Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 84, Robert Holmes, N.C. Penn.

SERVICE
Holmes Robert Marjory
NUMBER
W. 84
Born in Ireland
CONTENTS

7280 West Tennessee
Robert Holmes
of Vermillion in the State of W Tenn who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Cockran of the Regt commanded by Col Alexander in the Pennl & N.C. line for 16 months 221 days
Order to pay 10 Oct 1837. Letter to Rev do do
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tennessee at the rate of 55 Dollars 64 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 th day of March 1833 and sent to John H Turner Gallatin Tennessee
Arrears to the 4th of March $ 111.28 Semi-ant. allowance ending p. Sept. 27.82 $139.10
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk, Book Vol. 7 Page 82
7163

Reported to Agent, see letter Lt Col A. Ferguson Oct 24 '43
Payable to Albert G. Holmes, Thomas Holmes, Elizabeth M. Cracken & Nancy Alexander, children of Robert & Marjory Holmes, etc.
A Ferguson May 27/54
To same July 31/54
To same Aug 1/54
same Oct 29/54
To same May 27/57
same Sept 26. 1857.
West Tennessee 7558
Marjory Holmes, ass. widow of Robert Holmes
who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 and who died on the 24 th February 1838 of Maury Co. in the State of Tennessee who was a Private in the company commanded by Captain Cochran of the regt. commanded by Col. Alexander in the Penn. & N.C. line for 16 mos. & 21 days
Inscribed on the Roll of Nashville at the rate of 55 Dollars 64 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. Payable to children, see endorsement. Widow died 30 th April 1841.
Certificate of Pension issued the 24 th day of August 1843 and sent to A. Ferguson, Carthage, Ten.
Whole amount due $278 : 20
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
File A. Vol. 2. Page 207.

Robert Holmes
Tennessee
No 7163-
from 1775 private 16 months & 21 days private.
55 \frac{66}{100}
Jno N. Turner Gallatin Ten

BRIEF in the case of Robert Woolner of Sumner County in the State of Tennessee (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? 83 Years,  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.     Voluntar In 1775 3 " As a Private Gen. Smallwood Capt Cochran   1777 " - 21 " Some Officers Gen Rutherford   1780 " 10 " " Col Alexander  Regt Col Read's Comp   1781 3 " ✓ Some Officers  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Brandywine & Camden  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Pennsylvania  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Examining Clerk.

THE P S A L M S O F D A V I D IN M E T R E:
Newly Translated, and diligently Compared with the Original TEXT, and former Translations.
More plain, smooth, and agreeable to the TEXT, than any heretofore.
Allowed by the Authority of the GENERAL ASSEMBLY of the KIRK of SCOTLAND, and appointed to be sung in Congregations and Families.
E D I N B U R G H:
Printed by the ASSIGNS of ALEXANDER KINCAID, His Majesty's Printer. M D C C L X X X V.

Robert and Mary was married October the 10 th 1781 Nathaniel July the 10 th 1782 Hanson was Born the October the twenleth second 1784 Elizabeth Mary was Born April the 10 th 1786 Elizabeth October 22 nd 1788 Mary February the 20 th 1792 Robert April the 10 th Robert March the 7 th 1793 James July the 14 th 1794 Thomas October the 10 th 1796 Nathaniel Holme James was Born April the 5 th 1799 Agnes Holmes was Born the 1 th day of november 1801 Robert Holmes was Born December the 25 th 1804

State of Tennessee } Enacted in the case of Sumner County } Margery Holmes, for Pension. September Term 1839 of the County Court for said County
Be it Remembered that this the 2 nd day of September 1839 personally appeared in open Court the same being a Court of Record Albert G. Holmes and Elijah Butler and made oath in due form of Law that the annexed Leaf is from the Family Bible of Robert Holmes deceased the late husband of Margery Holmes deceased and that we are well acquainted with the hand writing of said Robert Holmes deceased and that we believe that said writing on said annexed Leaf is in the hand writing of the said Robert Holmes deceased and that the same contains the original Record of the Register of the date of the Marriage of the said Robert Holmes and of the said Margery Holmes the widow of the said Robert Holmes deceased and the date of the birth of their children and that said Leaf had been taken from the Bible of said Robert Holmes used by us since his death for the purpose of forwarding to the Pension office of the U. States upon the application of said Margery Holmes for the Pension due her on account of the services of her aforesaid husband and the said Robert as evidence of the true period of their marriage — Albert G. Holmes
Sworn to in open Court before me Thos. H. Gentry Clerk
Elijah Butler

State of Tennessee Sevier County } I Thomas Donoho Clerk of the County Court for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing Certificate of Albert G. Hodges & Elizabeth Butler was Read in open Court & subscribed and sworn in open Court before me & that the annexed leaf is the same referred to in the within affidavit In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office in Gallatin this 3 rd day of September 1839 -
Thos. Donoho Clerk of Sevier County Court

The foregoing certificate is intended as an additional proof in the case of Margery Adams Widow of Robert Melbury deceased whose deposition has been on file in the Pension office some time & suspended for further proof as to the period of the marriage The Com d . of Pensions will please to give her case as early an examination as convenient - and let the result be known either to the Old Lady herself or to the undersigned at Grafton Tennessee Respectfully W. M. Blackmore

State of Tennessee ss -
Sumner County ss On this sixth day of August 1838 personally appeared in open court before the County Court for Sumner County and State of Tennessee Margery Holmes aged eighty
years who after being first duly sworn according to Law with on her oath makes the following declaration in order to claim the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed 24 th July 1836. That she is the widow of Robert Holmes who was a private soldier in the Revolutionary army of the United States as a militia man & served about fifteen months as this declarant is informed and believes for a particular description of her said husband's services reference is here made to a declaration made by him in his life time upon which he drew a pension which is now on file in the war office of the U. States.
She further declares she was married to the said Robert Holmes on the tenth day of October in the year nineteen hundred and eighty that her husband the above said Robert Holmes died on the twenty fifth of February eighteen hundred and thirty eight and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed. She further states that she has no record or positive proof of her marriage except the anniversary date of Mrs. Henry Henry which is

here Refered to upon that points Sworn to and subscribed to her in open Court the day and date above written — Levi Tho. Donoho Clerk } Margery Jenny Holmes of Sumner County Court } marks
State of Tennessee Sumner County } We the undersigned Jas G Webb & Geo A Baskerville hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the late Robert Holmes and believe he died at the time stated in the above decla- ration and that the said Margery Holmes was his lawful wife and has remained a widow ever since the period of his death Sworn to and subscribed in open Court this 15 th August 1838- Jas G Webb Geo A Baskerville
Tho. Donoho Clerk of Sumner County Court
State of Tennessee Sumner County } I Thomas Donoho Clerk of the County Court of said Sumner County do hereby certify that the above and foregoing contains the original proceedings had in said Court in the matter of the application of Margery Holmes widow of Robert Holmes for a pension in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office this 15 th day of August A. D. 1838
Tho. Donoho Clerk of Sumner County Court

7163.
Robert Warner.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832
State of Tennessee On this 20 th day of August 1832
Sumner County personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the County Court of Sumner now sitting
Robert Homes a resident in said County and State aged eighty three years having been born in Ireland on January 5 th 1748 landed in Philadelphia June 1748 lived in Pennsylvania in the Forks of the Brandy wine until 1777 who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 That about the last of May 1775 applicant volunteered under Capt Cockran for a term of 3 months - Marched first to Wilmington on the Delaware, from thence up to Philadelphia in bro. then remained stationed in the Court House - then up the Delaware to Trenton remained there one day & night & drew our rations - then marched to Princeton in New Jersey then remained a short time - We then marched to Brunswick - then to Woodbridge then to Amboy on North River: We were then ordered to the New Jersey State where we remained until our term expired. Whilst stationed at the last mentioned place we exchanged fires frequently with the Hessian who lay stationed on the opposite side of the river. After the expiration of our term we were discharged
Applicant again volunteered under Capt Cockran and was attached to Genl Smallwood's brigade or division and was in the battle of Brandywine - Served at this time about three weeks
After having moved, in the latter part of the year 1777 to Rowan County State of North Carolina applicant volunteered as a Lieutenant in the month of May 1780 under Capt Samuel Reid was attached to Col Alexander's Regiment and Genl Rutherford's Brigade Marched down near Camden then to Rugley's Mills

We then took our march for Camden - on about half the way between the miles and Camden armies Gates and Cornwallis, met. - Gates was defeated. In which defeat Col. Galt was killed: Genl Rutherford and Maj. Gibbon were taken prisoners with many others - applicant was among the number - applicant with other prisoners was marched to Camden - Saw the wounds on Genl Rutherford's head which he had received from Tarleton's Dragoons. We were then marched to Charleston. Each day 150 were marched off until the 900 prisoners were all marched off. The first 150 were released by Marion on the high hills of Santee applicant was marched 3 rd day. After staying a short time at Charleston we were prisoners marched down & put aboard the prison ships - 5 in number The Concord, The Two Sisters & The Fidelity where applicant remained about four months. About Newyears day applicant with all that survived the attack of the Small Pox whilst on the ships, was landed and was put in the Barracks; where he remained until the latter part of February, when he with 3 men from Virginia, escaped Thomas Lee, Lofly, Task & Thomas Riley, made their escape; and arrived at home the last of March a few days before Cornwallis marched to Salisbury Genl Rutherford having been exchanged applicant again volunteered under Capt Reed attached to the first regiment of Genl Rutherford's brigade was marched down to Wilmington; where some British were stationed with whom we had several skirmishes, and who after hearing of Cornwallis' surrender, vacated the place leaving it to be possessed by us. After the expiration of our term of service 3 months we returned home bringing us as much salt as the wagons of Genl Rutherford's Brigade could hold. The above is all of the service recollected performed by applicant. He does not know of any person living whose testimony he can procure by whom he can prove his services.

