p.1 (Cover sheet)
Service Number
N.C. Cross, William S.3221
Va.
Born in Md. Carded
Notes on p.1: His service was listed as having been in North Carolina and Virginia, and there is a place on the form for that information. His North Carolina service was in modern day Tennessee. The note about him having been born in Maryland was added as a marginal note as there is no place for that information on the form. I do not know what "carded" means in this context.
p.2 (Cover Sheet)
National Archives Microfilm Publications
SELECTED RECORDS
National Archives Microfilm Publications
Notes on p.2: Revolutionary War pensions files include "selected records" and "unselected records". I'm not really sure what the difference is because when you get the file you seem to get both. I have transcribed the cover sheet for the "selected records" but I seem to have lost the image of it.
p.3
25.612
East Tennessee
- - - - - - - -
William Cross
Anderson County in the State of Tennessee
who was a drummer & Pv in the Compy commanded
by Captain Hix in the regt. commanded
by Col Shelby in the N.C. militia
time for 1 yr.
Date of death not on AP
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Inscribed on the roll of East Tennessee
at the rate of 43 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Certificate of Pensions signed the 12 day of Feby
1831 and sent to Hon.
Luke Lea, N?.R.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Arrears to the 4th day of Sept 1833 $107.50
Semi-anl. allowance ending April 74 21.50
- - - -
$129.00
{Revolutionary Claim
{Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Wm. Wilson? Clerk
Book E Vol. P Page 39
Notes on p.3: The information about the date of death not being on the application was written on a facing page and appears to have been added later.
p.4
Wm. Cross
Application for
A Pension
2/596
hereunto set my hand and seal of office at
office in Clinton the 10-th day of
July 1833
Hugh Barton Clk
deputy of Saml. L. Chilton
Address
James Hair
Knoxville
Tennessee
Notes on p.4:
p.5 State of Tennessee ) On this 9th day of July 1833 Anderson County ) Personally appeared in open Court before us William McKamey, Henry B. Butler, and John Seiber three of the acting Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter before us in and for said County was sitting William Cross a resident of the Said County and state in the said County of Anderson State of Tennessee aged 71 or 72 years and after 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 7th 1832. That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as here in stated. That he was born in Baltimore County, Maryland some time about the 5th of March 1761 or 1762 as he was informed by his parents. He has no record of his age. He lived in North Carolina in what is now caled (sic) Sulivan (sic) County someplace near the Virginia line at which place some time in September 1776 he volun- teered for a twelve month tour against the Cherokee Indians under Capt William Hicks in the militia. He volunteered as a drummer. We Rendezvoused at Edward Coxes in the north Side of Holston river at the time last aforesaid lay there a few day then switched to Shoats fort in the south side of Holston River. We then took possession of Shoats fort and made that our head quarters during the whole tour. We scouted through the country in quest of indians. We had no regular battle. We had no officer with us higher than a Capt. Genl. Shelby ordered a number of Capts to fortify and high position a the forts along near the Virginia line to keep the indians from committing deprivations in Virginia as dutarant (sic) was informed at that time. We continued there till October 1777 at which time he was Honorably but verbally discharged. He served at this time twelve months for which He claims pension. He served the whole time as a Drummer. Again while liveing (sic) at the same place some time in August 1781 as near as he can recall he was drafted for a three month tour against the British and tories under Capt. Thomas Wallace in Col. Isaac Shelby's Regiment of Militia. We Rendezvoused on Indian Creek near the Iron Mountain at the time last aforesaid
Notes on pp.5-8: William states that he served in "North Carolina near the Virginia line, in what is now Sullivan County". The reference to Sullivan County was a reference to what is now Sullivan County, Tennessee - not to Sullivan County, North Carolina. So William Cross was in what is now Tennessee by at least 1776.
pp.5-8 contain the main evidence in support of the pension application. However, William did state that he might not have been remembering everything quite right. He had written to his son David for assistance in this regard. David was supposed to ask Edward Cox and Abraham Cross for assistance. Edward Cox was William's sergeant. Abraham was William's brother, and the brothers had served together. William received no response from his first letter to David, and sent a second letter.
