State of Illinois, Jackson County
On the 3rd day of September, 1832, personally appeared in open
court before the County Commissioners Court of Jackson County now
sitting, Joseph T Williams, a resident of the said county in the
state of Illinois, aged 76 years, who being first duly sworn
according to law doth on his oath make the following declarations
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June
7, 1832. That in the year 1776 as near as he the deponant can
recollect, he was a resident of Pittsylvania County in the State
of Virginia and on the 2nd day of April of said year he turned
out as a volunteer to go against the Cherokee Indians. The
Captain of the company to which he belonged was of the name of
John Donelson under the command of Irwin (?) Shelby on a tour of
three months. The force marched to the Long Islands in the River
Holston. To this place a great many of the Cherokees came and
there they made a treaty with the Americans, then the force was
discharged and sent home. In this expedition against the Indians
his assignment was an orderly sergent.
In the month of February 1779 this deponant was called out for a
five months tour as a drafted militia man in a company commanded
by Captain William Witcher in a regiment commanded by David Mason
and was immediately marched ---?--- south and joined the
continental troops under General Linkhon at a place called --?---
a place southwest of Charleston not long before the battle at
---?---. He and the militia with him were attached to and served
with the regular troops during the whole campagn. He was
discharged at Camden SC by a written discharge by his captain
which said discharge he still has, of which the following is a
true copy---
"Camden SC
"This is to certify that Joseph Terry Williams a
"Sergeant in my company of militia from
"Pittsylvania has served his tour of duty and is
"discharged. Given under my hand this 23rd
"day of July 1779.
Wm Witcher, Capt.
In the winter of 1780 and of which Gen Green was retreating
through the country before the approaching British under the
command of Lord Cornwallis, Green called on the militia for a
tour of duty. This deponant turned out as a volunteer in a
company commanded by Capt Steven Coleman under the command of Col
Peter Perkins and joined the army of regulars under Gen Green at
Davis (?) River in the state of Virginia. Green continued close
to the enemy during the whole tour but saw no battle but some
slight skirmishes and as the one Whitsill's Mill and was
discharged a copy of which is as follows and the original still
remains in his hands. "Jos Terry Williams is hereby discharged
from my company of militia - given at Camden, Guilford County
North Carolina 12 Mar 1781---Stephen Coleman, Capt.
During the last mentioned tour this deponant served as quarter
master sergent.
During the year 1781 or 1782 this deponant was called out on a
tour of duty and put to driving public wagons and teams
transporting public stores to and from Halifax old town, was
regular and constant in the said employment, subject to the order
of the deputy quartermaster in the regular service, served the
tour out of three months as he believes and was regularly
discharged by Wm McGraw the said deputy quartermaster but whether
he received from said officer a written discharge or not the
deponant cannot say. If he did it has been lost. It might have
been in this as in his first tour that he never thought it worth
his while to apply for a written discharge as the officer who
would give it lives in his immediate neighborhood. This is all
the service this deponant did and he has no documentary testimony
then to offer in proof of such service. The original of the
discharges he has herein copied are still in his hands subject to
the inspection of anyone and the deponant says he has no one now
within his power by whom he could prove his actual service as
there are so few of the old Revolutionary soldiers yet living and
they so scattered over this widely extended country.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or
annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on
the pension roll of any agency of any state.
Interrogatories propounded by the court:
QUESTION 1 Where and in what year were you born?
ANSWER I was born in the county that was afterward Pittsylvania
but at the time it was Halifax Co, in the year 1756.
QUESTION 2 Have you any record of your age and if so where is
it?
ANSWER I have it was on a leaf of my father's Bible and the book
was about to fall pieces. I took out the said leaf and now have
it in my possession. It is in my father's handwriting and I have
no doubt it is correct.
QUESTION 3 Where were you living when called into service?
Where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you
now live?
ANSWER In the county of Pittsylvania Virginia when first called
out. From thence he moved to Tennessee, Sumner Co. Thence to
Wilson thence to Jackson Co Illinois where I now live.
QUESTION 4 How were you called into service, were you drafted,
did you volunteer or were you a substitute and is so for whom?
ANSWER He volunteered three tours and was drafted for one to wit his tour of five months above mentioned.
QUESTION 5 State the names of some of the regular officers who
were with the troops where you served such Continental and
militia regiments as you can recollect] and the general
circumstances of you service.
ANSWER General Green commanded in the west before Lord
Cornwallis in his tour. In his second tour his
commander-in-chief was General Linkhon. He was at Salsberry soon
after the defeat at Briar Creek and saw some of the men who were
in the battle one by the name of Frost a citizen of Salsbery.
QUESTION 6 Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, if
so by whom was it given and what has become of it.
ANSWER He refers to the former part of this his declaration in
answer to this question.
QUESTION 7th State the names of persons to whom you are known in
your present neighborhood and who can testify as to your
character for veracity and their belief of your services as a
soldier of the Revolution.
ANSWER He refers to and gives up Green Lindsey a clergyman and
Conrad Will a citizen of this county.
Subscribed and sworn to in open court the day and year aforesaid.
Joseph T Williams
attest J Manning, clerk
We Green Lindsey, a clergyman residing in the county of Jackson
and Conrad Will, residing in the same place hereby certify that
we are all well acquainted with Joseph Terry Williams who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and that we believe
him to be seventy-six years of age and that he is respected and
believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a
soldier of the Revolution and that we concur with the deposition.
Sworn to and subscribed
Green Lindsey
Conrad Will
In open court the day and year aforesaid. Attest
J Manning, clk
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the
interrogation of the matter and after fielding the interrogation
prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant
was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the court
further certifies that it appears to them that Green Lindsey who
has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman, resident in
the county of Jackson and that Conrad Will who has also signed
the same is a resident in the same county and is a reliable
person and the their statement is entitled to belief.
