Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 6748, Thomas Curtis, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
n. l.
Curtis, Thomas Mary
W 6748
CONTENTS

25078 West Tennessee
Thomas Curtis of White Co in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the co commanded by Captain Little of the reg t commanded by Col. Hopton in the line in line for 13 Mos & 20 ds Drummer.
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 30 Dollars 83 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 19 day of Nov 1833 and Wm J. Campbell Sparta
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 127.07 Semi-ant. allowance ending March 25 41 $152.48
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by John Boyd Clerk, Book E Vol. 70 Page 75

1914 West Tennessee Mary Curtis widow of Thomas Curtis who died on the 28 th June 1836 of White Co in the State of Tennessee who was Drummer in the Company commanded by Captain Sytle of the regt - commanded by Col. Thorton - in the N. Carolina line for 13 mo 26 days.
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee the rate of 50 Dollars 83 Cents, per annum, commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of April 1838 and sent to Hon W. B. Campbell H. R.
Arrears to the 14th of March 1838 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sep 1838 $25.41
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 }
Recorded by W. L. Allison Book A Vol. 2 Page 181 Clerk,

Declaration of Mary Curran widow of Thomas Curran Esq.
ref'd to Mr. Edwards & admitted. See declaration act of June 1832
Admitted June 13 m. 26 days, $50.83 commence 28 June 1836
Rev. W. B. Campbell

State of Tennessee White County, ss.
On this twenty fourth day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared before me Jennie Allison one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for the County of White and State of Tennessee. Mary Corliss aged eighty years; who being first sworn, according to law, on her Oaths, makes the following Declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 4 th 1836: That she is the widow of Thomas Corliss, who was a Drummer in the army of the Revolution; and she further states, that she has no documentary evidence showing the amount and time of his said services, in the war of the Revolution, but respectfully refers to the declaration and proofs, made by the said Thomas Corliss himself in his lifetime, and which now remains on file in the War Office Department. — She further declares, that she was married to the said Thomas Corliss on the sixth day of May, in the year Seven hundred and Seventy Six, in the County of Orange, in the State of North Carolina; that the rites of matrimony between her and the said Thomas Corliss was celebrated and performed

joined by John Debo a That she has no record proof or documentary evidence establishing said marriage; that her husband, the aforesaid Thomas Curtis died, on the twenty eighth day of June, in the year eighteen hundred and thirty six; up to which day, she drew her pension from the fourth day of March preceding the day of his death; which will be more fully shown reference being had to the documents and proofs showing his death; and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully ap- pear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.- She further states that said Thomas Curtis was placed on the Pension Roll of West Tennessee at Nashville, and was allowed at the rate of fifty dollars and eighty three Cents per year.
Given to and subscribed on his  Marcy H. Curtis  Deed the day and year above mark written before me James Allison Justice of the peace
State of Tennessee ss. Wilson County
I James Allison one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for the County of Wilson in the State of Tennessee do hereby

curly and so slow and curling, that the aforesaid Mary Curtis, the widow of Thomas Curtis Esq. a Soldier of the Revolutionary war, and who now resides in the County of Wilkes, about fourteen or fifteen miles from the town of Sparta, the seat of Justice for said County, and whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Declaration, made under the Act of Congress of the 11 th of July A.D. 1836. owing to old age, and bodily infirmity, is wholly unable to appear before a Court of Record, in order to make said Declaration.
James Allison Justice of the peace
State of Tennessee Wilkes County Personally appeared before me James Allison one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for the County of Wilkes in the State aforesaid, the persons whose names are hereunto subscribed and after being sworn according to law, upon their Oaths do say, that they were personally acquainted with Thomas Curtis Esq. who was a Soldier of the Revolution, and with his wife (now his widow) Mary Curtis, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Declaration made under the act of Congress of the 11 th of July, A.D. 1836. that they have known said Thomas

