residents of this county and are creditable persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Edmund D. Sawyer Clerk
Allen Hill Clerk
Wirt H. Harris Clerk
I, Thomas H. Hardeman Clerk of said court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of application of William Grains for a pension. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of said court at office this the 12th day of January 1833.
Thos. H. Hardeman Clerk
William Grains
24357
Entry

24.387
William Crain Hardeman Co Tennessee
from 1781 minutes a year $80
William Crain Benton. Hardeman Co Tennessee

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
183
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjunctive notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, showing the Service of William Brain, Hardeman Co. Tennessee
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     Apr. 1781 " 10 18 Priv. Capt. Walton Col. Ble Kings Mountain N. Car. 81 years Wilks   At home. Do. several times. " 10 " " Capt. Ble Col. Ble Ramsey " " Certificate   Not stated. " " " " Capt. H. Col. H. Crop Cr. " " "   1782 " " " " Capt. H. Col. H. " " " "  
Believes he served in all upwards 2 years 6 m.
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
William Brain Colonel Hardeman Co. Tennessee
from 1781 printed a year 1780
William Brain Hardeman Co. Tennessee

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted: This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of in the county of and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d), with and served in the (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I of the Court of do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be 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 and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B., who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, Clerk of the Court of do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this day of &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it? 
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons—one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. (Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Joseph Rowen

Rev. Wm.
1753
✓ INVALID.
File No.
1753
William Grains.
Rev. N. C. L...
Act:
June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol.
a
, Page
80
[Arrangement of 1870.]

March 15,
My dear,
24387
FREE
The Hon. Lewis Camp Secretary of War Washington City

Bolivar Ten, Feby. 27 th 1833.
To the Hon ble Lewis Cass.
Inclosed I send my certificate in order to be placed on the pension roll under the act of June 1832. Should I obtain a certificate placing me on the pension roll, I wish to be put on the roll at Nashville and my warrant forwarded by letter to the post officer at Bolivar, Ten Or handed over to Mr Grundy to bring to me.
Yours his W m G. ramd mark