Applicant lived in Rowan County North Carolina until 1806 when he moved to Sumner County State of Tennessee where he has lived since.
Applicant has no Documentary evidence by which he can establish his claim. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present; and declares that his name is not on the Pension Rolls of the Agency of any State. Sworn to, and subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court Robert Holmes Test J. H. Douglass Clerk
We James Charlton and John H. Turner residing in the County of Sumner State of Tennessee, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Holmes, who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be eighty three 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.
James Charlton Sworn to in Open Court J. H. Turner Augt 20th 1832 J. H. Douglass Clerk
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 certify that it appears to them, that James Charlton and John H. Turner who have signed the preceding Certificate, are residents of Sumner County, and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I A. H. Douglass, Clerk of the County Court of Sumner, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the mat- ter of the application of Robert Holmes for a Pension. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office this 25 th day of August A.D. 1839 —
A. H. Douglass Clerk

State of Tennessee Maury County
At a Court begun and held for the county and State aforesaid at the Court House in Lafayette on Monday the 5 th day of September 1853 present The Worshipful Wilson T Adams Washington White and Sampson Jones Esqs Personally appeared in open court being a court of record Albert G Holmes a resident of the County aforesaid aged forty nine years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the acts of Congress passed on the 7 th day of June 1832 allowing pensions to officers and Soldiers who were engaged in the War of the Revolution and also the act of Congress passed on the 7 th day of July 1835 and the various acts and amendments to the above named acts allowing pensions and arrearages of pensions that should have been allowed to the said officers and Soldiers and their widows during their lifetime and to which their children acquire a right to after their death Declarant states that he the said Albert G Holmes Thomas Holmes Elizabeth McCracken and Nancy Alexander are the children of and lawful heirs of the said Robert Holmes and Mary Holmes deceased that their father Robert Holmes was a pensioner of the United States at the rate of about $55. 00 dollars per annum and drew his pension at Nashville Tennessee that their mother Mary Holmes was then placed on the place on the the pension list after the death of their father and died on or about the 30 th day of April 1841 and that the above rate of pension was paid to the heirs above stated. Declarant states that at the time his

father in his lifetime made application for a pension he went with him to Gallatin when court was in Session for the county of Sumner and DeKalb. distinctly recollects that a young man in Mr. Turner's office drew up his father's declaration and transcribed by Mr. Turner that his father alleged his services to have been as Lieutenant that the same was done in a great hurry amidst the confusion and bustle of the court then in Session But not having these papers to refer to cannot say whether the same was inserted or not Declarant states that when his father was placed on the pension list he was greatly dissatisfied as he expected the pay of Lieutenant for at least one year service in the Revolution ten months of which was in captivity hereafter mentioned another portion of his time as a Captain of horse another part of his service as orderly Sergeant. And would have made another effort to obtain his full pension had not his Agent John M. Turner died. His father was also prevented from renewing his application on account of the distance and remote situation he lived from court at Gallatin and being old and infirm and unable to travel Declarant will now state the services of his father in the war of the Revolution often told him long before the pension laws were in existence and was a favourite conversation with him in his family to his children since his early recollection and which Declarant fully believes to be true
Declarant states that his father enlisted in the service of the United States as a volunteer in the month of May 1780 was elected a first Lieutenant in the company commanded by Captain Samuel Read a Regiment when it was first raised and organized was attached to Col. Alexanders Regiment and General Rutherfords brigade and served until the battle of Camden or Gates defeat on the 16th August following where he was taken prisoner

And carried to Charleston Declarant States That his father often told him the circumstances and disasters of this defeat That during the engagement the Militia and Volunteers Most of them were driven off the field of battle That he was separated from his company and attached himself to Barron Dobb's Regulars and fought until he was taken prisoner by two British Dragoons That after he was carried to Charleston he was placed aboard a prison Ship and there kept a considerable time until the prisoners of the Regular Army then in the Barracks in Charleston were about Mutiny and burn the City when they were put on board the prison ships in place of the Volunteers and the Volunteers in- cluding his father were transferred to the Barracks Declarant States that his father continued a prisoner until about ten months at which time his father and three others made their escape by digging under both the inward and outward Stockade with old worn out Spades and when they got out at the water edge in the night time the tide was up and they had to wait until it fell before they could travel during which time they got the watch word of the relieving guard "All is well," So close were they to the Sentinel. They pursued their course through the pine forest travelling in the night time and hiding in the day until they met with some friends who gave them provisions and direction to find Marion These men or friends were by the name of Helder They came to General Marion who treated them kindly and gave them provision to last them Home Declarant States that to the best of his recollection his father was about twelve months in this town as a Lieutenant, ten months of which was or at least from the battle of Camden above stated until May 1781 was a prisoner of war for which he claims the full pay of a Lieutenant Declarant further States that his father stayed at Home but about two weeks when he entered the Service again but cannot state the Captain's name

name but he distinctly recollects his father saying either in this or some other tour Service to have been as ordinary Sergeant. His father returned home after serving about three months. in this tour His father returned home during the Summer of 1781. The war was then raging in North Carolina and the British Army after the battle of Guilford had taken the route to Virginia. His father then raised a company of horse was Captain of the Company Marched to Virginia but did not arrive at Little Fork before the Surrender but got very near the place when he received orders to return to North Carolina. His company were ordered to guard some Salt Waggons on their March to North Carolina which was an article much in demand. He was out a three months tour This time being in all about eighteen months These Services as before stated his father often told him about long before the pension laws was ever heard of and Declarant fully believes to be true. The premises considered Declarant prays that the whole matter be taken up by the commissioners of Pensions and such arrearages of pension granted as in Justice belong to the heirs and as the heirs live in different States remote from each other Declarant prays that the pension allowed be made payable to the lawful Administrator of Margery Holmes deceased and as in duty bound they will ever pray &c. Declarant further states that his father lived in Iredale county North Carolina during the war of the Revolution and moved from that State after the Revolution about the year 1808 to Sumner County Tennessee where he lived until his death Sworn to in open Court Albert G. Holmes A.B. A.C. Clerk

N o 8645.
Margaret Holmes Tennessee
Act 7 th July '38
Admitted
16 mo 21 days
Private
$55.66
Jan 21. 43 A Fergusson Carthage Tennessee

State of Tennessee
Macon County Court of Monthly Sessions January term 1843
On this day to wit the 2 nd of January aforesaid personally appeared Albert G. Holmes a resident of the county aforesaid in open court 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 July 4 th 1838 that he and the children hereinafter named are the children of Robert and Mary Holmes who was a Pensioner of the United States and died on the 24 th day of February 1838 and that his widow the said Mary Holmes remained his widow after his death until the last day of April 1841 when she departed this life leaving the following named persons as her legal heirs and representatives to wit Albert G. Holmes Thomas Holmes Elizabeth M c Cracken and Nancy Alexander also the heirs of Robert Holmes & Mary Henderson and that during her widowhood she made application for a Pension under the act of July 4 th 1838 that she the said Mary Holmes was married to the said Robert Holmes about the 10 th of October 1781 agreeable to the family record kept by the said Robert and Mary Holmes that they only know of the marriage by the record and other witness having a knowledge of the fact
They further declare that the said Mary Holmes remained a widow until her death which took place on the 30 th of April 1841 as above stated They further declare that the above named heirs are the only legal heirs of the said Mary and Robert Holmes
Sworn to and subscribed in open court the day and year first above mentioned
Thos A Williams att of Macon County Court
Albert G. Holmes

State of Tennessee Macon County } Court of Monthly Session January term 1843
January term 1843
January term 1843 On Motion it is ordered to be certified as the opinion of this court from the testimony before them and their own knowledge of the facts contained in the foregoing affidavit or declaration of Albert G Holmes that Robert Holmes deceased was a Pensioner of the United States and that he left a Widow whose name was Mary Holmes and that she died on the  30 th April  1841 leaving the Children States in the further declaration as her only legal heirs and it is further ordered to be certified that this court conceives and believes the statements in said declaration to be true and that Albert G Holmes who has made the within statements is a man well known to a part of the Justices of this court and that full credit is due to his statements.
In testimony whereof, the Chairman of said Court has hereunto set his hand and seal this Second day of January 1843
Saylor G Gilliam Chairman
State of Tennessee Macon County
I Thomas A Williams clerk of the County Court of Mason County do hereby certify that the foregoing affidavit of Albert G Holmes and the above proceedings of the County Court were had in open court on the day and year the same purports to bear date and that the adjudications  in 1841 at the time were made in court. My testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal there being no seal of office yet provided by the court of which I am clerk This 5 th day of January 1848
Tho s A Williams clk of Macon County Court
※ See clerks certificate on next page.

State of Tennessee Macon County
to Thomas A Williams clerk of the county court of said Macon County. Hereby certify that interlocutory in 11 th and 12 th lines in the opinion of the court were made before the court and before signed by the chairman In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my private
seal there being as yet no seal of office this 5 th Day of January 1843
Tho s A Williams clk of Macon County Court

August 8, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. M. Holmes DeRouen Erath, Box 96 Louisiana
BA-J/MCS Robert Holmes, W.84
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to Robert Holmes, a Revolutionary War soldier who lived in North Carolina.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, W.84, based on the military service of the only Robert Holmes of North Carolina that is found in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Robert Holmes was born January 5, 1748, in Ireland (exact place not given) and he landed in Philadelphia in June, 1771, and lived in Pennsylvania on the forks of the Brandywine until 1777. The names of his parents were not given.
He enlisted about the last of May, 1775, and served three months as private in Captain Cochran's Pennsylvania company. He enlisted in 1777 and served about three weeks in Captain Cochran's Pennsylvania company and was in the battle of Brandywine. Late in 1777 he moved to Rowan County, North Carolina, and in May, 1780, he was elected first lieutenant and entered the service in Captain Samuel Reed's company in Colonel Alexander's North Carolina regiment; during the battle of Camden on August 16, 1780, he was taken prisoner, was marched to Charleston and placed on one of the British prison ships, Concord, Two Sisters and or Fidelity, was confined there about four months when about New Years Day all who survived the attack of smallpox were landed and placed in Barracks and about the last of February he made his escape and reached home about the last of March, 1781. He soon after enlisted and served three months in Captain Reed's North Carolina company and was in several skirmishes with the British. It was stated that about the time of the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown he served a few days under Captain Henry.