Finally, William filed the pension application based on his own memories. Subsequently, Edward Cox and Abraham Cross did file an affidavit. Their affidavit gave slightly different dates of service than did William's affidavit, and there was a disagreement about whether William "enlisted" or "volunteered". These discrepancies had to be explained.
p.6 we were there met by an express telling us that men was not wanted at that time. we was then permitted to return here and hold our selves in readyness (sic) at a minits (sic) warning which we did and in about three weeks we were caled (sic) upon again and we marched to the same ground under the same officers. we lay there a few days. There was a part of company had horses and a part had none. Col. Shelby gave gave (sic) press warrants to press horses to go to the High Hills of Santee Dularent with a number of others were unable to press horses. Col. Shelby then ordered Declarant with the ballance (sic) that had no horses to return to Ensign John Wallace and Sargent Abidnago Hicks and guard the frontier against the indians which they did till the three months was out. he was Honorably and verbally discharged. He Served at this time three months for which he claims pension. He served in the whole fifteen months for which he claims pens- ion. He may probably be mistaken as to some of the dates above mentioned but he is certain he served the full time above stated. He has no documentary evidence and he knows of no person whose testimony he can provide who can testify in his actual service. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension accordingly except the present one declare that his name is not in the pension roll of the agency of any state. There is no Clergyman whose testimony he can provide at this time by whence he can prove the report of his service. He continued to live in said Sulivan (sic) County till about 1817 he then moved to Knox County Tennessee and lived there about a year he then moved into said Anderson County and has lived there ever since. There was no regular officers with the troops where he served nor no continental nor militia regiment farther than above mentioned. He never did receive a written discharge from the service nor a commission. He is acquainted in his present neighborhood with Edward Hawkins Esq. Reubin Gadsen Thomas Kernal and Jonathan Scarbraw all of whom he believes would testify that he is a man of veracity and that they believe that he was a soldier of the Revolution sworn to
p.7 and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court Hugh Barton Clk his By his deputy S.L. Chilton William x Cross mark We Obidiah Ashlock and Thomas Carnal residents of the said County of Anderson and State of Tennessee hereby certify that we are well acquainted with with (sic) William Cross who has subscribed and sworn to the above dictation? that we believe him to be 71 or 72 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to and subscribed the day aforesaid in open Court Hugh Benton Clerk Obidiah Ashlock by his deputy S. L. Chilton Thomas G. Carnal And the said Court hereby declare there (sic) opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war Department the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and Served as he states and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Obidiah Ashlock and Thomas Carnal who has signed the preceeding certificate are residents of the said County of Anderson and State of Tennessee and are credible persons and that their statement is subscribed to credit. William McKamey Henry L. Butler John Sieber Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions State of Tennessee) I Hugh Barton Clerk of the Court of Anderson County ) Pleas and Quarter sessions in and for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contained the original proved findings of the said Court in the matter of application of William Cross for a pension. In testimony whereof I have
p.8
hereunto set my hand and seal of office at
Office in Clinton the 10-th day of
July 1833
Hugh Barton Clk
by his deputy Saml. L. Chilton
Address Wm. Cross
James Adair Application for
Knoxville A pension
Tennessee 2/594
p.9 (handwritten)
26.594
William Cross
Anderson Co
Tennessee
from 1776 drummer
& private 1 yr
drummer 9 mo. $33
private 3 " 10
---
$43
$43
Hon. Luke Lea
Knoxville
Tennessee
did not enlist but was a volunteer. There were no enlistments
in the state of N.C. at so early a point as 1776 for
one year to serve on the frontier.
Notes on p.9: The notation about William having been a volunteer rather than having enlisted was an important distinction that affected the approval of has application. The nuances of the distinction escape me, but it apparently was very important.
p.10 (pre-printed form with much handwritten material)
WAR DEPARTMENT
PENSION OFFICE
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim under the act of June 7, 1832,
has been returned and the papers are herewith returned. The following is
a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers
with the following rules and the subjoined rules you will readily perceive
that objections exist which must be remedied before a pension can be
allowed. The rules and regulations will show what is necessary to be
done. These parts to which your attention is more particularly directed
you will find marked in the margins with a brace (thus } ). You will
when you return your papers to this Department send this printed letter
with them; and you will by complying with this request greatly facilitate
the investigation of your claim.
A STATEMENT showing the Service of William Cross.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Period Officers current
when under age
service Duration rank whom
was rendered served place of service Proof
Feb 1776 1 year drum. Capt. Hicks 71 Traditionary
no Col. mentioned N.C.
Aug 1871 3 months Pvt Capt. Wallace
Col. Shelby
0 There was no service performed by volunteers for such
a length of time as one year under one engagement nor
can allowance be made for actual service for that
time.
I am respectfully
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS
Commissioner of Pensions
The witnesses are not
certified to be credible.
Only nine months can be allowed for
1st service as active operations were not carried on
against the Indians during the winter season. The applicant
did not enlist but was a volunteer. There were no enlistments
in the state of N.C. at so early a point as 1776 for one year to serve on the frontier.