and Mary Curtis for upwards of Twenty years, that they lived together during the whole of that period and up to the day of his death, that the said universally reputed and recognized as husband and wife, that said Mary Curtis has since the death of said Thomas Curtis remained and still remains a widow - And further that said Thomas Curtis departed this life on the twenty eighth day of June in the year eight- een hundred and thirty six.
Sworn to and Subscribed before me 24 th day of March 1838. James Allison Justice of the peace
John Allison (Seal) John D. Allison (Seal)
State of Tennessee Wilson County ss.
I James Allison one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for the County of Wilson aforesaid Do hereby Certify that I am intimately and personally ac- quainted with John Allison and John D. Allison the above named officers whose names are subscribed to the above and foregoing affidavits, that the said affidavits were in the County of Wilson, that they are persons of good name fame and reputation, and that they are

entitled to full faith and credit upon them each in a Court of Justice or elsewhere.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto sub- scribed my name and affixed my seal this 26 th day of March A. D. 1838.
James Allison Justice of the Peace
State of Tennessee White County
John Nicholas Abraham
Clerk of the County Court of said County hereby certify that James Allison whose name is subscribed to the several foregoing attestations as Justice of the peace is now and was when one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that the foregoing signatures pur- porting to be his are genuine and that full faith and credit should be given to his official acts.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal of office the 26 th day of March A. D. 1838
Ans of the Independence of the United States the 62 nd year
John N. Abraham Clerk of White County Court

State of Tennessee } White County } fs. 3
On this second day of October, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and thirty three, personally appeared before George Welch, Esquire, an acting Justice of the peace for said County, Thomas Curtis a resident of said County and State of Tennessee, aged about ninety two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of an act of Congress passed June 7. 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated:
He entered the service of the United States as a volunteer in the Militia under Captain Hugh Tinnen, at Hillsborough in Orange County North Carolina, was marched from there to Cross Creek, under the command of Col. James Shaxton, there were about five hundred men under the command of Col. Shaxton, - at or near Cross Creek, Col. Shaxton was joined by General Rutherford, - There intelligence was received, that Col. Cornwall had defeated the Scotch, and for we were directed to intercept the enemy on their retreat, and accordingly we took about eighty prisoners, - The whole force was then marched back to Hillsborough, - and the prisoners, were placed under the charge of Captain Archibald Lytle, - William Williams  the  Ralph Williams  name not recollected acted as Lieutenant, and the Ralph Williams  name not recollected  as  name not recollected in Capt. Tinnen's Company during the this service, Applicant acted as a drum Major during this service which, was for three months and eight days. He lived

in Hillsborough, Orange County, North Carolina, when he entered this service, and cannot now recollect the year or month when he entered this service, or the year or day when he left it, But it was before Independence was declared by Congress. On our return to Hillsborough as before stated with my term of service, under Captain Linn. expired, and I then joined Captain Archibald Lytle, to whom was given the charge of the prisoners, taken as before stated, — I continued to act as Drum Major, — Captain Lytle's company remained at Hillsborough until orders were received from Congress to take the prisoners to Halifax — Capt. Lytle then marched with the prisoners to Halifax & put them in jail at Halifax. We were then marched back to Hillsborough, and my term of service, under Capt. Lytle then expired, which was 3.5 months three months and five days, — cannot recollect the time of entering or leaving this service. James Armstrong acted as Lieutenant, and Ralph Williams acted as Ensign, in said company — He received no written discharge for either of the before named terms of service.
Some time after, the year cannot be recollected, but it was not longer than Six months  after after this applicant was discharged by Capt. Lytle, — That orders came, for men to be raised to go against the Cherokee Indians, — Col. Ramsey then raised a troop of about five hundred men, and this applicant again volunteered as a militia man, and under Captain William Williams, who joined Col. Ramsey and were marched by him from Hillsborough the place of rendezvous, to Salisbury, where the Regiment lay some considerable time, — While Col. Ramsey's Regiment was yet at Hillsborough, the place of rendezvous, Independence was declared, by Congress, — From Salisbury, the Regiment