Robert Holmes lived in Rowan County, North Carolina, until 1806 when he moved to Sumner County, Tennessee.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832, at which time he was living in Sumner County, Tennessee.
He died February 23, 24, or 25, 1838.
He married October 10, 1781, Marjory (name also appears as Margrey) the daughter of Thomas Bell.
As the widow of Robert Holmes, Marjory Holmes applied for pension August 6, 1838, while living in Sumner County, Tennessee. The claim was allowed.
In August, 1838, she stated she was eighty years of age, in November, 1838, she stated she was seventy-seven years of age. In 1839 she was living in Williamson County, Tennessee, at the home of Thomas McCracken.
Marjory Holmes died April 30, 1841, in Macon County, Tennessee.
Following The names of the following children of Robert and Marjory Holmes appear:
Nathaniel born July 18, 1782. Hanon " October 22, 1784. "Marey" " April 10, 1786. Elizabeth " October 22, 1788. "Margrey" " February 20, "1799". Robert " March 7, 1791 or 1793. James " July 14, 1794. Thomas " October 10, 1796. "Nathanel Holems Juner" " April 5, 1799. Agnes " November 4 or 7, 1801. Robert " December 25, year illegible.
The following children of Robert and Marjory Holmes survived their mother: Albert G. Holmes who was living in Macon County, Tennessee, in 1853 aged forty-nine years, Thomas Holmes, Elizabeth McCracken and Nancy Alexander. It was stated that the widow, Marjory Holmes, was survived also by "the heirs of Robert Holmes and Marjory Henderson".
There are no further data relative to soldier's family.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

1938. Aug. 8. hist. to Mrs. M. Holmes de Rouen 1939. Oct. 6. Mrs. M. H. de Rouen inf. no further data. MAB
84
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 84
Marjory Holmes Widow Robert Holmes Priv. Pa. Line
Act: July 7 th 1838
Index:—Vol. A , Page 340
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Carthage Tennessee 27 th May 1882
Sir
The administrator of the estate of Mrs. Mary Holmes Widow of Robert Holmes deceased a Pensioner of the United States has placed in my hands the business of establishing her claim to a Pension. The business heretofore was in the hands of Mr Blackamore of Gallatin Sumner County. The administrator is also a son of the old Lady. You will please inform me without delay what proof is wanting to establish the claim. Also if the fact be so that the heirs will have to file a new declaration Her son informs me that you intimated a Pension under act of 7 th July 1888 could be allowed without any further trouble if so inform me of it or inclose the certificate The death of the old Lady having taken place within the last year the difference of Pension would not be much more under the act of 4 th July 1886 than it would be under act of 1888 you will therefore do as you think best in matter
Respectfully A. H. G. Russell
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions

✓ Margaret Holmes Schneider Act 4 July 1836.
Suspended
Per let: 13 Sept 1838 W. M. Blackman do 19 March 1839 do. 16 Nov 1839 do. 18 July 1840 let: A. Ferguson 16 June 1842, to same 30 Nov: 42.
Act 4 July 1836

Robert Holmes W o Jun: Act of June 1832 to what time paid
Pen. Offic er
Sept 13. 1838
Due 23 Feb 1838 p er h is service
214

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Robert Woolmes 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

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 ?
no
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it ?
no
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 ?
yes
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?
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 ?
yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily ? And, if not, which of them is not so answered ?
2 & 4 not 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, 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 the 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.
‡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 authenticated 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 end 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.

No 8645
Certificate to issue
to
Albert G. Holmes
Thomas Holmes
Elizabeth McCracken
Nancy Alexander
Children of Robert and Maryj Holmes
Admitted
16 mo. 21 days
Private
$ 53.66 4
A. Fergusson Carthage Tennessee.

Brief in the case of Maynard Holmes and Robert Holmes filed 17 th October 1856

Pension Office
October 16 th 1856
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Sir In the case of the heirs of Robert And Mary Holmes deceased who were pensioners your attention is respectfully called to the following errors
Robert Holmes made his Declaration under Act of June 1832 in which he distinctly states three months and twenty one days      3 Months in Pennsylvania      21 days In North Carolina having Moved there in 1777 volunteered and served as 1 st Lieutenant Capt Reed's company Col Alexander's Regiment was taken prisoner at Gates defeat while in Service as Lieutenant carried to Charleston Made his escape and reached home last of March following say as Lieutenant first was      10 Months Not exchanged until some time after alleges three months afterward      3 " 16 th 21
Pensioned as private for $55.00 he declares at the time that he has no documentary evidence in support

of his claim consequently in the absence of a commission or documentary evidence he lost the pay of a Lieutenant and only received the pay of a private from the 4 th March 1831 to 24 th February 1838 when he should have received the pay of a Lieutenant
Arrears of Pension or increase is claimed for the pay of Lieutenant for 11 XX months deducting some payments at the rate of $55 66 from the 4 th March 1831 to the 24 th day of February 1838
A new Declaration of Albert S Holmes Son and heir at law is on file in which he distinctly states the manner in which his father's Declaration was imperfectly drawn up and states the services of his father as volunteer without having any knowledge of the  fact  from  any  other  source This Declaration is dated 5 th September 1853 and alleges other service of his father as captain and gives the details of the service with particularity
The Comptroller's certificate of North Carolina bears date 20 th July 1854 nearly one year afterwards and shows a payment to a large amount and fully identifies the service alleged by the Son and the heirs but his Son does not allege the service in

Pennsylvania only the Service in North Carolina Which he estimates at 18 months, 10 months in captivity at Charleston and two months previous in all 12 months as Lieutenant Three months as ordinary Sergeant; Three months as capt of horse in all 18 months as above stated His father alleges 3 months and twenty one days but as he has received a pension for that Service and the widow also nothing is claimed for this Service. Unless the rules of the Department satisfies the same An increase therefore is claimed for the pay of ordinary Sergeant Lieutenant and Captain and the head of Payments fully justify the allowance When this case was up two years ago before Mr. Waldo he was about to leave for home and had not time to correct the many errors in the examiners report See my bill of exceptions in perfectly made out Respectfully R. H. H. H.

Pension Office July 31 st 1834,
Sir,
I have carefully examined the payments certified by the Comptroller of North Carolina, filed as evidence to sustain an application for increase of pension in the case of Robert Hodges, who was a pensioner of the United States under the act of June 7 th 1832, at $55.64. c. These payments were evidently not made to the party in right of whose services this claim is asserted. The greater portion of them purport to have been made for services as captain . Neither he nor his widow claim any such service in their declarations; *but what is still more and entirely decisive of the point, is, that the services for which these payments were made, were performed, some of them, two years

before the father of Claimants removed into the State of North Carolina, and nearly all the remainder after he unquestionably left the army for the last time. In this certif- -icate there is a payment to "Robert Holmes," for services in 1775. The claimants father claimed and was allowed for service, in Pa; in this very year, and for other small tours in the two following years. He swears he did not remove from Pa; to North Carolina till the fall of 1777; again, he states in his declaration that he entered the army in N. C. in May, 1780, and served till the death of De Kalb, (16 th August, 1780), when he was made prisoner and escaped in "the latter part of February 1781," and in the following March re-entered the army for three months , at the expiration of which time (June 1781), he "returned home"; and this he swears is all the service he

performed in N.C. Now the payments show that a large portion of the service of "Capt. Robert Holmes," and his company was allowed for in the Spring of 1782, and the balance "subsequently to that time". It is evident, therefore, that the "Capt. Robert Holmes," who received the payments certified, and the pensioner of that name on our rolls, and whose stipend is sought to be increased, were different persons. This claim, is consequently rejected.
I am Respectfully Your Oat. Sol.
S. M c rae Commissioner.
A. Ferguson, Esq. Present.

Deed in the case of the heirs of Maryony Holmes deceased widow of Robert Holmes filed July 29 th 1854

Washington City
July 28 th 1854
Sir
In the case of Maryy Holmes widow of Robert Holmes both of whom were Pensioners on the Nashville Tennessee Agency The widow Succeeding under act of 7 th July 1838 to the same rate of pension her husband drew and now renewed by her children heirs of herself and said Robert Holmes I herewith file the facts in this brief to wit Maryy Holmes was placed on the roll at the rate of $55. 62 and after her death her son Albert G Holmes drew her pension as Administrator of her estate and distributed the same among her heirs
Albert G Holmes was a man of some business habits and about the year 1850 informed me that his father had always expressed dissatisfaction at the small pension he received That he was an officer served first as a Sergeant then as a Subaltern afterwards as Captain and urged me to make application for the Amount I drew up his Declaration as he stated to me and sent it on here about May last See my letter of request asking delay until the records of North Carolina could be examined to see what evidence they could afford The Comptroller's Certificate is herewith filed marked Exhibit "A" and prayed to

to be taken as part of the evidence in this case as fully establishing the Claim. This record shows large payments made to Robert Holmes as Captain and it is remarkable that the payments made to him as Captain agree with the Statements of his Son Albert G Holmes. He States the Service as Captain previous to the Surrender of Cornwallis in 1781 and the payments were made for this same Service in year following 1782. Neither Albert G Holmes nor myself knew any thing about the records or what they would show. Nor was it known to any thing about it until the 20 th instant at Raleigh the date of the certificate herewith filed. The payments other than for Captain will cover his Services as Lieutenant and private.
I have just looked into his original Declaration and find that he alleges Service in Pennsylvania before he moved to North Carolina and he dwells particularly on his enlistment and Service as Lieutenants and his being taken prisoner at Camden and taken to Charleston. He fully identifies himself with his Sons Declaration made twenty years before. I think we are fully justified in asking a full pension for all the Services alleged as private Sergeant Lieutenant and Captain. And I think you will readily see that his original Declaration has been badly drawn up and does not minutely describe his Services particularly as Captain but I rely upon the new Declaration and the

