Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18045, Stephen Huff, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Huff, Stephen
S. 18045
carded
CONTENTS

23.485 South Carolina
Stephen Knapp of Greenville in the State of S. C. who was a f... in the ... commanded by Captain ... of the Rep... commanded by Col. Morgan in the S. C. line for 1st in the Var.
Inscribed on the Roll of S. Carolina at the rate of $46. Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 th day of Feb y 1831 and sent B. F. Perry - Greenville - C.S. S.C.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1835 116.65 Semi-ant. allowance ending June 30 23.33 $139.98
{ Revolutionary Claim, { Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Nath. Rice Clerk, Book E Vol. 6 Page 69
Letter to B. F. Perry Esq Audr 9 May 1843
Dear Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 th April 1838 from 4 Sept 1841 to 25 Jan y 1842 Agts notified 23 May 1843

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
May 15 th , 1843.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The child ren of Stephen Hough, a Pensioner on the Roll of the South Carolina Agency, at the rate of forty six — Dollars and 66 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1841, to the 25 th Jan'y 1842.  Respectfully, yours,
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, Present.

State of South Carolina } Greenville District } On the fourteenth day of October 1833, personally appeared in open court, before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions Now sitting Stephen Hugh a resident of Anderson District aged seventy seven years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, hath on his oath made the follow- ing 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 first entered the service in the Summer of 1780 under Captain William Lethridge in Bedford County State of Virginia. His first Lieutenant was Henry Mun He volunteered for three months and served the whole of the time - The Corps in which he served was raised by authority of the State of Virginia and was stationed at Chipely's Lead Mines an New River for the purpose of guard- ing them. At the expiration of the three months he was discharged and received pay for his services at Bedford House. The second time he volunteered in the Fall of 1780 for eight months under Captain John Greaves; and moved under the command of Major Ward to Hillsborough and Salisbury, and under the command of Major Ridge into South Carolina, where he joined the main Army under General Greene. He was stationed some months at Cheraw Hills in South Carolina. He was at the siege of "Ninety Six" when General Greene was forced to leave the place by the arrival of Lord Barnard. After this he was principally en-

-layed in procuring and supplying provisions for the Army) under the direction of Campary James Ewing - The third time he volunteered under captain William Ferry and was again placed under the command of Captain Greer - This time he volunteered for three months and was again moved into South Carolina and discharged. He resided in Bedford County State of Virginia when he entered the Service. He was in no regular engagement or battle except the siege of "Ninety Six" - He has no documentary evidence, and knows of no one whose testimony he can procure as to his services. He was born in the year 1756 June 22 nd in the State of New Jersey. Has no record of his age - Was living in Bedford County State of Virginia when called into the Service - and has lived in South Carolina ever since the Revolution. He now lives in Anderson District, but only four or five miles from Greenville where which is the reason of his applying in Greenville instead of Anderson for a pension, it being much more convenient for him to do so - He volunteered every time he was called into the Service - He recalls Generals Greene, Col Morgan and Col Washington, but does not recollect any of the continental regiments. He was discharged in writing at Taylors Ferry on Roanoke River after reaching there with provisions for the Army - His name last. He is known in his present neighborhood to the Rev James Southwick, Rev John B. Chappell and William E. McAlister and Major Thomas Henderson who can testify to his character for

truth and to their belief in his revolutionary services. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not found on the pension roll of the agency of any state
Sworn and subscribed the day and year fore said - Stephen Huff Huff
McDaniel 660 We Nathan Berry a Clergy man residing in the District of Greenville and William E Wickliffe residing in the same, here by certify that we are well acquainted with Stephen Huff, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy seven years of age, that he is respected and beloved 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 fore said
Nathan Berry W. E. Wickliffe
McDaniel 660
And the said Court do hereby certify their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the laws of the state that the above named applicant was a revolutionist, and served as he states - And the court further certifies that it appears to them that Nathan Berry who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergy man residing in the District of Greenville and that William E Wickliffe who has also signed the same is a resident in Greenville District and is a respectable person and that their statements are entitled to credit - - - - - J S Richardson Pres Judge

I James McDaniel Clerk of the Court of Com- mon Pleas and General Session for Greenville District, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Stephen Knapp for a pension
The testimony whereof I have here under my hand and seal of office this fifteenth day of October
James McDaniel C.C.P

28.075
Stephen Knapp
B. L. Berry. Mannville Q.H.

South Carolina } Greenville Dist } Personally came before me the undersigned Justice of the Peace in and for the District of Greenville, Stephen Huff and being duly sworn makes oath that the term of eight months which he served in the Revolutionary war and which he mentions in his application for a Pension, was used as a substitute in the place of a man by the name of Samuel Haster, that the said Haster had been drafted for three months but in consequence of his leaving the service without permission he was returned for eight months service - that he then hired this Exponent to take his place, and gave him for so doing a horse &c - that this Exponent did take his place and served as is stated in his Declaration - The third term of three months he volunteered as stated in his Declaration under Captain Levy and was placed under the command of Captain Greene - that he again joined the army under General Greene in South Carolina and continued with it until his term of three months expired - that he was dis- charged by General Greene the day before the battle of Guilford.
This Exponent further states that he is very poor and if there be objections to any portions of his services and not to others he is willing to receive a Pension for said services rather than be at any more trouble about the matter - Sworn to & - December 9 - 1823 John Britten den J. D. Exoff Stephen Huff marks

South Carolina } Greenville Dist. } I James M. Danie Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions for Greenville District do hereby certify that John Crittenden whose signa- ture is to the above affidavit is an acting Justice of the Peace as above stated and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine, and that full faith & credit shall be given to his acts as such - James M. Danie Clerk I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office This December 10 th 1833 McDunil 6.6.0

Stephen Ruff
Adams in private 14mos $46.66
B. Perry Greenville S. H. So. Ca.

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
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 subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew 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, shewing the Service of
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.              
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

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 days 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 inquiry 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.
The notes from [a] to [j] 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.
[k] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
The applicant could not have performed 8 months continuous service in the militia —

R 18045 INVALID.
File No. 18545-
Stephen Knapp
Pre Rev War
Act: June 7" 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 436
[Arrangement of 1870.]