Notes on p.10 - This document continues the theme of declaring William's service as not complying with the legal requirements for a pension, and again part of the distinction had to do with whether he volunteered or enlisted. Government bureaucracies have been thus since time immemorial.
p.11-12 (pre-printed pages, no text added by hand) REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832 (text of the regulations not transcribed)
Notes on pp.11-12 - it was not worth the effort to transcribe these pages as they contain no data that is specific to William's application, plus the text is perfectly readable as is in the images themselves.
Images of pp.11-12
p.13 (handwritten page) It appears from the annexed affidavit of Edward Cox and Abraham Cross (the former of whom was the sergeant under which Wm. Cross served his twelve month tour) That William Cross was mistaken about being a volun teer that in fact he was enlisted and I perceive his name may be found in the department, but of not his proving and said service will be Suficiant & Suffise. You will observe that the affidavit bears dates Apr 18th 1833 the Salutation July 9th 1833 which will be warranted for in the following named Court. In the course of last winter I advised Wm Cross to provide proof of actual service he then got a friend to write to Sullivan County on the subject but had no return. He had a second letter sent but without Service. He then made his application for a pension believing that he could not provide proof of actual service. The said affidavit was forwarded to him some time in October last contrary to his expectation. He states that he had no records when he served his twelve months tour (See the declaration) W.H. Grant I am Hon. J.L. Coward Your very Humb. Servt James Hair
Notes on p.13: this is the document whereby William's pension was finally approved. William wrote to Sullivan County two different times seeking help with his affidavit because he didn't remember all the salient details of his Revolutionary War service. Not receiving a response from his letters to Sullivan County, he finally filed his application based only on his own memory, and his application was declined. But his brother Abraham Cross and his friend and his Sergeant Edward Cox finally did file an affidavit in support of William's application. Their affidavit certified that William did enlist rather than volunteer, and this was sufficient for William's application to be approved.
p.21 (typewritten letter to Pension Bureau from private citizen)
Rogers-Bailey Hardware Co.
Chattanooga, Tenn July 6, 1935
Pension Bureau
Washington, D.C.
Sirs:
Will you be kind enough to advise me of any records you
have of the following Revolutionary War soldiers.
William Cross, who served in the North Carolina militia.
Sergeant Isaac B. Nichols, who was granted pension in Walker
County, Georgia, in 1848, for Revolutionary services, and
served either in Georgia or North Carolina.
My grandfather was named Isaac Nichols, of Georgia.
Thanking you kindly, I am,
Sincerely yours,
John P. Brown
1146 Market Street
Chattanooga, Tenn.
Notes on p.21: This letter was actually later in the pension file in a section entitled "Unselected Records". But the response to this letter was in this section of the pension file entitled "Selected Records". So I moved the letter so the letter and its response (see pp.14-15) would be in chronological order.
p.14 (typewritten letter, response from pension office to John P. Brown)
July 20, 1935
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mr. John P. Brown William Cross
Rogers Bailey Hardware Company S. 3221
1146 Market Street BA-J/MLB
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War record of William Cross who served in the
North Carolina militia, also, Isaac B. Nichols who served as
sergeant in either Georgia or North Carolina and who, you state,
was granted a pension in Walker County, Georgia, in 1848, for
Revolutionary War service.
The Revolutionary War records of this office have been
searched and no claim for pension or bounty land found based
upon service of any Isaac Nichols, under any spelling, of Georgia
or North Carolina. The pension which you state he received may
have been granted by the state from which he served.
The record was found of only one soldier named William Cross
who served from North Carolina and it is furnished herein, as
shown in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 3221, based upon
his service in the Revolutionary War.
William Cross was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, about
March 5, 1761 or 1762; the names of his parents are not given.
While residing in that part of North Carolina near the Vir-
ginia line, which was later Sullivan County, Tennessee; the soldier
enlisted sometime in September, 1776, served as drummer in Captain
William Hicks' North Carolina company, against the Cherokee Indians,
and was discharged in October, 1777. He enlisted in August, 1781,
served as private in Captain Wallace's company, Colonel Isaac
Shelby's regiment, against the British and Tories and guarding the
frontier against Indians, length of this tour three months.
The soldier continued to reside in Sullivan County, Tennessee,
until about 1817, when he moved to Knox County, Tennessee, where
p.15
he remained about one year, then moved to Anderson County, same
state.
William Cross was allowed pension on his application executed
July 9, 1833, while residing in Anderson County, Tennessee.
No reference was made in the claim to wife or children of the
soldier.