Comptroller certificate as fully Testifying this particular Service as Captain. I wish a thorough examination of the case and as the prayer of the New Declaration insists upon such allowance as to Justice belongs I hope the payments in the Comptroller certificate will be calculated and all that is due the heirs allowed them When the pension certificate is issued please let it be made payable to the "lawful Administrator of Mary Holmes "deceased,, to be by him distributed among the heirs of Respectfully A. Bergsson
L P Waldo Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington City

Carthage Tennessee 11 th October 1843
Sir
The Pension certificate of Mrs Maryy Holmes deceased widow of Robert Holmes has been duly received some time since and on application to the Agent for paying Pensions at Nashville Mr Joel M Smith he informed me that no claim of that name had been reported to him directing him to pay the same. and therefore he could not pay it until directed You will therefore be kind enough to direct him to pay the claim on the producing the proper vouchers. I have no doubt its non payment was an oversight in the hurry of the business of your office Please attend to it Without Delay With great Respect yours &c A Hergussouf
James L Edwards Esq Commissioner of Pensions Washington

May 22 1856
Filed agreeably to the request of the agent to await further proof, —

Carthago Tennessee 11 th May 1885
Sir
Inclosed please find the Declaration of Albert G Holmes Son and heir of Robert and Marygry Holmes deceased in order to obtain the arrears of pension that should have been paid to his father and mother in their lifetime
They were pensioners and from the small amount allowed and paid it appears that great injustice was done them. I attended to the case of the mother but was not apprised satisfactorily that the father was an officer until a later date which came to my knowledge by the heirs informing me of the facts
Be pleased to file this Declaration with the original papers in the case and as the evidence on file in the pension Office may show some light on the subject of which I hope will be satisfactory I wish the same to be examined all to gathr but before you do this I will endeavour to ascertain what other proof from the records of South or North Carolina will afford I wish the case to be suspended until called up and further investigated
Affectfully
L P Waldo Esq Commissioner of Pensions
N Hergussone

A. Fergusson.
Carthage Tenn.
Aug 19. 1857
of case
✓
Appeals from the
decision of Robert Comr. of Pensions in case of R. Holmes' heirs. or wid
Marjory - Jan. 1858
Respectfully referred to the Commissioner of Pen- sions for his Report. Dept. Int. Moses Kelly Sept. 23/57. Chf. Clk.
Rec'd 12 Sep: 57 Mr. Rhatt

Carthage Tennessee 19 th August 1857
Sir
In the case of the children and heirs of Marjory Holmes Widow of Robert Holmes of Sumner County Tennessee for arrears or increase of Pension due them I ask and pray an appeal for them in their behalf and for their benefit. And for errors in the decision of the Pension Office respectfully call your attention to a full and careful examination of the whole case that justice may be done. Although the grounds taken founded on proof, have been urged in various letters on file, yet perhaps a recapitulation of the prominent facts may be here proper as well as some of the causes of error. Robert Holmes made his Declaration under act of June 1832 and alleged that he served in Pennsyl- vania two years of service. Then moved to North Carolina in the year 1778 or about that time. That he entered the service as a volunteer under Captain Reid about the first of May 1780 and was elected the Lieutenant of said company and served in that capacity until the battle of Camden or Gates defeat in South Carolina at which place he was taken prisoner and detained as such at Charleston until until March or April 1781 a period of at least ten or perhaps eleven months when he with three others made their escape. Now all this time he held the office of Lieutenant for captivity is equal to service and has so been decided over and over again in all cases of the kind, and also whatever grade of office held that grade is not changed by being captured or

or taken prisoner while in the line of his duty. I therefore am fully justified in this position and the grounds are well taken. But there is another view of this original declaration as I conceive equally important to a fair adjudication of this case to which I here call your attention.
At the period of the passage of the act of 1832 Captain Holmes was in the decline of life. A period of 55 years had passed since he was in Service and if he was old enough in 1775 in Pennsylvania to serve inferrence is he was a very old man and could not recite his services with accuracy. Indeed at that day no one knew much about the Pension laws. A form was sent out by the Pension Office without the requirements of technical rules. Magistrates and any person that could write made out the declarations for these old men without fee or reward and read over to them in a hurry they not understanding half what they ought to state and thus applicant was carried before the court asked a few questions and the oath administered to him. The court and bystanders all knowing from reputation and tradition that he was reputed and always had been, to be a soldier of the Revolution no doubt existed as to the truth of his statements. And here let me say, that it was fully believed in that day that records of the Service existed in the Pension office and that any omission or mistake would be corrected. Besides there were no records in the West or South in these cases to resort to nor would have been expedient in that day and time to require it. General Jackson's Administration then existed who together with his Cabinet knew too well the character of the soldiers of the Revolution as well as the mode of doing justice to the applicant in a summary way. It appears also from the new declaration of his son duly sworn to whose character for truth is duly attested and can be at

all times supported by all who knew him that he went with his father to Gallatin the county seat of Sumner to make his declaration in open court That a young clerk wrote out his declaration, that he was qualified to the same and never knew that he was to receive the small pension allowed him until his certificate came to hand at which he complained frequently and often of the injustice done him up to his death but did not know that he could obtain redress. I will however here admit that in the absence of documentary evidence showing the grade of Lieutenant the commission of Pensions Mr Edwards was in the habit of allowing no higher payment than the pay of a private unless documentary evidence was produced. There was at that time any rolls of the Militia or records of payments to officers or men supposed to exist and if they were the labour was not to be undertaken by any one and in fact was not resorted to in Tennessee. What I have stated I am fully sustained in the case as well as I recollect not having the papers before me. So much then as a keep of the old mans case the balance I refer to the papers and letters on file for a more accurate history of the case up to the time of his escape at Chattanooga Now I submit the question here to you. If a prisoners escape will not his captivity still continue by construction until regularly exchanged if so Captain Holmes was in captivity until we find him again Service. I now come to the later part of his declaration which seems to me to show very plainly that his draftsman was tired of his occupation or that the old mans money had failed for he states that he was out again as a volunteer and the grade of captain is not mentioned yet he served three months & was allowed for three months in the summer of 1861 and fall of

that year. But it must be recollect that Hostler did not terminat in North Carolina with fall of Cornwallis but continued against the strong forces of the Tories until 1783 and perhaps afterwards under authority of the existing Government. It will not be expected of me to speak definitely about the Comptroller's certificate of payments to Robert Holmes as Private Sergeant Lieutenant and Captain as I have never kept any memorandum of them in the papers on file and they are not before me. But I will here state my recollection. The Comptroller of North Carolina was applied to by me in person and the certificate obtained long after the New Declaration filed by the heirs. I drew up the Declaration not knowing what proof could be obtained from the Comptroller's office nor did the heirs know or any one else for them or me. The date of the New Declaration will show how long a period the same was made out and filed before the date of the certificate of the Comptroller and there was no knowledge of mine or theirs giving any light upon the matter of his services and this I am ready to show by proof as well as the papers on file. Yet it is one of those remarkable occurrences in the eliciting of truth that will often happen in a just claim and so happens in this case that the narrative of the son who took care of his father in his old age and who always was hearing his father relate his services substantially corresponds with the payments in the Comptroller's certificate obtained by me months afterwards. And I am ready to make affidavit if required that I had no idea whatever what was

on file in the Comptroller's office. It is true when the Son revealed to me the true facts of the case which I will explain when I come to that part of the case and it was determined upon that an application for arrears of Pension should be prosecuted. I told him from the general information I had that in other cases that if he served in the manner he stated I was almost sure the evidence could be found in Raleigh North Carolina. There was no evidence before me of the payments when I drew up the Declaration of the Son. And I here frankly state that he was for months trying to reconcile the periods of service as Sergeant which he persisted in as having been performed by his father before he was Captain of a Company. Besides the payments if I recollect well are awarded to "Captain Holmes and Company" of this however I am not certain. One thing satisfies me that the payments made to Captain Holmes corresponds substantially with the declarations of the Son and that too without his having any previous knowledge of them. I now come to relate how the application was gotten up. It is true that I made out the Declaration of Marygory Holmes the Widow under act of 7 th July 1838 & I was not aware that any complaint was ever made by the father in his lifetime of injustice done him. They lived some forty miles from me. The Son Albert G Holmes saw me at Court in Macon County and employed me for his mother and the only thing that recollect that gave me any difficulty was whether she ought to make out her Declaration under act of 4 th July 1836 or 7 th July 1838. For if I recollect well her marriage took place in 1780, perhaps 1781 at

least the papers on file will show; and I recollect well that the impression was very strong on my mind from what the Son told me that his father had served a good part of his Revolutionary Services after the marriage. But I told the Son and his Mother when I drew up her declaration, that as her husband had drawn his Pension past the year 1836 before his death there would be no advantage in making the declaration under act of 4 th July 1836 as she could only draw back to his death, and thus it was determined upon to make the application under act of 7 th July 1835. I here refer again for the correctness of these statements to the date of the marriage and the date of his death. Of the foregoing last facts are shown by the papers on file. She was strictly entitled to a Pension under act of 4 th July 1836 and was entirely free from the objections of the Pension Office. That the husband "having survived the act of 1832 and she died before the passage of the Joint Resolution of 16 th August 1842, therefore the increase for that period during her life after her husband's death" is rejected,
I have no memorandums or recollection of the allegations in the widows case. If there were any thing more than simply to alledge that she was the widow of Robert Holmes the Pensioner I do not recollect it. I here positively aver that the knowledge of the grounds for increase of Pension never came to my knowledge until about a year previous to the date of the Declaration in behalf of the heirs, and that this information came from the Son by accident. I happened to be travelling and stayed with him all night when among other things he related to me the great injustice done his father in small pension allowed alledging at the time

