Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1757, Asa Davis, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Davis, Asa
S. 1757
Carded.
CONTENTS

8131
Tennessee
Asa Davis
of Davidson in the State of Tennessee who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Dennis of the Regt. commanded by Col. Cole in the Virginia line for 6 Months
Inscribed on the Roll of Tennessee at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of March 1833 — — — and Supt. Mr. N. C. Tenn.
  Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1832  $ 30    Semi-ant. allowance ending Dec. 33  10     $ 40  
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Geo. B. Hiles Clerk Book 1 Vol. 9 Page 146
Let. to Pension Mar. 28, 1837 " " Pen. Agent May 17, 37 (giving copy to widow)

Asa Davis
5
Page 233
Feb 4 33
Hon R. C. D. of Tex

BRIEF in the case of Asa Davis of Davidson County in the State of Tennessee (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 76 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. As a Gen.     In 1778 Winter of 1778 and Summer of 1779 Non Commissioned Genl. Simon Elliott   1779 Ten or 15 days Sergeant Capt. Dennis   1781 Total amount of service he says is 1 year & 6 months Private Capt. Royal & Col. Wall  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Petersburg.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Petersburg Dinwiddie County Virginia.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Sam J. Potts Examining Clerk.

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an Act of Congress, passed June 7 th 1832
State of Tennessee Dawson County
On this 24 th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court, before the Justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions, Asa Davis, a Citizen of the County and State aforesaid, aged seventy six years, who being first duly sworn ac- cording to law, doth on his Oath make the following affidavit in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
That he entered the service of the United States, under the following named Officers, & served as herein stated, to wit: That he was born in Amelia County Virginia, on the first day of October 1757 - from thence he moved at an early age to Petersburg, in the County of Dinwiddie Va. Here he commenced keeping store for Messrs Davis, Elliott & Co. - After continuing with them about a year he supposes, they broke up their establishment, and Genl. Geo. Elliott the gentleman with whom he was then living, being quarter- master, placed under his care a Government Store to furnish Genl. Scotts Army, with forage which was then (1778 he thinks) in Petersburg, & took up their winter quarters there, with forage &c. - he continued to perform this duty so assigned him, during this winter & the ensuing summer  spring - At the end of which time he was discharged by Genl. Elliott receiving from him at the same time, a certif- icate of his service - What ever became of it, he is entirely ignorant - he took no care of it, not expecting it ever to be of any service to him. After his discharge he returned back to Amelia County, where as before stated, he was bred & born, and within a short time after arriving there, he was drafted as a militiaman, & served as such under Capt. Dennis, who ap- pointed him orderly Sergeant. quarters his number

was seven. The general place of assembly was Amelia Courthouse, where he thinks the army or militia of the County was assembled - They started from Amelia Courthouse, to what place or country they were destined has escaped his recollection; but when they arrived at James River in Virginia, Capt. Dennis informed us, that we were no longer wanted, and discharged us - he went over the river, by order of his Captain & received the discharge - he enlisted for three months, but performed actual service for only ten or fifteen days -
Upon being discharged, he went home a second time, and remained there until the Spring of 1781, when his number was called, and he enlisted in Capt. Royal's Light-horse Company - Capt. Royal marched us to Head-quarters of the American Army, and after arriving there he was supplementally placed under Col. Lacey, and the whole army marched from thence down to Petersburg under the command of Gen. Lafayette - We here attacked the British under Lord Cornwallis, and routed them, and they fled with much precipitation - In with three four others, was on the approach of evening detached off, in order to watch the movements of the British Army - We left Petersburg, & marched for Richmond, where we remained a short time, thence marched to a place called Morven Hills, on our way to Little York, there in pursuit of Wallace, before we arrived at Little-York, a pleasant time being at an end was discharged - We received no written discharge - Col. Lacey seemed to be in such a hurry, that he could tho' not give those whose service had just expired certificates of their service - His whole term of service amounts to One year & six months - Counting the time of his service whilst keeping store for the Government by the direction.

at one year of Genl Elliott. & six months as a militiaman. He frequently saw Genl. Lafayette in his last route, and his own immediate Officers before named — He has no recollection of seeing or hearing the names of any others.
He hereby relinquishes every claim or 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.
Sworn to subscribed the day
And yours aforesaid.
Yrs Davis

Wee w Alner McDowell Clergymen residing in Davidson County, & Enoch Easley justice of the peace for 2 county do certify that we are well acquainted with Asa Davis, who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration; that we have known him for twenty five years of age; that he is respected in the neighborhood where he resides as a man of faith of the Christian religion and that we never in that opinion been spread the any opinion of him They do not know that he is reputed to be a soldier of the revolution, but they esteem him to be as he is considered by his neighbors a man of truth standing, & veracity, and they do not doubt, but that he served his country, as stated in his aforesaid declaration - they believe he is seventy five years of age or upwards;
Alner M Dowell
Enoch Easley
State of Tennessee } Davidson County } County Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions October Tenn 1832
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after investigating the matter and putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the before named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states and the said court also certify that the above named Alner McDowell is a minister of the Gospel and that he and the above named Enoch Easley (a Justice of the Peace) are both citizens of Davidson County and respectable men & that their state- ments are entitled to full faith and credit
Given under our hands in open court this 24 th day of October 1832 J. Wharton Wm Williams E. P. Cunnell
State of Tennessee } So Davidson County } I Henry Ewing clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions for said county do hereby certify to whom it may concern that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of Asa Davis for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of said court to be also affixed at office in Nashville on this 24 th day of October A. D. 1832
Henry Ewing

Rev War
INVALID.
File No.
1757 Asa Davis Miss. Va. Line
Act:
June 7, 1832.
Index:—Vol.
a
, Page 88
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Union Bank of Tennessee Nashville 7 March 1837
J. L. Edwards Esq.
At the request of W. A. Davis a Revolutionary Pensioner under the act of the 7 June 1832, I have forwarded his claim for your inspection and permission of its payment in conformity with the late rule of the office. W. Davis is much debilitated and has been so much so for the last 6 or 8 months, as he states, is the reason why he has not called for his stipend, please to address him and return his claim to Snow Creek post office Maury County Tennessee. I am Respectfully Sir
Yr obt. Servt John M. Bass Pct. By J. Cantrell
Dear Sir
The above is a copy of a letter to you covering W. Davis' pension identity and not hearing from you before this is why I join wife and hearing too that some

mis carriage of the letter has taken place there is one year Pension due to Davis up to the 4 March last - I am Respectfully Sir
Yr O b t. Serv t
John M. Bap PA By J. Cantrell 6 th May 1837

Union Bank of Tennessee Nashville 7 March 1837
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir
At the request of Mr. Wm. Davis a Pensioner under Act of Congress 1832 I have forward his claim for your inspection and permission for its payment in conformity with the late rule of the Office, Mr. Davis is much debilitated and has been so much so for the last 6 or 8 months as he states, is the reason why he has not called for his stipend, please to address him and returne his claim to Snow Creek Post Office Maury County Tennessee I am Respectfully Sir
Yr Obt. Servt. John M. Bass Post. & Pension Agent By J. Cantrell

Asa Davis
adm d for 6 mo. but no bar to his claim as Com y storekeeper if he should show that he was enlisted for that employment
adm d
6 mo. pri
20 00
Good for 1 year & 6 months, if deemed - I think then he allowed, if not then for 8 months only -

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Asa Davis
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
Each term of service claimed for should be specially & particularly set forth as the regulations require.
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
none other can be taken into the computation of a claim
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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 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?
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 the 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.
†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 authenticated 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 end 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.