Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4630, William Harper, N.C.

SERVICE
N 6
NUMBER
Harper, William
R 4630
CONTENTS

FREE
Free James L. Orr M.C.
Hon Loren P. Waldo, Comr. Pen. Washington D.C.

Revolutionary Claims
Anderson 10 th August 1853
Dear Sir,
William Harper of Anderson District made an application for a pension many years ago and it was suspended for the want of further proof soon after the old man died and the claim has been allowed to sleep - some of his legal heirs, my constituents - among others his widow desire to get information of the claim with the view of substantiating it by additional evidence. They have solicited my kind offices in the matter and I now have the honor to request that you will inform me what were the objections to his claim. I presume copies of the letters to him or his agent will show the objections. I hope to hear from you soon on the subject.
I have the honor to be very respectfully, Your Ob t Serv t , James L' Orr.
Hon. L. P. Waldo, Washington D C

33376
Mr. Bauper of South Carolina
Royal Rejected, in let 8- Nov. 1833 to
Van & Luehon 4.5 Anderson h. 127 Laca
U. Hon. J. R. Griffith H.R. July 13. 1833
I 243

BRIEF in the case of  Wm Harper of Anderson  Debt  in the State of  South Carolina  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 72.  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 1777 1774 55 1774 Priv Gen. Col. Sumter Col. Gwynn Col. O'Neal Col. Butler    "In actual service for 10 months"
 5. In what battles was he engaged?  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Orange County S.C. South Carolina  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary 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 except no date to last service.
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. C. McHenry  Examining Clerk.

Hon. Jas L. Orr Sept 5 p 3 Hon. J. L. Orr 26 July 1854.
William Harper Sci. Cav. -
Rejected Dec 8th 1833.
To Van A. Leaphan See letter from Lewis Sherrill Anderson 16 R. 9499 p. 6-
14 May 1835 Lt. Osborne.
Jan 36 Re Maddy Thompson 20 Apr 1836 do to same.
Act of D. Hill 1837 (over)

REJECTED
1630
P. O.
Wm Harper
Service:
1852 Printed Book - Rejected and suspended
Enlisted:
Pensions gives - Reasons
Discharged:
for rejection -
"He did not serve in any regularly organized corps."
Application filed:
18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P. O.
Recognized.
Contract

Mr Harper
M. M. Norton

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 Harper which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? No 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? No VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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?
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? 12. 7
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 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.

Pho. Resp. Apr. 14. 1836
Yrs.
You will please send me the papers referred to in the enclosed letter.
Very respectfully
your obed. serv.
W. Thompson