Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2323, John Houston, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
16
Houston, John
S2323
CONTENTS
Carded.

Ohio - 13.167
John Houston.
Warren Co. in the State of Ohio. — who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Danner of the Reg't commanded by Col. W. Bowell in the Northfield for two years. — one year in the Cavalry. — $90.
Enscribed on the Roll of Ohio. — the rate of 90. Dollars 00. Cents per annum. commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 day of May. 1833 and sent to Hon. Thos. Corwin. — Lebanon. — Ohio.
Arrears to the 14th of March '33. 180.00 Rem-ant. allowance ending 4. Sept. 1833. 45.00 $225.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm. A. Palmer Clerk. Book E Vol. 8. Page 112

State of Ohio. Warren County ss:
On this Third day of October
1832 personally appeared before the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas now sitting in the county of Warren aforesaid, John Houston, resident of Turtle-creek township in the said County, aged 69 years, who being duly affirmed, according to law, doth, on his solemn affirmation, make the following declaration, to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832:
That he was born in Mecklenburgh County, State of North-Carolina in the year 1763, & that during the period of the revolutionary war his place of residence was still in the said County of Mecklenburgh, in which said county on the tenth day of April 1779 he entered the service of the United States, for three months as a Volunteer under a Captain whose name he thinks was Barnes, & within a few days, was marched in Col. Mc Dowell's Regiment, under the command of Genl. Butler to Augusta in the State of Georgia; that he there joined the Light Infantry under Capt. White in the Regiment of Col. Malmedy, a French Officer, who pursued the British towards Charleston, overtook the Enemy at Stono, where a severe Battle was fought; that soon afterwards his term of service was out & he was discharged at Stono & he returned home. That in the month of April 1780 he, the said Applicant, in the county of Tryon, again entered the service of the United States, for a term of three months, as a substitute for John they Reynolds of Mecklenburgh County, where this Applicant still resided. The name of the Captain of this Company, this Applicant thinks was Wilson, serving in Col. Daws's Regiment, in which he was marched from North Carolina to Waxhalls, near the Hanging-Rock in South-Carolina, from whence he was frequently sent out in scouting parties to scour the country; that in one of those scouting expeditions, some time in the month of July 1780, this Applicant was taken prisoner by the scouts of Col. Pat-
terrow

terron, a British Officer, & conducted to Camden, in South Carolina. After an imprisonment of about three weeks this Applicant was, taken under guard, to Charleston, in company with some of Genl. Gates's army who had also been taken prisoners; that at Charleston, this Applicant was put on board of an English prison ship; that about Christmas time of 1780, he was taken out of the prison ship & lodged in the British Hospital on Catson's wharf, in Charleston; that he continued in the Hospital until some time in the month of February 1781; that he was then removed by the British to their Barracks, from whence, after a few days, this Applicant & three other American prisoners, made their escape & he got home about the first day of March 1781. That within the said month of March 1781, & whilst still residing in Mecklenburgh County, this Applicant again enlisted. His enlistment at that time was for eleven months in a troop of Horse under a Captain whose name he thinks was White. The other Officers of this Company were Ensign Aikin, Lieutenant Wilson, & Major Hampton; the Company belonged to the Second Regiment of South Carolina commanded by Col. Middleton, of Genl. Sumpter's Brigade; that he was marched to Congaree, in South Carolina; that this Applicant belonged to the Vanguard of his Company; that whilst on the station at Congaree he was at the taking of Buck-Head fort; that at the time Lord Rawdon was going to raise the siege of Ninety Six, this Applicant was in a detachment of 120 men, under Col. Middleton, which had a serious skirmish with the British Troop of Light-horse, at the Juniper Springs. In this conflict Col. Middleton lost a good many men. That they afterwards marched to Orangeburgh & took the fort there; from thence to a Fort near Monk's Corner, under which, at a place on the sea-shore called Hobbsay, lay an English

