Jacob Braswell Pension Application

Pension application of Jacob Braswell W3933

State of North Carolina, Edgecombe County: Edgecombe Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions August Term 1832

On the 28th day of August personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, now sitting Jacob Braswell aged 69 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.

He was drafted in the Revolutionary service and was attached to a company commanded by Captain Edward Clinch, of which company William Hale was lieutenant. This company was at of the Regiment of Colonel Thomas Eaton who was assisted in command by Lieutenant Colonel [illegible first name] Clinch. The company having organized proceeded to Elizabeth Town on Cape Fear [River] where they were placed under command of General Ashe [John Ashe]. From Elizabeth Town they proceeded to the neighborhood of Charleston and were ordered to Augusta Georgia and after some irregular marches met the enemy at Briar Creek. He was in the battle at Briar Creek and after the defeat returned to South Carolina and was discharged upon the Savannah River and reached North Carolina in the beginning of May. He entered the service some time before Christmas – so that his service embraced a period of at least five months.

Having remained at home until the following February, he was again drafted and could in a company commanded by Captain [name obliterated]. The company belonged to the Regiment of Colonel Linton. Having organized at Halifax he proceeded to Guilford and was in the battle at Guilford Court House with General Greene [Nathanael Greene]. After the battle he went to Camden in South Carolina – and was in the battle near that place. He was taken sick at that place or near it and having remained there two or three weeks returned home. This embraced a period of three months. The facts set forth in this declaration he proves by the oath of Burrel Bradley who served with him.

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.

Sworn to and subscribed. S/ Jacob Braswell, X his mark

I Burrell Bradley of the County of Edgecombe North Carolina, as hereby certify that I was with Jacob Braswell in the service of the United States and believe the facts set forth in the declaration to be correct to the best of my knowledge & believe.

Sworn to and subscribed. S/ Burrel Bradley, X his mark

State of North Carolina, Edgecombe County: May 27, 1833

Personally appeared before me Henry Austin a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid, Jacob Braswell, who being duly sworn deposes and saith --

That he was born in the County of Edgecombe State of North Carolina in the year 1763. He has a record of his age in his possession which was left by his father. He was living in the County aforesaid when called into the service and continues to reside in same County. He received a discharge from Captain Madry: but lost it, having no idea he should ever be able to make it useful to him.

He has been unable to recollect the year in which he entered the Service – the battles in which he was engaged and other leading circumstances embodied in the declaration he thought would be sufficient to justify the Department in allowing his application. He is confident of the fact, that his tours of service embraced eight months. He did not procure the certificate of a clergyman, because none is resident in Tarboro and his age and infirmities put it out of applicant's power to encounter much fatigue in procuring one and he hoped that the positive testimony of Bradley who served with him would have obviated its necessity.

Sworn to and subscribed. S/ Jacob Braswell, X his mark

S/ Henry Austin, JP

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State of North Carolina, Edgecombe County: Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions November Term 1845

On this 26th day of November (1845), personally appeared before the Court of Pleas & quarter
Sessions in and for the County and state aforesaid, Nancy Braswell, a resident of said County and state, aged seventy two years (72) who being first duly sworn according to Law doth make on her oath, the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay & pensions to certain widows," also the act of March 3, 1843 granting one years pension to certain widows, and the act of June 17, 1844; continuing the pensions of certain widows.

That she is the widow of Jacob Braswell a resident of the County and state aforesaid who was a private soldier of the North Carolina Militia, and a pensioner of the United States at the rate of $26.66 per annum; who was placed on the pension roll (as well as she can recollect) sometime in the year 1833. That she further declares that she was married to the said Jacob Braswell on the 9th day of July (1789), and that her husband the said Jacob Braswell died on the 25th day of July 1837. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place, previous to first day of January 1794, viz.: at the time above stated, which will more fully appear by reference to the family record a written instrument showing the ages of her children by the aforesaid Jacob Braswell, which record, or instrument, she hereby declares to be genuine, and that she found among the papers of her deceased husband. And she further declares that her husband the aforesaid Jacob Braswell being an illiterate man, inscribed (in her presence as he could not write his name) the initials of his name (JB) on the back of the aforesaid family record or written instrument, which is herewith appended. She further declares that she was married to the aforesaid Jacob Braswell on the day and year above mentioned, in the County of Edgecombe and state aforesaid by Robert Diggs, who was an acting magistrate in and for the County aforesaid. Sworn to and subscribed on the day and date above written, in open Court.

Sworn to and subscribed in open Court. S/ Nancy Braswell, X her mark

Transcribed by Will Graves

Related Link: Jacob Braswell & Nancy Cotten Bible Record