In 1833, one Abraham Cross made affidavit in behalf of the
soldier, William Cross, in Sullivan County, Tennessee, and referred
to one David Cross, also of that county, but did not state the
relationship of any of the three to each other.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, name and
address of the person paid, and possibly the date of soldier's death,
you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting
Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
William Cross
Certificate #25612
Issued February 12, 1834
Rate $43 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Ast. June 7, 1832
East Tennessee Agency
Very truly yours
A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Notes on pp.14-15: This letter from the pension office in response to a query from a citizen provides an excellent summary of William Cross's pension application.
Images of pp.14-15
Cover Sheet
National Archives Microfilm Publications
NONSELECTED RECORDS
National Archives Microfilm Publications
Notes on Cover sheet: Revolutionary War pensions files include "selected records" and "unselected records". I'm not really sure what the difference is because when you get the file you seem to get both. I have transcribed the cover sheet for the "unselected records" but I seem to have lost the image of it.
p.16 (cover sheet)
1935 July 20 H?? to Jno. P.
Brown MLB
3221
INVALID
File No. 3221
William Cross
Missn N.C. Mili.
Act: June 7, 1932
Index: - Vol. A, Page 80
(Arrangement of 1870.)
Notes on p.16: This is the cover sheet created when William's pension application was originally declared not to be valid.
p.17 (handwritten page)
State of Tennessee ) 18th Apr 1833
Sullivan County )
At the Insistence & request of David Cross
of Sullivan County, Tennessee I have caused Edward
Cox & Abraham Cross to come before me to state
on their oaths each & singular their knowledge of
William Cross of Anderson County, Tennessee
serving During the Revolutionary War and Before.
December the seventh in the year 1776 in the ear
-ly part of the year Say in March as I can
recollect the Said William Cross of Anderson
County Enlisted in Sullivan County, Tennessee then
North Carolina under Capt. William Hicks & Ser
geant Edward Cox at the fort at Shoats ford
and was immediately appointed Drummer for said
Company and had the rank of Drummer During
the term of said enlistment which was for one
year. Deposeants further saith that said William
Cross was engaged with them in rendering the
following services in Building forts & guarding
them as spys against the Cherokee
Indians and was actively engaged in said service
During said enlistment. further Dep. saith not.
Edward Cox (seal)
Abraham Cross (seal)
I do hereby certify that the above affidavit was
sworn to and subscribed before me that day and year
above mentioned given under my hand & seal
at office.
Wm. Rockhold (seal)
Justice of the Peace
Notes on p.17: Edward Cox was William Cross's sergeant. Abraham Cross was William Cross's brother, and the brothers had served together in the North Carolina militia. David Cross was William Cross's son. While living in Anderson County, William wrote to his son David back in Sullivan County, asking David's help in obtaining an affidavit from Edward Cox in Abraham Cross in behalf of William's application for a pension.
p.18 (handwritten page)
State of Tennessee ) I George W. Netherland Clerk of the
Sullivan County ) Court of Pleas and Quarter sessions
for said County certify that William Rockhold Esquire
whose name appars to the within certificate is now and
was at the time of signing the same and acting Justice of
the peance in and for said County and that full faith
and credit are due all his official acts as such
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and office the Seal of my
Office at Office in Blountville the
2d day of September 1833.
Geo. W. Netherland Clerk
Notes on p.18: requires no further explanation
p.19 (handwritten) I certify that Edward Cox and Abraham Cross the deponents in the within affd. are known to me to be respectable. Edward Cox on the Pension roll of the Jonesboro agency as an Ensign. I I believe Mr. Cross is likewise on said roll. Their statements are entitled to full credit. Feb 9, 1834 John Blair
Notes on p.19: no further explanation required
p.20
Hall H. Rept.
February 7th, 1834
Sir,
I have the honor to return to you
the pension papers of William Cross
together with the Certificate of the Hon.
John Blair Certifying that the statement
of the two witnesses to wit Edward Cox
and Abraham Cross are entitled to
full Credit - and that he believes
both of them are Revolutionary pensioners -
Very Respectfully
I am your humble Svnt
Luth. Lea
J.L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Notes on p.20: This is the final document that confirmed that William Cross was entitled to his Revolutionary War pension after all.
Final Payment Information, not directly in the pension file
Name - Cross, William
Agency of Payment - Knoxville, Tenn
Date of Act - 1832
Date of Payment - 3rd qr 1844
Date of Death -
last Final Payment Voucher Received From
The General Accounting Office
Form
General Services Administration GSA DC 70 - 7035 GSA DEC 69 7-68