glickrow-galley Schooner which (after dismounting) we board- ed & took & plundered of a good deal of money, which was divided amongst all the soldiers of the Brigade; - after this exploit we took the Fort. This Fort was evacuated by the enemy in the night & under Genl. Sumpter this Applicant was, in the morning, mov- ed in pursuit; the British crossed Strawberry-bridge & destroyed it after them; we followed on but did not come up with them till they were entrenched; as the Horse could do nothing here, this Applicant seized one of the prison- ers muskets & assisted the Infantry in their attack, but we failed in dis- lodging the Enemy; this Applicant then mounted his horse & returned in his troop to Congree. At Congree he got a furlough, went home, & after a few weeks returned to Camp. It was whilst he was at home on fur- lough that the Fort at Point-Springs was taken. He was next marched to Orangeburgh where the Company was stationed for about a month; from thence he was marched to Four-hole Bridge where the troops took up quarters for the winter. Towards the following Spring, to wit, about the end of February he was marched back to Congree & there received his discharge on 10 th March 1782. This discharge was in writing which was kept by this Applicant until it was worn out. —
This Applicant then returned home to Mecklenburgh county where he continued to reside until 1789 when he removed to Madison county in the state of Kentucky. There he lived till 1800 & then removed to Williamson county in Tennessee where he resided till 1807; thence he removed into Miami county in the state of Ohio & lived there un- till 1809; then he removed to Warren county, Ohio, his present place of abode where he has resided ever since. — The further stating that his age is 69 years and that he has no record evidence of his age nor had he any discharge or other documentary evidence of his service nor does he know of any living witness by whom he can prove his revolutionary service — That there is no clergyman in his neighbor- hood to whom he is known — That there is no one knowing to a certainty Sharp, Henry Valentine, Francis Bentley, by half or either of whom he can prove his character for veracity & that he has
John Young 15.0.8.5
✓

been generally reported and believed that he the applicant was a soldier of the revolution. And he hereby declares 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 -
Sworn to & subscribed in Open Court the day & year of us J. H. Wilds clk
John H. Houston mark
We Nathan Sharp, Henry Valentine, and Francis Puello, residing in the County of Warren and State of Ohio, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Houston, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; as he has stated in his said declaration; that he is reported and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier in the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion & that he is a man of veracity. Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John Houston
Nathan Sharp Henry Valentine Francis Puello
J. H. Wilds clk
And the said Court as hereby declares 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 finds that it appears to them that Nathan Sharp, Henry Valentine & Francis Puello who have signed the foregoing certificate reside in the same neighborhood with said applicant and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Jonathan H Wilds clerk of the court of common Pleas within and for the county & state aforesaid certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the matter of the application of John Houston for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the court of common pleas at Lebanon this 8 th of Oct A.D. 1832 -
J. H. Wilds clk

Rev War
2323 INVALID.
File No. 2323
John Houston
Print Rev War
Act: June 7  1832
Index:—Vol. A , Page 175
[Arrangement of 1870.]

John Brewster - Seal to be amended -
enjoining against, should accompany the petition. One of the contributors of a number of envelopes, bearing the official character and signature of the seal in every case where the clerk of the court, or other returning officer has to return seal of the attached to the certificate etc. Under the seal of office of the returning officer, some to prevent any paper being introduced thereby, must be attached thereto by a piece of tape after the return is made, the ends of which must be affixed on the same sheet of paper which contains the certificate or return, before being sealed up.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Houston, Warren co Ohio 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 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, but said certificate is not signed by the regulations.

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?
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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? No.
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?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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?
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, deposeh 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 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.
†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.

Ohio, 13/67
John Houston.
Admitted for 2 years 12 months thereof cavalry.
Hon. Thos. Corwin Lebanon. Ohio.

Free No. 6000 N.C.
James L. Edwards Esq. Pension office Washington City D.C.
1779. 3 Mo. Apr. 1850 9. — 25 Feb. 31.

James L. Edwards Esqr.
Washington City
D.C.

Liberton 16 th May 1833
Dear Sir
The papers inclosed herewith were shown me to day by the applicant. From an inspection of the objection returned there is but one viz that the applicant has produced no witness to his services. You will observe that he has sworn that he means of no other  way by whom he can prove his services. He cannot swear that there is positively no witness by whom he could prove his services for to do this he must know of his own knowledge whether every one who may have seen him in the services, is dead. This I should think would require of applicant an extent of information which no man living can possess.
I have to ask of you to review your decision & hope on a careful examination you will find a sufficient reason at the bottom of the 3 rd page of the petition for dispensing with routine proof of service - Please address me on the subject as soon as convenient
Yrs very respectfully
Thos. Corwin
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Phila. W. City
86