times that his father had served as Captain as well as Lieutenants in the war of the Revolution and that he had always complained most bitterly of the injustice done him in the small pension allowed him. I asked him why he had not told me of this when his Mother made application, his answer was that I had told him she could only draw the amount his father drew and had no idea whatever but what they were forever barred by the decision of the Pension Office to him wholly unknown. nor did either of us know what his father's pension was I examined him then closely and obtained from the facts stated in his (Albert G Holmes the son) declaration which I am fully satisfied from the character of the man is true . I have thus given a correct account of the reasons why application for increase of the widow was not made I knew nothing of the claim previous to my being employed by the son for his mother and this I am ready to make affidavit if required. I now come to the objections raised by the Pension Office which I consider erroneous and without foundation agreeable to the facts in the case. In a letter of the Commissioner of Pensions under date of 7 th August 1854 embodying a lengthy argument against the allowances claimed. He sets out after some preliminary statements to reject the claim of the heirs to an increase during the widowhood of the mother on the ground that her husband survived the act of 7 th June 1832 and that she died before the Joint Resolution of the 16 th August 1842. I cannot see how he comes to this conclusion when it was the practice of the Pension Office to grant Pensions commencing at the date of the husband's death to continue five years from that period as was the case in granting her a Pension during her widowhood to the children. Beside it occurs to me that this decision cutting of the Pension on account of the husband's surviving the act of 1832 has been recinded or was Repealed by Resolutions or acts since passed

but if I am mistaken in this (for I have not the laws nor decisions before me) I am very certain that the Pension Office had no facts before them as they now have to determine whether she was entitled under act of 4 th July 1834 or the act of 7 th July 1838 when they allowed the widow claim to the children; Nor was it even known so far as my experience extends that the Pension Office would extend infor- -mation to an applicant for a higher rate of pension under a different act when a less pension was claimed. Suppose for instance that no pension had ever been allowed to the father or mother, would not the claim by the children be valid upon application as an original claim for the amount that was due the father and afterwards the mother and would not the Pension Office under such application have required of the claimants the evidences of service from the Army rolls or documents of the Revolution in the same manner as have been furnished in the present case? This seems to me conclusive that such evidence would certainly be required. If the object is to require evidence and then reject it by placing a construction upon it wholly unwarranted why require it at all. But it is proper here to enter more fully upon the claim of Robert Holmes as captain. I take it for certain that the original Declaration of Robert Holmes gives but a very imperfect history of his services. The draftsman dwells upon his services in Pennsylvania and particularly about the battle of Camden and death of Stalkb and his being taken prisoner and carried to Charles town and his escape and as if true of his own motion breaks off abruptly by stating that he volunteered again under captain read and as the rule was required by the Pension Office the old man is caused to say that this is all the service and this last word is sustained upon by the Pension Office as a full the plea in bar of any

any further claim although proven by the record to be false. Now Sir can you for one moment hesitate which to rely upon the original declaration or the Comptroller's certificate. That there was a Robert Holmes there is no doubt for the payments show that fact. That there was but one of that name appears from the fact that no evidence to the contrary appears either as an applicant before the Pension Office from any place claiming the same Service No. now known will be. And the old man in his dotage and a young and unexperienced clerk is to make out a full expose of time Services and dates of Sixty years Standing from from Memory Against a Standing record and required that they shall agree to a certainty. I do not think however Mr. Examiner was very correct as to history or records when he states that the battle of Crumlin happened on the 16 th October 1750 when if I recollect history says it took place on the 16 th August of that year and not October. This because is not material only to show that it is in perfect keeping with superficial argument throughout of the letter of the 7 th of August 1854. I take it for granted that Robert Holmes could not be estopped or preclude himself by a failure on his part to alledge the full amount of Services at the time of his making his declaration. I believe it is a rule of law that in adjusting accounts and signing them by the parties that if there is omissions or errors equity will open the settlement and adjust the same even if Notes have been passed and I believe this rule extends in law as well as equity. It is free

There must be grounds for opening Settlements closed by parties interested but when there is plain and palpable proof as well as circumstances there can be no rule or precedent to withhold the proper correction and this is the practice of all the courts having jurisdiction of the same. In this case the proof is full and satisfactory. The father is dissatisfied with Settlement and the receipt given a extorted from him by the Government as soon as he discovers he does not get the amount of money he expected. The Government or Pension office is a party to the Settlement and in great power cannot do no wrong and the old man is weak and powerless and knows no means of redress. Thus the parties do not stand in capacity to adjust their differences and age and imbecility prevents further action considering that something is better than nothing as thousands of these poor old Relicks of the Revolution have often said. Robert Holmes neither knew how to take an appeal or amend his declaration or any one within his reach. He lived 25 or thirty miles from the courthouse. His son had to accompany him there when he did go and he was too ignorant of his rights or of the business he was engaged in to take the proper steps for relief. The Pension office was to him like an individual who lived in parts unknown and hence he never asserted his claim. I consider then that this is sufficient for opening the case. When the application for increase is made the records of payment show the injustice of the settlement. The payments extend fully to the amount of the son's declaration for increase. Now how is this to be accounted. In the first place nothing is more certain than that all the payments mentioned in the Comptroller's certificate were made to one and the same Robert Holmes running up from private or sergeant as we may say to the grade of Lieutenant and Captain. And we must take

This read as we find it and allow the full evidence it shows. For there can be no mistake in a record for it speaks for itself not like parole or circumstantial evidence. It is very plain to my mind upon comparison of the allegations and facts in the case that Robert Holmes served first as he states as Lieutenant Then on release from captivity in Charleston he served a short time as private and sergeant (for there was in those days short time service) Then gathered his company of men and served three months as a Captain and not as a private. If he served as a private under Captain Reed as he alleges after his captivity can you hesitate in believing for a moment that his first appearance would be as a private and then a sergeant. But as we do not care to dwell so much upon a claim of this kind as to show how the history of the whole service must have taken place I come again to his services as Captain. The Comptroller's certificates show payments made to Captain Holmes and payments made to Captain Holmes and company in the aggregate. Can there be any difficulty in adjusting the account or amount of services? I take it for certain that there cannot. The payments made to Captain Holmes were made after the Revolution terminated and he is styled as Captain the large payment therefore is made out to him by the clerk and was no doubt for his long services as Lieutenant; and his payments made to him & company made out for the time he actually served as as stated for the grade of Captain or they might have been divided or mixed for there is no evidence for what kind of service the payments were made except in the one instance which was the last of his services as Captain & Company. Nor is there as far as I recollect any distinction made that any of the smaller payments were for services as private or sergeant. This shows plainly that the claim by the heirs reaches all the payments as they are only made out in a summary manner.

The record therefore sustains the allegations of the heirs and fully sustains their claim. I now come to the notice of another part of the letter of the Pension Office of the 7 th August 1854 "He Says" That it is under these circumstances that the attorney of claimants, now file a new Declaration &c. &c. Then he again enters his plea in bar from a technical construction of the allegations in the old Mans Declaration and and that of his widow not admitting that any of the payments were made to the Pensioner. He pretends that "independently of the old Mans declaration and his widows" to give a lengthy argument but takes care to draw his facts and arguments entirely from the very papers he wishes to leave out as being independent of them and shows plainly that he is determined to place a construction by argument not justified by the record, and misstatement of the facts in the case — a clear suppression of any admission of claim for services as Lieutenant . — Abrogating the most clear and palpable expressions of the Pensioners original declaration — and then producing such parts as he chooses to support a resistance of the claim. Now Mr. Commissioner or Examiner (if you please) cannot take a part of the old Mans declaration as evidence and reject the balance. If his words left on record are evidence against him and they must be admitted in their full strength extent in his favour. This is so plain a rule that no sensible man would be willing to controvert. To show the injustice of the report above referred to the Commissioner does not even admit the possibility of a claim for Lieutenant although he considers the old Mans declaration as true and most sacred yet he avoids the allegation that he served as Lieutenant. Now if there was even a more outrageous attempt to force injustice in a claim then I confess I am wholly ignorant of what is right. To say in one part of the old Mans declaration he is telling the truth a very dear old man you say that you served as a private and I believe you — but pray don't say you served as Lieutenant or that you was prisoner at Charleston ten months that is all false. I do not believe because that would entitle you to a large increase and therefore you

must not have it. The original declaration is kept upon from beginning to end. The record of payment is by no means palatable in the words of the Pension Office. The Commissioner takes upon himself to determine the services of Captain Holmes in the latter part of the year of 1781 but says in another place he must have been in service in 1782 as his payments were then made. It is strange how he could come to this conclusion from anything in the papers on file. There is nothing to justify the period when the services were performed other than the imperfect declaration of the old man and the payments mentioned in the Comptroller's Certificate and it is not material when they were performed so that they were under authority of the Government. In many cases I have had before the Pension Office the payments have overrun the allegations. It is easy to account why Memory should fail to keep pace with a record.
If the Sons declaration does not show as much service as the record of payment it goes to his credit and ought to be allowed. In giving these views of the case much has been said no doubt wholly unnecessary which could not be avoided on account that the papers were not before me. I will therefore close by the notice of the last conclusion the Pension Office comes to in their report of 7 th August 1854. "That if there was not two men of that name the Pension Robert Holmes ought not to be on the Pension list at all, I suppose, is satisfied by this conclusion that there was certainly but one Robert Holmes and if he is so certain that Robert Holmes stated all his services correctly then he ought at least to have allowed the claim for Lieutenant according to the most rigid rules of his report. The report therefore

And decisions in this case are as I concieve without any foundation in law and ought in Justice to be reversed.
Claimants therefore insist That they are entitled to increase of Pension taking into account all the payments shown by the Comptrollers Certificate And that in this case of increase They claim from 4 th March 1831 to the death of Captain Holmes the father and from his death during the lifetime of the Mother a widow at such rates as full pay of Lieutenant for ten or eleven months as the computation of time when he entered the Service under Captain Read until he was finally released from Captivity and they further claim the full pay of Captain and Sergeant to the extent of the allegations of the heirs and the corroborative payments as shown by the Comptrollers Certificate; and this ask for the sake that Justice may be done in their behalf
With this view of the case I submit the remarks I have made believing at the same time that they might have been much shorter by a more experienced Attorney and hope your decision will be the allowance of the claim
With due respect to those who have had charge of the case as well as to yourself personally and the honorable office you fill I subscribe myself yours truly A. Bergquist
Hon ble J. Thompson
Secretary of the Interior
Washington City D. C.

