Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2579, John Gorsage, N.C.

SERVICE
NUMBER
N. 6
Gorsage, John
S 2579
CONTENTS
Carded

570 17678 Jonesborough East Tennessee John Gorringe
Sullivan Co in the State of Tennessee was a private in the Company commanded Captain Tapp of the regt. commanded Shelby in the M.C. Ma for 7 Mts. fr 1780
scribed on the Roll of East Tennessee the rate of 23, Dollars 33 Cents per annum, commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of May 1833 and sent to Mr Rockhold, Rockhold Stone
arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $ 46.66 Remnant allowance ending 4 Sep 33 11.66 $ 58.33
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
recorded by H. H. Allison Clerk, Book C Vol. 7 Page 44
Transf. to Jonesborough Agency 28 June 1833 fr 4 March 1830, and notification certificate sent to Mr Rockhold, Rockhold Stone Ten.

State of Tennessee } On this 26 day of Nov. 1832 Sullivan county } personally appeared before D } me W. B. Lockhart one of the Justices of the court of pleas & quarter sessions for Sullivan county John Gossage a resident in the county of Sullivan & state of Tennessee age ninety years who being first duly sworn ac- cording to law Doth on his oath make the fol- lowing Declaration in order to obtain the beni- fit of the provisions made by the act of congress passed June 7th 1832 that he entered the army of the United States from Sullivan county Tennessee as a drafted Matchless man in the year 1780 in the later part of the year under Capt. Tapp & Lieut- nant Cox commanded by Col. Shelby & Fletcher He was marched through North Carolina in- to the south state & Laurens Gen. Mawens camps was on scouting parties against the British & Tories on the pedee & Santee Rivers & near the Bay & at Monks corner shot in any general engagement and was discharged by Col. Fletcher which Discharge is lost or worn out & did serve four months in said tour or a little over before he returned home Dep. further saith immediately after returning home in 1781 he was again draf- -ted in said county & state, then into North carolina (and marched under Capt. Hail to the Cherokee Nation apart of which was Albem to Great Britton & was commanded by Col. Lewis & Anderson & was marched almost all over said Nation assisted in burning their towns retaking property & Recollects of Being at the Chota towns highwapa towns Mills town and at the Lookout Mountain H. & G.

Dep. further saith that he served three months, the last mentioned term & still knows he did not leave the service until ordered home but does not recollect by whom he was discharged & if he did receive any written discharge it is not in his possession & he supposes it is lost or worn out, Dep. further saith that he was drafted in 1860 to serve nine months term to Kings Mountain & lived in a neighborhood where he was the only Blacksmith & was released from serving term by board of officers consisting of Shelby Pemberton Bealor & others conditional if he would strip the horseshoes of his wagon & shoe the horses of the men to march on from his neighborhood which condition he complied with & never Recd. one farthing for said labour or has accepted a release from said term of duty, Dep. also says he previously to the terms mentioned furnished substitutes for other months term against the Government the situation of his family being such that he could not leave home, he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of any state or territory.
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Garsby
We John Martin clergyman residing in the county of Sullivan & state of Tennessee and Edward Fox residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Garsby who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be ninety years of age that he is respected and believed in this

neighbourhood When he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion and the said Edward Cox says of his own knowledge said Gossage did serve the four month term as he sets forth as served with him - Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Martin
Edward Cox
I Mr Rockhold Justice of the peace for Sullivan county Tennessee Do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above applicant was a revolu- tionary soldier and served as he states and I further certify that it appears to my satis- faction that John Martin who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residing in the State & County aforesaid and that Edward Cox who has also signed the same is a resident of Sullivan county Tennessee and is a respectable per- son and that their statements is for the credit, and I do hereby certify in my opinion that the said applicant John Gossage is true in form on account of his disposition & age to at- tend at the courthouse at our said court to make the foregoing Declaration as such I have taken it giving under my hand & seal the day & year aforesaid at my office
Wm Rockhold (Seal) Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee, I George Wetherland Clerk of the Sullivan County Court of Pleas for said County certify that William Rockhold Esquire whose certificate appears to the within is now and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County and that full faith and credit are due all his official acts as such.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my Office at Office in Blountville the 26th day of November 1832
G. Wetherland Clerk
John Gossage pension claim
20,000