Benj H Conner
George Creath
Alexander Cochran
State of Illinois Jackson County. I Joel Manning, clerk of the
county commissioners and of Jackson County Illinois do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of
the said court in the matter of the application of Joseph T.
Williams for a pension. On testimony of which I have hereunto
set my name and seal of office this twenty third day of August
one thousand eight hundred and twenty three.
Joel Manning, clerk
State of Illinois Jackson County
I Joel Manning, clerk of the county commissioners court of
Jackson County do hereby testify that George Creath, Alexander
Cochran and Benjamin F Conner who have signed the foregoing
certificate , were at the time of signing the same and still are
the three judges of the said court duly elected and qualified.
Given under my hand and seal of office at Brownsville in the said
county this twenty third day of September one thousand eight
hundred and thirty three
J Manning, clerk
From Rev War Pension Application Film at the National Archives,
Federal Center, Denver CO
Camden South Carolina
This is to certify that Joseph Terry Williams a sergant in my
company of militia from Pittsylvania has served his tour of duty
and is discharged. Given under my hand this 23rd day of July
1779.
Wm Witcher, Capt
Joseph Terry Williams is hereby discharged from my company of
militia given at Camden, Guilford County North Carolina 12th
month 1781.
Stephen Coleman Capt --?--
Brownsville Oct 19 1833
Sire,
I send enclosed the original discharges of Joseph T Williams
hoping that this will remove every objection to the allowance of
his claim. An early attention to the subject desirable as the
old gentlemen is in a low state of health probably the effects of
old age and hard labour and really is in much need of the
discharge of that debt which the country has so long owed the
Revolutionary soldiers.
There is a case in this neighborhood of the following
description:
Peter Golliher was drafted to stand in readiness for a six months
tour of duty and greatly often was called out and was marched
toward Yorktown (at the time Cornwallis was there) to join the
army at that place and when within a few miles of the army was
taken sick (of the scarlet fever) and so ---?--- for some time
then not fit for duty received a furlough on account of his ill
health and was by his friend taken home before the expiration of
the six months for which he was drafted but remained sick and
unable to perform any business for nearly a year. Without putting
the department to the trouble of investigating a claim which can
be of no benefit to the claimant I wish you to inform me whether
in case the facts were made out as above stated the said Peter
Golliher couldbe allowed as for six months service.
With much respect, your obedient servant
Joel Manning
Brownsville Jackson Co Illinois
Feb 7, 1834
Dear Sir,
You will recollect that sometime since I made an application for
a pension for an old gentlemen of our county by the name of
Joseph T Williams.
This declaration was in the first instance returned with
objections. These were obviated or attempted to be and the
Declaration returned to the Department. I then received a
communication requiring that his original discharges from service
mentioned in his declaration should be sent to the Department. I
accordingly obtained them from the old man, copied them, enclosed
the originals and directed them to the Department. This was
about the middle of October last since which time I have heard
nothing upon the subject. I however expected mail after mail a
communication supposing the delay was ---?--- by the press of
business until the last mail brought me the allowance of the
pension of ---?--- Lipe whose declaration was sent long after the
original discharges of Mr Williams. This circumstance incurs me
to think that the delay cannot be occasioned by the theory of
business as I before supposed. I therefore write this for
information upon the subject.
I wish to make an inquiry concerning the application for a
pension of Jesse Gordan also of our county. His declaration was
just returned with objections, was amended and sent back. It as
a second time returned with the note --"The claimant must produce
or at least make an effort to produce some evidence of his
service as a non-commissioned officer and as to his service as a
Lieut. The regulation of the department is imperative. Must
produce his commission or satisfactory evidence he was duly
commissioned and served in that capacity for the time alleged.
Mr Gordon claims to have served ---?--- or nearly so as a Lieut
and also a long time in the capacity of sergent ---?---. He has
not given up his claim but is still searching for evidence. He
has found where a brother of his resides of whom he has not heard
for many years. By him he hopes to be able to make satisfactory
proof of his services as a non-commissioned officer. Now the
question I wish to ask is this, in case he able to make such
proof by his brother and should wave for the present his claim
for service as Lieut and be allowed a pension as non-commissioned
officer whether hereafter after making satisfactory proof of his
service as Lieut his pension could be increased to what it would
have been in case he had made such proof in the first instance.
His age, infirmity and poverty will at once suggest the reason
for this inquiry.
I mentioned in a former communication a case of a person of this
county by the name of Peter Golliher. Will you please in our
answer to this to answer my inquiry in that case also.
Your servant with much regard
Joel Manning
To J L Edwards, Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Brownsville Jackson County Illinois
Sir,
I return to the department the application of Joseph T Williams,
Robert Hiatt (?) and Hesekiah Davis with the accompanying briefs
after having made such amendments as appeared to me to be
sufficient from instructions. I have altogether refrained from
medling with any other part of the application as that would
disarrange the examination which has been made by the department.
I drew the conclusion that the only defect in the ---?---
referred to in Ques XVI was that the sheet of paper which
contained the seals was not attached in the manner subscribed in
the explanatory note to the said ques and I was confirmed in this
opinion by the particular direction in the brief accompanying
Joseph T Williams application. If I have misapprehended the
objection, I shall of course be informed.
The other applications will probably be returned after the next
term of our court.
The delay in this matter has been occassioned by my absence for a
long time and it is hoped that the department has by this time so
far relieved itself from the great throng of business that has
been thrown upon it as to be able to soon to act upon these
applications.
Your obedient servant
Joel Manning
J L Edwards, Esq.
Rev War Pension File of Joseph Terry Williams
Viewed National Archives, Federal Center, Denver CO