was marched by Col. Ramsey, up the Catawba river and camped at the Green Spring at the head of a Creek that runs into Broad river, - and when we decamped from that place, We received orders from General Parsons to return to Hillsborough, which Col. Ramsey with the whole Troop accordingly done, and while at Hillsborough, this third tour of service of applicant expired, - He served during this tour as a drum Major, which was for three months and thirteen days, - received no written discharge 3. 10 2. 1865 and cannot recollect the time of entering or leaving, this service. - after this term of service I married, one Mary Allison of Orange County, who is now living and resides with me, and was my faithful companion, while I was afterwards engaged in the service of my country.
The next tour of service was when the Col. came for men to go to the South with General Gates, - Applicant agreed with one Henry Mason to go as a Substitute in his place, and he accordingly went to Col. Thomas Layton, and told him to put his name down in the place Henry Mason which was done - and he received from Col. Layton a permit to travel and to draw rations at any public store until he joined the army at head quarters, - which he did shortly after, at Clark's Ridge - Here he joined the Company of Captain James Hargraves, - Col. Ramsey was then and there in Command, - more privileges were extended to applicant because of his acting as the Drum Major, which he did during this tour. - From Clark's Ridge we were marched by Col. Ramsey to the South and we camped at the Mirey Spring, at which place, Col. Ramsey, General Williamson, and Captain Hargraves, came to this applicant and asked him if he would be willing to give up the drum, and take a gun, to which he agreed

and immediately he received the  the appointment of Orderly Sergeant , in which capacity he acted until the end of this tour of service. From the Ninety Spring, we were marched to Lynch's Creek from thence we marched to the Black Swamp, and from thence to the Hanging Rock, and from thence to Rugeley's where we remained until the engagement with the British, in which General Gates was defeated - Col Ramsey had command of the Regiment in which I acted, - Applicant recollects of seeing, during this service, General Gates, General Smallwood, General Williamson and Baron De Kalb. While lying at Rugeley's, he was appointed to go and inspect some new recruits, and while engaged in that business and before it was finished, the drums, beat for the battle and he could make no report - He was then selected to go in the advance light infantry, under a captain whose name he cannot now recollect. General Williamson, had command of this advance party - he was near to General Williamson when he was killed, after the defeat he made his way home, the best way he could, and reached home the last day of August, - he entered this service of this first of May previous, and cannot recollect in which this service was performed the year, was four months engaged in this service, and served as herein before stated. While in the first tour of service under Col Thaxton, we got a boat load of flour sunk in Deep river, - and at Little river the Scotch had tore up the Bridge so that it was rendered impassable, and produced a halt until it was replaced - and at Crops Creek the British Flag was standing when we arrived, which was ordered by Col Thaxton  Ramsey to be cut down and the American flag substituted.

He has no documentary evidence of his service, and and received no discharge for the last tour of service. When he  he entered this last service he expected it was for three months but he served four months as before stated. He knows of no person now living by whom he can prove any of the before named service, except his wife who knows of his service or that he was out in the army under General Gates. — after Gates defeat he knew of no Officer to whom to apply for a discharge. All of the before mentioned services were rendered in the Militia of the State of North Carolina.
Applicant states that he was born in the year 1742 at a place called Loundon in Pennsylvania, near the foot of the Laurel Hills. He has no record of his age.
He lived in Orange County in Hillsborough North Carolina during the times when he was called into service as before stated, — remained in Orange sixteen years after his service, — moved to the head of broad river and lived one year, — and then returned to Burke County and lived thirteen or fourteen years and then moved to Byncumbe  Blount County Leicester North Carolina then back to Burke county, then to Byncumbe again North Carolina then where I remained some time, the time not recollected then to Blount County Leicester, & lived the about eleven years from thence he , moved to White County Leicester where I have remained ever since and where I now live, have lived here near sixteen years —
He entered the service as herein before stated, three times as a volunteer , and once as a substitute, for Henry Mason.
There were no regular Officers along during my service in

the three first tours herein before stated, - But the last tour of service, General Gates, commanded as herein stated, Baron DeKalb Genl. Smallwood, General Williams, were along and in the hope where I served as herein stated, does not recollect the number of any of the Continental Regiments.
I never received any discharge in writing from any of the before mentioned services, was verbally discharged by his commanding officer - My appointments as drum Major , and as an Orderly Sergeant , were, verbal, and conferred by the Officers in Command as herein before stated.
I have resided in this neighbourhood about fifteen years and George Welch, Esquire, John Allison, Esqre Stewart, Barnett Kemp and John Ditty live near to me and can testify to my character for veracity & their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution.
He hereby relinquishes every claim for a pension, or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency of any State.
Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year aforesaid George Welch Justice of the peace, } Thomas his 2 leurtis for White County } mark
We Esqre Stewart a Clergyman who has been to applicant for many years resided in White County & state of Tennessee and Barnett Kemp residing in said county and state hereby certify that we are well acquainted Thomas leurtis, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be ninety two years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion, - that he is from bodily infirmity unable to attend court, -
sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Jesse Stewart B Kemp
George Welch Justice of the peace for White County

