Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3257, William Davis, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Davis William
8.3257
carded
CONTENTS

Date of death not on A.B
19.338
East Tennessee
William Davis 2 o
of Cocke Co in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Harrison of the reg t commanded by Col Lawson in the Ridge mile line for 18 months from 1776.
Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee at the rate of 60 Dollars — Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of August 1833 and sent to Samuel M. Sharp. Sevierville, Ten
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833, 120 — Semi-annual allowance ending 4th March 30
$150 —
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm Allison Clerk
Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 41

10 5 1/4 William Davis
Book 6 Ten refuge
va Bell a Bell
60, 16 from 1776 private 18 months. $60.
Saml M. Phillips Sevierville G. M. 6 Jan 1861
Chh. Col. Sevierville

BRIEF in the case of  William Davis  County of Cook  in the State of  Illinois  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open court 2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 3. How old is he? 70 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.     In 1775 - 1. 6 As a Private Gen. (Col) Harrison Col. Howard Col. Davidson Col. Lee, Col. Preston  
5. In what battles was he engaged? 6 or 8 at Bunker Hill 6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Petersburg Virginia 7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional 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 The Clerk's seal is defective. It has no die
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Michael O'Leary  Examining Clerk:

10514.
Mr. Lewis B. B. B. No. Department Washington D.C.
Prison Warden

Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832.
State of Tennessee On this 29 th day of August 1832 Baker County to wit: on thousand eight hundred thirty two Personally appeared in open court before the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions at the sitting for the county aforesaid William Davis, a resident of the State and County aforesaid, aged 70 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 7 th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1775 with James Sherrell, under Capt Harrison and served under the following named officers, after rendezvousing in the Town of Petersburg Virginia. — That he was soon afterwards attached to Capt. Lawson's Company under Major adjutant Seladen & Col. Haws and that Col. Haws then took the command of the Virginia Troops and Marched proceeded from Cobbin point (after the troops had been reviewed by General Sturban) to near Camden in South Carolina. That the British were forted at Camden in S. C. That he believes this was in the month of April. — That the British he believes were command- ed by Brigade at said fort. That Col. Haws and Col. Campbell commanded the two ridgements at that place viz near Camden. That he and the others of their two ridgements lay there for some 8 or 10 days before the British sallied out of their fort, and that one evening just before the roll was called, one of the enemy joined Col. Haws ridgement and after hearing the for some next day to clean their firearms & others to wash their clothes orders, that same night returned to the enemy and on the same night the British came out of the fort & lay close to our picket guard unobserved till morning That a battle commenced on the same morning That Col. Washington was commander of the Cavalry and took about three or four hundred prisoners and left them with Col. Campbell ridgement but as soon as

Col. Campbell's Ridgement broke & run the prisoner & the other british commenced firing again at which time General Huger, discovering great confusion ordered us to retreat. That they then went to gun springs, where General Gates was defeated. — That then, they marched towards Virginia to New River, marched thence to Santee River, in South Carolina. Thence to the siege of Ninety Six when the siege continued for 32 days when the British were reinforced that we then marched towards Guilford Court house thence towards George Town —
Said applicant further states that some time afterwards he was detached from Col. Haws ridgement & and was attached to Col. Lee's horse- men that he belongs to the 3 d company of D'Coorly The he served under Capt. Agleton who commands the 3 d troop of horsemen, Capt. Armstrong commands the 1 st troop & Capt. O'Neil the second. That he was present & engaged in the battle of Wata Springs, under General Green. That he was one of the sentries left till others brought in Col. Campbell who was wounded in the engagement. and said applicant states that he was near being taking prisoner by several men of Tarleton's Corps. but was relieved by his he mated with John Hattaway, William Burk Wm. H. Little his own men who in return took they as prisoners. That some time afterwards he was discharged at Storms Church in South Carolina & went home to Virginia Culpepper County a distance of more than 600 miles making in all a term of eighteen months
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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. That he received a discharge but lost his discharge when crossing the Rappahannock River together with some other valuable papers that he removed from Virginia to N. Carolina & from there to Sussex Co. County where he has remained till now

That he knows of no person living whose testimony he can procure or who has personal knowledge of his services. — & that he has no documentary evidence since his discharge was lost.
Sworn to, and subscribed, the day & year for-
saith G. M. Batte Clerk
William Davis
We John Sisk William Huff & Wm Lakin residing in the county of Cocke and state of Tennessee hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with William Davis who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be 70 years of age that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
William Lakin John Sisk William Huff
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 & served as he states — and the court further Certifies that it appears to them that Wm Lakin, John Sisk & Wm Huff who have signed the preceding Certificate are both all residents in the County of Cocke & state of Tennessee and are credible persons & that their statement is entitled to credit.
I G. M. Porter Clerk of the court of Pensions and Quartermasters for the county of Cocke do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Mr Davis for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my own private seal having no seal of office at office in New Port The 29th day of August 1833 George H. Portis