Sir
Carthage Tennessee 9th April 1857
Your letter of 29th October 1856 is now before me and should have been answered sooner but for other engagements. By an examination of the contents of that letter I find errors committed and a disregard to facts that fully justify my calling your attention to a revision of your decision and in the event that a more favourable decision cannot be had the claimant may take such a course in future as the merits of the case will justify. You state in your letter "That you see nothing in the papers of her husband to justify the presumption That he made his declaration under such circumstances as confused his mind, and you say he was singularly particular. Now you take great care to avoid the fact stated by the husband in his declaration for he distinctly states that he was the Lieutenant of a company and was taken prisoner at the battle of Gates defeat near Camden and remained a prisoner for eleven months which is the foundation in part of this claim; imprisonment being always considered as actual service. Now you take one part of the husband's declaration for the small pension allowed and you say nothing about the other part of his declaration. Now if you take any part of the the husband's declaration as testimony you must take the whole, you cannot pervert the rules of evidence to avoid a just claim without a violation of all rules of law and justice, and you ought at least to have noticed it. The husband in his original declaration states his grade of office

2 That of Lieutenant and you say he is "Singularly particular" and you are "Singularly particular" to pass over this most singular and particular part of the husband's declaration on file in your office sworn to in his lifetime more than twenty five years ago: On which you build your objections. It is strange Sir that the Pension Office undertaking to execute a publick law of the United States should commit such errors But it is strange still that your examiners should overlook or rather suppress facts upon record and offer for your signature such a decision as contained in your letter of the 29 th October 1856 without even the trouble to give an explanation of one of the most important parts of the original declaration so much relied upon by you. I speak from recollection for I have kept no copy of the husband's declaration if I am correct and that can be easily seen why these claimants have just cause of complaint. I am not aware that the law nor any of your rules restricts what is contained in your letter of the 29 th October 1856. I cannot believe Sir that there is any mystery about the suspension of this and other claims I have had charge of for the last fifteen years while other Agents have been more successful. But when there is plainly seen that a disregard to law and to rules are continually resorted to bluff off every claim, to pay no attention to their merits or the evidence that support them claimants have a right to expose the errors committed and if strong language has to be used the fault cannot

3 be theirs - They are pursuing their rights. It is then with due deference that I use toward the Pension office and its officers (for whom I have always entertained the highest respect) the language in arresting their mist- akes. You say he gave dates of his entry into Service and dates at retiring. Your rules compelled him to do this or you would not allow anything. You did not allow him a require of him record evidence which you now demand as indispensable in the heirs. You make no allowance for the declining years of the old man to con- firm his narrative or the misstatements of the draftsman and his inexperience all of which is accounted for in the papers on which this claim is founded. At the date of the old mans declaration forms were furnished for claimants to pursue their rights no record evidence was then required unless they had it in their possession. The Southern and western states were settled after the Revolution and no advantage of reference to the Army rolls or documentary evidence of the Revolution could be had and unskillful draftsman were called upon to make out a state of facts and dates of long standing from the imperfect memory of old and decayed men scarcely able to recollect anything only that they had served. In that day also no agent or attorney thought of charging a fee for drawing up a declaration with the technicalities of the rules of pleading. Under these circumstances (as almost one half the original papers in almost every case will show from the western states) great injustice were done to the old soldiers. In many cases not more than half the Service were stated or set forth and this is plainly shown by
ry v v v

It is a comparison with the records and other documentary evidence now resorted to. Is it not strange that at this late day when almost all the Revolutionary officers are dead and the soldiers also, that the Pension Office should require a technical corroboration of facts between the statements of old men in declining years and a record that never changed. and where they never had been You require a reference now in each case to the Government office to see what evidence the records of the Army of the Revolution afford and when in this case of Robert Holmes the Documentary evidence fully and substantially agree with the old man's declaration your examiner rejects the claim. It is true he works under your directions and instructions and perhaps I direct my remarks to you alone. Again when under your rules and instructions in the case the record shows more service than the old man gave in his original Declaration and when it is shown by the record that he served as Captain of a company I am required to show that he is the same man. I answer that the Declaration of the son who accompanied his father to Sullivan to draw up his original Declaration describes with greatest particularity the grades his father served in as related by his father. The son was in his dotage like his father but heard his father often relate the truth over and over a hundred times perhaps and more, before he was thought of a Pension and had no hesitation to make oath to the facts as stated by his father. Now this was all done as the papers will show without any knowledge of what the records would state. Never were facts more substantially agreeing with a record. When the record is found. Months perhaps a year after would pass I do not recollect the time the declaration and statements of the son are fully sustained. But I shall be told no doubt that there was another

was another Robert Holmes. Now if there was any other Robert Holmes he has never made his appearance at the Pension Office asking a Pension nor any one in his right and if there had been the vigilance of the Pension Office it seems to me would have detected it and informed me thereof. Again if there never has been any one applying in the name of Robert Holmes under the Service he discloses it is not be presumed at this late day after 25 years since the law was passed under which he claims and under which a small part of the Pension was granted first to him and then to his widow, that there can well be when all the Relicks of the Revolution have with a few exceptions passed into eternity. Claimants rely upon the record as furnished by the Comptroller of North Carolina as a full and substantial evidence of the Justice of their claim; no part of the proceeding or evidence show or betray that any testimony was obtained from the records besides the character of the Son Albert G. Holmes is too well known and established to doubt his statements and I can get fifty men to testify in favour of his good character and standing. The Claimants also demand that if any other corroborative facts are required by the Pension Office that the same be made known to them not by men of the Revolution for they are now all dead. Not by

6 testimony impossible to obtain but such as in all probability will show from the best information of those who could have no intent whatever in the claim are willing to give their opinion and belief. Claimants have produced the best proof that can be had and this meets the rules established by the Pension Office. That when one kind of evidence cannot be obtained then the next best must be shown. Claimants have shown the best evidence of their claim being the record of services of the father and it is plainly shown that this evidence could not be procured at the commencement of the proceedings in establishing the claim of the father. But old records and Documents are it is said "Dangerous things," They speak for themselves; and although they are dangerous, yet they are the most certain and important guides to Justice. Claimants are the children of the father, Robert Holmes who performed the Revolutionary Service. The Pension Office has withheld the money that ought in Justice to be paid to the father. The Pension Office in the first instance was at fault by not giving to Robert Holmes the proper credits for services rendered which it was in their power to do. Robert Holmes makes out his account from memory of transactions of fifty years previous when he is old and last sight of ever getting any compensation whatever. Or rather he gets some inexperienced youth to make it out for him. The Pension

4 Office looks over in haste the old mans account and Says in their decision it is true old man you claim to be a Lieutenant for eleven months but we have not time to look over our records and although the laws say that you shall have credit for it and although we say by our rules and prosals printed and sent to you for your guidance and information, that we will abide by the account that you render, and although the United States in Congress assembled has by their laws placed the money at our disposal yet we the Administ- rative Officers think proper and so decree to disregard the laws and our own rules and we will withhold a large portion of the money we owe you for we think it is too much and you can live on much less. The Old man complains at the receiving of a part of his Account and claims more but does not know how to proceed and disude and death overtakes him and so the matter rests until so many cases of the kind are discovered in after years. Where great injustice are have been brought to light and admitted then it is that these claimants representing their fathers and seeing the Pension Office are willing to correct mistakes in other cases Services, after their claim. They are met by the Pension Office saying now show us the records of your father Services. The records showing the services of Robert Holmes in the war of the Revolution at their request is produced but still this is not "Satisfactory," says the Pension

Office does the old man actually state more services or services of a higher grade in his original declaration if so we will allow it. for we are in the habit of increasing the pensions in such cases The original declaration on file shows that the father declared claimed to be a Lieutenant and never received any allowance therefor in any Pension whatever and thus the case stands to this day unadjusted. Claimants rely upon the foregoing narrative as a fair illustration of the facts in the case and drawn from the proof on file and demand that their claim be allowed to the full extent of the need furnished by them from the Comptrollers Office and as set forth and alleged in the Sons declaration by an increase of of the Pension as Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain, and that the same be adjusted by the office having charge of the same. It is hoped the Pension Office will have no objections to calling their attention again to a re-investigation of the case; and it is further hoped that should this case and the facts in this communication meet his eye, the attention of the Secretary of the Interior he will duly appreciate the grounds taken, as he is from the South and must it must be known to him that before claimants have had scarcely any advantage in an early day to assist them in making out Pension claims. Be pleased to give your attention to the case as soon as convenient. And with a full conviction that you ought to allow the claim I submit the case to your favorable decision.
Respectfully
A. H. Bergsson
George C. Mitchell Esq.
Commissioner of Pension Washington City

Carthage Tennessee 9th January 1848
Sir
In conformity with the requisitions contained in your letter of the 30th November 1842 in the case of Mary Holmes dec d widow of Robert Holmes. Please find enclosed the Declaration of her Son Albert G Holmes sworn to before the Macon county court. Macon county is a new county struck off of part of Sumner and Smith counties and includes where Robert Holmes of Sumner formerly lived. I think you will find the proceedings sufficient and I am in hopes you will allow the Pension agreeable to your letter above alluded to. The clerk of Macon county Thomas Williams and the Post Master John Taylor G Gilliam are both known to our representative in Congress William B Campbell to whom reference can be had if necessary. Please send on the Pension certificate as soon as convenient.
Respectfully
W Ferguson
James L Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions

Gartham Tennant
6 th  February March 1843
Sir
About two months ago I sent you the Declaration of Albert G Holmes Son and Administrator of the estate of his Mother Mary Holmes deceased the case being a plain one where the heirs make application for the Pension due their Ancestor & I expected an answer before this time but as yet have not. The Declaration in all respects was made in conformity with your instructions in your letter of the 30 th November last. If you require that a power of attorney shall be necessary to entitle him as the Agent of the Administrator to receive the Pension certificate for him I can have one procured and sent to you but he told me to act for him and he would pay Mr Blackamore the fees that he charged his Mother and that he would not do anything further in the matter. I ought having adjourned you will be kind enough to inform me what extension or alterations (if any) were made during the last Session in the Pension laws with any regulations you may have adopted in allowing Proof &c
Respectfully
A. H. Bergström
James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions

April 29. 1840. Margery Holmes Claim for Pension Tenn: Natchez Margery Holmes,
The Honk J. C.
W.