I John Allison, do hereby certify, that I was well acquainted with Thomas Curtis (who has sworn & subscribed to the foregoing declaration), during the Revolutionary War, I knew that he was in the American Army when General Gates was defeated, saw him when he returned home from the defeat and although I was not personally out with said Curtis in any of the service stated in his declaration, yet I knew him to be a soldier in the American Service during the Revolutionary War, and that he was always known and reputed to be a warm friend and supporter of the Cause of Independence. I have lived by said Curtis in this County for fifteen years, & he is here reputed and believed in this County to be have been a soldier of the Revolution.
Sworn to and subscribed the day John Allison and year aforesaid.
George Welch Justice of the peace for White County,
And the said George Welch, Esquire, (one of the acting Justices of the County Court for said County of White, the same being a court of Record,) do hereby declare my opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant Thomas Curtis, was a soldier of the Revolution, and served as he states, and that he cannot from bodily infirmity attend the court. And I do further certify that Esquire Stewart, of said County who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman and resident in White County aforesaid, and that Barnett Kemp who has also signed the same is a resident in said County - and that John Allison who has also signed the preceding certificate, is a resident in said County, and that they are each of them credible persons and that their statement is entitled to full credit.
George Welch , Justice of the peace for White County

State of Tennessee White County ss. I, James M. ... Clerk of the County Court of White County do hereby certify that ... that George ... (before whom was taken the foregoing ... in the matter of the application of Thomas ... (for a Patent) is now on file at the time of taking the same ... of the records of the County Court for said County the same being a correct thereof and that the same is true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 11th day of October A.D. 1833 among the records of the said Court the fifty eighth.  James M. ... Clerk of the White County Court by ... Deputy Clerk
Oct 27. 1835 Thomas Cantrell

Pay  WIDOW, &c.
File No. 6748
Mary Curtis Wid.
Thomas Curtis Deceased
Act: July 14 th 36, Sec. 3 d
Index:—Vol. 4 , Page 160
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Thomas Curtis West Tennessee Act of June 1832, to what time paid? Pension Office April 9, 1838, Died 28 June 1826, paid to that period L.H.

Washington April 8. 1838
Sir,
I her enclose you the application for a pension of Mary Curtis of the County of White State of Tennessee. I am personally acquainted with her, and with those who have given certificates in her behalf, and I know her & them to be persons of most excellent character. I was well acquainted with Thomas Curtis the husband of Mrs Curtis, and has wrote the declaration, by which he was placed upon the pension roll a few years ago, and according to my present recollection, - he stated to me that he was married to his then wife, some time previous to, or during the Revolutionary War, and I think that I placed that statement in his declaration. Mrs Curtis very old & infirm & very poor, and I shall feel greatly obliged to you, for an early examination of this application, - let me know the result. With great respect I am - yours oblt. Servt
J. L. Edwards Esq. Court of Claims
W. B. Beauchamp

Oct 16 } Sparta Tenn. October 5 th 1833 }
Tenn
Mr. B. Bunker Sparta Tenn
44.47 3.66 47.66 8.17 50.83
J. L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City
27.895 Shaw Bratton, W. L. Co. Clemper Spring 13 m. 26 d. 1833 $50.63

Sparta Octo. 5 th 1833
Sir,
I herewith enclose you the declaration for a pension of Thomas Courtis, — whose bodily infirmities were so great that he could not possibly attend Court. He resides about sixteen miles from the Court house, and I attended at his house and took this declaration according to the directions of your department, — He is very infirm from age, and his recollection much impaired on some topics, on others it seems to be yet distinct. He is very poor, and his wife who was with him during the Revolution is now living with him; — they are both very helpless. An early examination of this claim, will perhaps relieve them from distress,
Very Respectfully yours Ob d Ser v .
Wm B Campbell
3. 8 3. 5 3. 13 4 13 26