20020
John Gossage
from 1780 print 7 months
$23 \frac{33}{100}
Mr Rockhold Rockhold's Store Sullivan Co.

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 subjoined 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 John Cordage Sullivan & Co. S.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     drafted 1780 4 for. Capt Tapp Col Shelby none N.C. & S.C. 90 Sullivan T. the N.C. Tradg.   " - 1781. 3 " Capt Kail Col Sullivan Indian Tery.   1780 In 1780 he served 2 months as B. Smith & furnished a Subst. there for 3 mo.  
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. 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 day 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 he 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 enquiry 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] 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.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[t] 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. }
W. L. Williams Ex Clerk

July 2, 1936
XXXXXXXXXXXX
Josephine Norris Shelbyville Indiana
SA-7/SEL John Gorsege-S.3579
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Gorsege who received a pension while living in Shelby County, Indiana, for service in the Revolutionary War.
The pension record has been found of only one John Gorsege, Revolutionary War soldier. In that pension claim, S.3579, it is shown that John Gorsege served in the North Carolina militia and was a resident of Sullivan County, Tennessee where he enlisted for service, then a part of the state of North Carolina. It is not shown in these papers that he ever resided in Indiana. Evidently some error was made in the early records as to his place of residence.
It is assumed that you are not interested in the Tennessee soldier and pensioner, John Gorsege.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

1936 July 2 - dd. Josephine Morrison that John Sopace was a Penn. Pensioner - 84 yrs min 17.
Rev War
2579 INVALID.
File No. 2579
John Grinage Rev. War
Act: June 7  1832
Index: Vol. A , Page 145
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Veterans administration Rev. War Records Division Washington D.C.

Shelbyville Ind.
Mch. 23 - 36
Veterans adm.
Rev. War Records Division
Washington D. C.
Dear Sir:
Would you please send me the Revolutionary service of John Gossage who served in Virginia Militia and was allowed a pension while living in Shelby County Indiana in 1833? I would appreciate it very much if you would forward me these records.
Thanking you I am
Josephine Morrison
Mary Mott Green chapter
D. A. R.
Shelbyville Ind.

Dec. 7.
Hon. 2 P.M. John
Hon. Secy. Secretary of war city of Washington

Rockhold store 29th Nov. 1832
Hon. Bk. Secretary of war
Sir
In close is the pension claims of John Gossage which I fondly hope will receive your early attention on the Rec d of this you will have the five following claims forwarded by me for persons whose situation does Require your early attention
Say Edward Cox
M m Carr
Abraham Crapp
John Bolin
& John Gossage
Some of my neighbours that for- warded at the time I asked has Rec d answers
Very Resp d
W m Rockhold

Rockholds Store 21 st June 1833
J. S. Edwards Esq.
Yrs
Enclosed is Mr. Gorrage's pension certificate. Will you order its pay- ment at the Leesburg agency and instruct Mr. Blair accordingly. With as little delay as convenient to the Department, also for wid John Be- -liss. Shortly I believe. Some time back sent to your office for alteration and send them both to Rockholds Store & c
W. Rockhold

Thoms a splendid Clerk in General Accounting Off. reported by phone June 30, 1936, that the first pay- ment of this pension was made Aug. 29, 1833 for period Mch. 4, 1831 to Mch. 4, 1833 & on that voucher soldier stated he was a resident of Sullivan Co., Tenn. where he had lived for 40 yrs. prior to which he resided in Baltimore Co., Md. He was last paid in Mch. 1835, at which time he was a resident of Monroe Co., Tenn. where he had resided for 3 mos. prior to which he had resided in Sullivan Co., Tenn. Thoms re- ported that he found his name on the Indiana Roll, but no record that any payment was ever made from and Indiana Agency. The Indiana Agency Book shows: John Gorsage, Pvt. (Cit. no. 7678 , Issued May 13, 1833, $23.33 per annum, Date of transfer June 28, 1831 (he had not applied then for pen. according to pension claim) from E. Tenn., Date last paid Mch. 4 1831 . Tenn. Agency Book has same cit. no., same date of issuance, same amt. No remarks. In 1835 Report of Sec. of War - Indiana List, he is shown as of Shelby County, Pvt. $23.33 per annum, sums re- ceived 1 , Va. Militia, placed on pen. roll May 13, 1833, commencement of pension Mch. 4, 1831, age 70 yrs., act 8/1832. In same vol. Tenn. Roll, Sullivan Co., he is recorded as: Pvt., $23.33 per annum, sums rec. $69.99, N. O. Mil., placed on pen. roll May 13, 1833, pen. commenced Mch. 4, 1833, age 92 yrs. MSV