Gallatin Tennessee
April 18 th 1840
Dear Sir - I herewith Return to your office all the papers in care of Margery Holmes for a Pension which has been suspended for further proof with an additional affidavit of the old lady explaining the seeming contradiction between her statement & the statement for her deceased husband Robt Holmes which I would hope will be satisfactory to the department
I am very Respectfully Yours etc &c
W. H. Blackmore
To the Hon J. J. Edwards.
Comm r of Pensions -

Shenandoah affidavit of Mary Gray Hohn
Mary Holmes Deposition

State of Tennessee ss This twenty-seventh day of Williamson County ss December Eighteen hundred and thirty nine
I have this day proceeded to take the deposition of Maryy Holmes Relict of Robert Holmes decd. at the house of Thomas McCracken in the County and State aforesaid
Maryy Holmes - after being sworn on the Holy Evangelist to speak the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth concerning the matters and things herein stated deposes and says as follows.
That she was married to Robert Holmes on the tenth day of October Seventeen hundred and eighty one, and a few days thereafter said Robert Holmes with some others having heard of some matters being blocked up at York Town left home for the purpose of assisting in his defeat and shortly after returning as peace was made about the same time, the precise number of days he was out is not recol- lected though she well recollects that said Robert Holmes returned with the other troops from the neighborhood under the Command of Capt Henry and further she deposes not -
Maryy Holmes
I certify that the foregoing deposition is in my hand making that I am in no wise

Related to the perjury that the same was taken before me on the day and at the place as stated above this twenty seventh day of december A.D. Eighteen hundred and thirty "Nine
Jos. Burnett Justice of the peace For Williamson County State of Tennessee
The State of Tennessee
Richard B. McConico clerk of the county court of Williamson County in the State of Tennessee do certify that Joseph Burnett whose signature appears to the foregoing certificate is now and was at the making thereof an acting Justice of the peace in and for the county of Williamson aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit are due his official acts and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said court at office this 30 th day of December 1839 R. B. McConico

Carthage Tennessee 7 th November 1842
Sir
In answer to your letter of the 16 th June last in the case of Marjory Holmes I have to state that a Pension will be accepted by the heirs under act of July 7 th 1838 Reserving the right to prosecute for any additional Pension the children must be entitled to under act 4 th July 1836 if proof can be had Do not see any reason why you should not as in other cases issue the certificate (provided the proof is already sufficient) and let the heirs identify themselves as usual before a court of Record before receiving such Pension
From what they informed me and particularly the administration the proof was made out sufficient for a Pension under act July 1838 if so you can send on the certificate under that act without subjecting the heirs to any other expense. But if a new declaration be indispensable you will so signify and also the proof if any that may be required. From your letter I discover the only objection is to allowing a Pension under act of 4 th July 1836 as the service after the marriage to wit on 10 th Octo 1781 is not satisfactory. at the date of your letter the decision of the attorney General

prevented the granting a Pension under act of the July 1838 that decision having been reversed places the claim as though the decision had never been made. Please let me know your decision and if the case be so that you can allow the claim under the last mentioned act you will send on the certificate as before mentioned and if not let me know the steps now to be taken by the heirs
Respectfully W. Hergussone
James S. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington

Letter from Penseon office

War Department
Pension Office
March 19 1839.
Sir,
The amended declaration of Mrs. Mary Holmes, widow of Robert Holmes, dec? and the affidavit of Margaret Henry have been examined and filed with suspended cases. It would appear that in October 1781, the alleged period of her marriage, her husband was out on a tour of service. He either served but a few days on that tour, instead of 3 months, as alleged; or there is some error as to the period of the marriage. The original family record, referred to in the claimant's amended declaration, should be sent to this office as required in note C in the enclosed printed sheet. I am, respectfully, W. M. Blackmore, Esq. Your obt. servt. Gallatin, J. Edwards Tennessee.

Union Bank of Tennessee Nashville 27 Sept. 1837
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Dear Sir
At the request of W. Robert Holmes a Revolutionary Pensioner under the act of the 7 th June 1832 and to whom there is one year Pension due to aforesaid Instant I herewith transmit you his Pensioner Iden- tity for your examination & sanction of his being paid. Please to return his claim to him at Gilham Post Office Sumner County Tennessee with your instructions and much oblige Sir
Yr Obedt Servt John M Bapst By S. Cantrell

Willows amended Decoloration Merrill's Oct 1787

State of Tennessee
Sumner County 3 ss - Amended Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of third Section of Act of Congress of the 4th July 1836 - and Joint Resolution of July 7. 1838 -
On this fifth day of November A.D. 1838. personally appeared before the County Court of Sumner County it being a court of Record Margery Holmes a Resident Citizen of said County of Sumner aged about 77 years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on her oath make the following Amended declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 4 th 1836. & Joint Resolution of July the 7 th 1838 - That she finds from an examination of the family Register kept by her said deceased husband Robt Holmes that she was mistaken in her former declaration in the period of her marriage with the said Robt Holmes she having stated in that declaration from memory that she was married in October 1780 - when in fact said Register shows that they were married on the 10 th day of October in the year 1781 - which she states is the true period of their marriage - which is also established by the annexed affidavit of Margaret Henry her to attached and made a part of this amended declaration - She also refers the left not to her original declaration which she states is correct in every respect except the correction herein made she also refers to the affidavit of Albert G Holmes her to annexed -
Sworn to in open Court 5 th November 1838
Margery X Holmes marks
Thos. Donoho Clerk

State of Tennessee Sumner County      § I Albert G. Holmes as sworn that I have examined the Register made in the family bible of Robert Holmes deceased and that the date of the marriage of the said Robert Holmes and the said Margery Holmes is there registered in the hand writing of the said Robert Holmes and said marriage according to said Register took place on the 10 th day of October 17 1781— and which I have no doubt is the true time when said marriage took place— sworn to in open Court Tho. Honcho clerk      Albert G. Holmes 5 th November 1838
State of Tennessee Sumner County—§ Thomas Honcho Clerk of the County Court for Sumner County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original papers and proceedings had in said Court in the matter of Margery Holmes amended declaration for an pension and I do further certify that G. G. Browning whose name appears to the annexed certificate of Margaret Womack is and was at the date of the same an acting Justice of the peace in and for the county of Sumner duly commissioned and qualified as such and that his official acts as such are entitled to full faith & credit in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office in Gallatin the 15 th day of October 1888 Tho. Honcho Clerk of Sumner County Court

State of Tennessee
Sumner County } This day personally appeared before me C.G. Browning an acting Justice of the peace for said Margaret Henry and made oath in due form of law that the following statement is true to the best of her knowledge & belief
I was acquainted with Robert Holmes and Margery Holmes, during the revolutionary war and was present on three successive sabbaths when they were published, and was also at their wedding, which was the 10 th of October 1781 they were married by Robt. King Esqr.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the 3 rd day of November 1838
her Margaret X Henry mark
C.G. Browning Justice of peace
She also made oath at the same time that from age and bodily affliction, she is rendered incapable to make her personal appearance before the court sworn to and subscribed } Margaret X Henry the 3 rd day of November } mark 1838 C.G. Browning J.P.
State of Tennessee
Sumner County } I C.G. Browning do certify that I am well acquainted with Margaret Henry who has subscribed the foregoing affida- vits and that she is a woman of unblemished character and that her statements are entitled to full faith and credit C.G. Browning J.P. Sumner County

Tour of Service 1 st tour from last of May 1975 to last of Aug or end of their months 2 tour three weeks
3 Service Volunteers in the month of May 1980
  Months     3     " 21     10     3        1621   
Serve as Captain allegedly the son and shown by the name
Exceptions to the report filed 3 rd August 1854 N. Herguesson
The within exceptions was never answered so far as any thing has come to my knowledge and the facts herein set forth are respectfully submitted for a review of the whole case as well as the Brief in this case filed on this day October 17 th 1856 N. Herguesson Atty

Washington City July August 3 d 1854
Exception to the report in the case of Albert G Holmes Son and heir at law of Robert D Mayoy Holmes Decreed application for increase of Pension
1 st line last on first page and lines above commencing at
" But is still more decisive of the point is that the Services for
" which these payments were made were performed two years before
" the father of Claimant moved into North Carolina,,
Answer There is no payments in Comptroller certificate or elsewhere that shows payments to Robert Holmes before the year 1777 the latter part of which year he swears he in his original declaration he moved from Pennsylvania to North Carolina
2 d line 4 th on 2 d page you say " In this certificate " there is a payment to Robert Holmes for Services " in 1775 The Claimant's father claimed and was " allowed for Services for this very year and the two " following years,,
Answer There is no payment dated in 1775 there is Entry for 1775 at the bottom of Certificate which I suppose was mistaken for the date
3 d You state that the Robert Holmes in his first declaration says " He entered the Services in May 1780 and served until (16 August 1780) When he was made prisoner
Answer This is not all what Robert Holmes swears " he goes further He says he volunteered " in the month of May 1780 under Capt " Samuel Reed & was elected 1 st Lieutenant in " said Company which Office he held when " he was taken prisoner was attached to " Col Alexander's Regiment General Muthy's " Brigade,, what we here complain of is