The Amended Declaration of William Davis to the County of Shelby
William Davis amended claim for Pension
for Knoxville agency & to be sent to some place at Sevierville E. Sevier

The Annual Declaration of William Davis Cocke County Tennessee for a Pension under the act of Congress 7 th June 1832
State of Tennessee ss. Cocke County } May the 29 th 1833.
In answer to the 10 th question & 1 st negative in red ink of the Brief &c Said Declarant states that the Clerk's private seal is affixed — having no device or inscription by which it may be distinguished from any other seal
12 But Said Declarant has obtained the certificate of John Blair a member of Congress proving the official character & signature of the Clerk
Said applicant states that he was a private soldier Question 11 th 2 d negative
Said applicant states that he could not obtain the evidence of a clergyman owing to the fact that there is no clergyman residing in his neighbourhood and that S d applicant assigns this reason as a reason why the affidavit of a clergyman has not been obtained But that he had in his original Declaration obtained the affidavits of three reputable men of his neighbourhood who concur in the opinion that he was a soldier of the Revolution.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
William Davis
for the County of Cocke I George H. Porter Clerk of the court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions do hereby certify that William Davis has has sworn to the foregoing affidavit duly qualified in open Court
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed seal of office in Newport 29 th day of July 1833.
Geo. H. Porter Clerk

I certify that:
I am well acquainted with the hand writing of George M. Porter Esqr. Clerk of the County Court of Cooke County that said Porter is the Clerk and that his attestations & certificates, as well to the original declaration as the within amend- ment, are genuine, that he has no public seal of office.
July 10 th 1833
John H. Harn State M. C. Tennessee

February 11, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Miss Ava Johnston Motor Route C, Box 117 Dallas, Texas
WILLIAM DAVIS S. 3257 BA-J/MLB Cham
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your communication of recent date, in which you request the Revolutionary War records of William Davis , who was pensioned in 1833 at Jonesboro, Washington County, Tennessee, and of Nathan Davis, who was pensioned by North Carolina and moved to Greene County, Tennessee.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data, and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is impossible to comply in full with each request relative to soldiers of that war. The record of William Davis is furnished you herein as shown in pension claim, S. 3257, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
The date and place of birth and names of the parents of William Davis are not given.
While a resident of Culpeper County, Virginia, William Davis enlisted and served as private in Captains Harrison's and Lawson's companies, Colonel Hawes' Virginia regiment, from which regiment he was detached and placed in Captain Egleston's company, Colonel Lee's regiment of light horse, was present at General Gates' defeat at the battle of Camden, in the siege of Ninety Six and in the battle of Eutaw Springs, and was discharged after having served eighteen months in all.
The soldier moved from Virginia to North Carolina, and from there to Cooke County, Tennessee.
William Davis was allowed pension on his application executed August 29, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy years and a resident of Cooke County, Tennessee. (His name was borne on the pension rolls as William Davis , And. ) Quitt next time -

There are no family data shown in the claim of William Davis.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of death of William Davis, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
William Davis, 2nd Certificate #19338 Issued August 26, 1833 Rate $60 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act June 7, 1832 East Tennessee Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

FREE
James L. Edwards Esqr Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.

Isleworth Tenn August 16th 1853
H. Edwards Esq.
for enclosed I send you the five claims for pension which I have been requested to forward you, when acted upon return the answers to the persons mentioned therein who are the agents.
respectfully yours dear John Blair

William Davis

For Knoxville Agency and to the Dept the Plant M. Plant of Livinville Tenn
Adair
Samuel H. Thomas Sierra County Livinville Tenn

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Davis book 6. Tennessee 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 time when he began and ended it, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine the amount of pension he is entitled to? 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 no device or insc

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? no XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no 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? yes Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes 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  NO 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.

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS
The Veterans Administration, Washington, D.C.

Moliz Puente Co. Box 117, Dallas, Texas.
Jan. 19, 1937.
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs: Please send me pension record for William Davis pensioned at Jonesboro, Washington Co., Penn. in 1833. (as may apply to general Accounting Office) Also please give Certificate number for this William Davis, Washington Co., Penn. and Nathan Davis pensioned by North Carolina and emigrated to Greene Co., Penn. Both William and Nathan Davis were Revolutionary soldiers. Yours truly, (Miss) Ava Johnston.

1937 Feb. 11 - Visit to Mid-Atlantic States
Reuben
325-4 INVALID.
File No. 3257
William Davis 2 d
Prof. Wm. Meila
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. a , Page 89
[Arrangement of 1870.]