That the testimony is wholly untested and the office of Lieutenant not stated at all We think these exceptions are well taken Again
You object because a large portion of these payments were made to him as Captain in 1782 subsequent to the Service. The Sons Declaration alleges positively that his father informed him often in his lifetime of this term of Service as Captain in the fall of the year 1781. There was no records before the War nor did he nor myself know what the Records would show but fortunately this Service detailed by the Son is completely verified by the Records and we are ready to show further if required that this same Capt Robert Holmes who is alleged by the Sons Declaration served as orderly Sergeant Lieutenant and Captain
We respectfully ask a decision upon all the above points and what further evidence of identity is necessary and what kind of evidence will be admissible Respectfully A Ferguson
We further show from the original declaration of the father that he served in Pennsylvania in two terms about 4 months as Lieutenant from 2 May 1780 to the last March 1781 about 11 months Again in 1781 under Capt Reed 3 months 18 months
Pension allowed and paid for this Service $55.66 not enough to cover the amount as per our claim

The difference between the pay of a private and Lieutenant for about 11 months
The payment shown by the comptroller's accounts are as follows    no 8 page 21  £ 30  16  8  6    " " 58  13  15  "  0  
  Auditor of Mayan District No 1922  30  16  "  6    " 3213  4  0  0  0  
  5070  70  30  0  0       £ 148  07  12  all specie  
We say this shows his pay as Lieutenant and as orderly sergeant as alleged in the new declaration
The balance being for pay of Service as captain we claim all the benefits thereof as the payment clearly shows that the Service must have been performed before the application for payment could be made
Respectfully
N. Gergussorf
Alfredo Esys Commissioner

State of North Carolina Comptroller's Office
J. Williams J. Clarke Comptroller of public accounts in and for the State aforesaid do hereby certify that it appears of record in said Office among the payments made by said State to sundry persons for Military services in the Revolutionary war, as follows to wit:
"Robert Holmes."
Book No 8. Page 21 £ 30. S16. db. Specie & some
" " 19 " 58 £ 13. S15. Do Specie
Indent or Army certificate issued by the auditors of Morgan District No. 1922 issued 5 th Aug t . 1783 £ 30. S16. Db. Specie
Ditto No. 3213 March 6 th 1784 £ 4. S0. Specie
Ditto No. 5070 Oct r 18 th 1784 £ 70. S0. Specie
Vol. A Entry 7077 allowed capt t Rob t Holmes for Militia services of himself & Company £ 26. S2. Specie
Ditto to Ditto Entry 7079 £ 25. S18. Specie
Ditto to Ditto " 7263 £ 43. S15. Specie
Ditto to Ditto " 7274 £ 324. S17. Db. Specie
Ditto to Ditto " 7276 £ 14. S7. Db Specie
Ditto to Ditto " 7277 £ 58. — — Specie
The above allowances were made to captain and company in the Spring of 1782
Ditto to Ditto Entry 7133 £ 114. S19. same as above
Ditto to Ditto Entry 7780 £ 59. S8. Specie
Allowed subsequently to the above same Vol. Entry 7775 Robert Holmes £ 7. S3. Specie
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of said Office this July 20 th 1854.
Wm J. Clarke, Compt r .

Claim of Albert G. Holmes &c

State of Tennessee Macon County
September term 1853
On this 5 th day of September in the year 1853 present the lawful Wilson G Adams Simpson S Davis W M White Esqrs Satisfactory evidence has this day been exhibited to said court holden at Lafayette in and for the county and State aforesaid from the records of said court heretofore exhibited on the 4 th day of December 1843 That Mary Holmes was a Pensioner of the United States at the rate of fifty five Dollars and sixty four Cents per Annum was a resident of the county of Macon formerly Sumner County in the State of Tennessee and died in the county of Macon and State of Tennessee on the 30 th day of April in the year 1841 That she left the following named children as her legal heirs and representatives to wit Albert G Holmes Thomas Holmes Elizabeth M c Cracken and Nancy Alexander and that they were her only legal heirs And now at this day to wit the 5 th day of September 1853 just aforesaid by the oaths of James A Terrell and Albert G Holmes residents of the county of Macon who are well known to the court and men entitled to full credit Satisfactory evidence is here exhibited in open court That the said Albert G Holmes Thomas Holmes Elizabeth M c Cracken and Nancy Alexander are still alive and the only legal heirs of her the said Mary Holmes deceased It is therefore ordered by the court that the clerk certify the same as the proceedings also fact known to this court
Wilson G Adams Chairman of Macon County Court

State of Tennessee Macon County
I Jefferson B Short clerk of the County Court of Said Macon County do hereby certify That the foregoing proceedings were had in open court being a court of record and general Jurisdiction and that the declaration of Albert G Holmes was duly sworn to as aforesaid and the record and evidence signed by Nelson G Adams Chairman of Said court was duly executed and signed by me on the day and year the same purports to bear date
In testimony Whereof I have hereunto Set My hand and affixed the Seal of Said court at office this 30 th day of September 1853 J. B. Short Clerk

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 7 th July 1838.
Mayory Holmes, late of Tennessee, deceased, widow of Robert Holmes, who was a Private in the Revolution, and died the 24 th February 1838, was entitled to receive a pension at the rate of $55:64 per annum; and having died on the 30 th April 1841, the amount due, at the above mentioned rate, from the 4 th March 1836 to 4 th March 1841, is payable to Albert G. Holmes, Thomas Holmes, Elizabeth M c Cracken and Nancy Alexander, children of Robert & Mayory Holmes, deceased.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 24 th day of August one thousand eight hundred and forty=three
Secretary of War.
Examined and } Countersigned. }
Commissioner of Pensions.

20 August 1830 - Robert Holmes - 83 years old - lived in Pennsylvania until 1777 , volunteered, about the last of May 1775 , under Captain Cochrane for 3 months - volunteered again in 1777 under Captain Cochrane, in Gen Smallwood's Brigade served 3 weeks - In the latter part of the year 1777 he moved to Rowan Co. N.C. In May 1780 he volunteered un- der Captain Samuel Reid was elected 1 st Lieutenant of his company, was taken prisoner at Gates' defeat, (Aug 16 1780) continued a prisoner about 4 months , - made his escape about the latter part of February, got home about the early March (1781) - Again volunteered under Captain Reid, served 3 months , returned home, the above is all the service he recollects to have performed,
Widow said he performed some service after marriage, but did not in terms say such service as that now declared, neither did Albert G. Holmes who was in company for her & who afterwards (1880) lived for the area, one here,

V3715
August Mr. Holmes
Tunapa

Aug 17 4 July 1830 Tenn.
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.
3715.

Gallatin August the 7 th 1838.
Dear Sir In closed is the application of Mrs Holmes for a pension to commence since the death of her husband. in Feby. last. She Requests that you would forward any communication you may wish to make thereon petition thereto - to the undersigned or the Clerk of the County Court of the County directed to Gallatin Tennessee Very Respectfully Your Obedt. Servt.
J. L. Edmiston W. M. Blackmore

State of Tennessee Be it known That before me Elishe Aglesby Sumner County a justice of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid -and personally appeared Margaret Henry & made oath in due form of law That she was personally acquainted with Robert Holmes & Mercy Holmes before the close of the Revolutionary War, that she was present when the banns of Matrimony was published by the Ministers on three different Sabbath days I was present when the Company met to see them Married the Minister that was to Marry them Was called off on some business They Went To a Magistrate to get him to Marry them I did not go With the Company to the Magistrate but I was present at Thos Beers the father of Mrs Holmes when they started & when they returned from the Magistrate, the Company saw they were married by Rev. King says they lived together as Husband & Wife from that time Which was before the operation of Act Holmes serves as a Revolutionary War You are to be Subscribed before me This 6 day of August 1838 Elishe Aglesby justice of the peace her Margaret J Henry mark
State of Tennessee Be it known That before me Elishe Aglesby Sumner County a justice of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid personally appeared Margaret Henry & made oath in due form of law That she is unable from old Age & bodily affliction to make her personal appearance before the Court Without endangering her life This 6 day of August 1838 Sworn to before me Elishe Aglesby J. P. for Sumner County

State of Tennessee Dunnigan County by J. P. Thomas Deputy Clerk of the County Court of said County do hereby Certify that William Ogleby Ogleby is a Magistrate as above and that the foregoing Certificate is true to the best of my knowledge. I have hereunto affixed my Seal of Office and subscribed my name this 14th day of August A. D. 1888
J. P. Thomas Deputy Clerk of Dunnigan County Court

Claim for A. Penna.
Nov 19
Tenn.
Adol decl.
Margery Holmes
4 July No 3712
J. O. Wood
Mr. J. O. Wood
Washington City D.C.
FREE

Gallatin Oct 6 th 1838
Sir In closed is the amended declaration of Margery Holmes for a Ransom. which I hope may be satisfactory.
Respectfully
W. W. Blackmore

Erath La. July 18/38
Bureau of Pensions Washington D.C.
Kindly give me the records of Robert Holmes Iredell County, North Carolina, 1790. Also Robert Holmes of Rowan County, North Carolina 1790. For a long time I have been searching for my great grand father, Robert Holmes. He came to this country at the age of 19 years. He was Irish, and was from Great Brit- any. Any information will be highly appreciated. Thanking You I am Yours very truly Mrs. M. Holmes DeRobert Box 96, Erath, Louisiana

Erath La. Sept. 25/39
Revolutionary War Department Washington D. C.
Please give me any information concerning @ Robert Holmes of Great Britain. Thank you yours very truly
Mrs. Martha Holmes deRouen Lock Box 196 Erath, Louisiana

October 6, 1939
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Mrs. Martha Holmes de Rouen Lock Box 196 Erath, Louisiana
ROBERT HOLMES W. 84 BA-J/MMHF:MLB Qu
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter addressed to the Revolutionary War Department, this city, in which you request the record of Robert Holmes of Great Britain.
Revolutionary War data furnished by the Veterans Administration are obtained from claims for pension and bounty land which have been made to the United States based upon service in that war.
There is only one such claim on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Robert Holmes of Great Britain, which is numbered W. 84. All the papers in that claim were examined August 8, 1938, and the data found therein were furnished you on that date. This office has no further information in regard to that soldier.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator