Anson Co. NC - Revolutionary War Pension of Thomas Slay, Jr. USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. Submitted by: Tom Edward W.T.Edwards@worldnet.att.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Application of Thomas Slay, Jr. with affidavit of John Dabbs(from National Archives pension application file S16.540 [South Carolina]) Submitted by Tom Edwards W.T.Edwards@worldnet.att.net and Fay Collins faycollins@sprintmail.com . Submitters' Notes: Thomas SLAY Jr. was born c1761 in Queen Annes Co., MD, one of three sons of Thomas SLAY Sr. and Frances RICKETTS. The family moved to Anson Co., NC, c1770. Both Thomas SLAY Sr. and Jr. fought in the Rev. War. After the war, Thomas SLAY Sr. moved to Richmond (now Scotland) Co., NC. Thomas SLAY Jr. married Sarah PARKER, a daughter of Moses PARKER of Marlboro Co., SC, c1783. They lived in SC before returning to Anson Co., NC, in the mid to late 1790's. In 1826, a widower, he followed his children to DeKalb Co., GA, where he lived with his son, Noah SLAY. In the late 1830's, he moved to Murray Co., GA, and lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Jordan WEBB, until his death in late 1840. FINAL PENSION DETAILS Georgia 23285, Thomas Slay of DeKalb County in the State of Ga. who was a private in the _____ commanded by Captain _____ of the Regt commanded by Col. Malmay in the So. Car. line for 15 months. Inscribed in the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 50 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Dec 1833, Clerk Wm Ezzard Decatur, Ga. Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 - $125 and Semiannual allowance ending 4 Mar 1834 - $25 for a total of $150. Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832, Recorded by Nath. Rice Clerk Book E Vol. 6 Page 103. INITIAL PENSION APPLICATION Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. State of Georgia: On this day personally appeared DeKalb County : in open Court before the superior Court of the said county of DeKalb now sitting Thomas Slay, a resident of Said County and State aged seventy five 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 passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the service of the United States as a volunteer soldier under the following named officers and served as herein states: As well as he recollects in a short time after the commencement of the revolutionary war the date not recollected he enlisted as a volunteer in the Militia Service under Capt James Fair and marched from his residence in North Carolina Anson County to Charleston in the State of South Carolina where he was in a siege of what was called forty days and nights under the following named officers Capt George Lowman & Col Malmady who were officers in the regular service under which officers he enlisted for six months as a regular soldier. Genl Lincoln chief commander. he then returned home and remained thereabouts for three months after which time he joined Genl Francis Marion's army at Culps Ferry and big Pedee in Marlborough district and served two three months towers under officers whose names are not recollected and was in many skirmishes from Charleston to Georgetown and from there to Wilmington. He served under Capt. Bogan on officer in the militia service under the command of Col Thomas Wade in pursuit of the tories for three months and then under Capt James Fair which was the second three months tower under him. he served six months as a regular soldier under Capt George Lowman and Col Malmady officers in the regular service during which time he was taken a prisoner. the first general engagement he was in was at Charleston and the second was at Utaw Springs between Camden and Charleston on the high hills of Santee under the command of Genl Green. He also served under several other Militia officers whose names are not recollected. the last general engagement he was at was at Utaw Springs. He further states that he supposes he served about six years as a regular soldier and volunteer together. he states that he has no documentary evidence of his service having had his house consume with fire. He further states that he can prove part of his service by John Dabbs a resident of said state and county. He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. Sworn to & subscribed in open court this 10th Oct 1832 W T Colquitt, J.S.C his Thomas "T" Slay mark Mr Isaiah Parker a clergyman residing in the said county of DeKalb and James T. Baker residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquaited with Thomas Slay who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy five years of age, that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid WT Colquitt J.S.C Isaiah Parker James T. Baker And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of this matter & after putting the interrogations 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 Isaiah Parker who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in said County and that James T. Baker who has also signed the same is a resident in the said county of DeKalb and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to WT Colquitt J.S.C Personally appeared in open court on the day aforesaid John Dabbs a resident of said county who after having been duly sworn deposeth & saith that he was acquaited with Thomas Slay who has sworn to & subscribed the foregoing declaration, in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary war. the said Slay served in one company & the deponent in another and they were frequently together & he knows of his own knowledge of the said Slays having served about six months in the army, in the States of South Carolina & North Carolina And he has been informed & has reason to believe that the said Slay served a considerable time afterwards and was in the battle of Eutaw Springs. Sworn to & subscribed in open court WT Colquitt J.S.C his John "D" Dabbs mark I, Charles Murphey, Clerk of the Superior Court in & for the County of DeKalb & state aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original procedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Slay for a pension and I do hereby certify that Walter T Colquitt whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is the presiding Judge of said court. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private there being no seal of office the 30th day of October 1832. C Murphey Clk This original application was DECLARED INVALID, reference file No.16540, Thomas Slay, Prv Rev War, Act: 7 Jun 1832, Index: Vol. 1, Page 362 [Arrangement of 1870]. Objections involved insufficent details on military service history and improper court procedures followed in submitting the application. SECOND PENSION APPLICATION Decatur, DeKalb County, 6th Nov 1833 Sir, I send you herewith enclosed the pension claims of John Hays Robert McDowell[?] Thomas Slay John Landers and Ellit[sic] Wood. The three first of which have been amended by making an affidavit before a justice of the peace according to your instructives the other two have been amended by making additional declarations before the court, all of which I hope will now be found to be satisfactory. Yours very Respectfully William Ezzard J.L. Edwards, Commissioner & C Georgia, DeKalb County: Personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in & for said County, Thomas Slay, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith: that by reason of old age, & the consequent loss of memory, he can not 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 three months in the year 1780 I served as a private & volunteer in the militia of North Carolina and in the same year I inlisted at Charleston in the regular army for the Term of Six months three months of which service I performed and was then taken prisoner by the British, and got off on parol. For Six months in the year 1781 I served as a volunteer & private in the militia of North Carolina said service being performed in two tours of three months each. For six months in the year 1782 I served as a volunteer & private in the militia of North Carolina. This service also having been performed in two tours of three months each. For three months in the later part of 1782 or forepart of 1783 I served as a volunteer & private in the militia of North Carolina. He further states that the whole of the above service was performed in North Carolina & South Carolina that during the above periods he was in actual service with the army called out by authority of the State, and that during said periods he was not engaged in any civil pursuit and for this service he claims a pension. his Thomas "X" Slay mark The within affidavit, sworn to and Subscribed before me this the 4th day of November 1833. H.B. Latimer J.P. Georgia, DeKalb County: I Elzy B. Reynolds clerk of the Inferior Court in aforsaid county do hereby certify that Henry B. Latimer whose name appears to the foregoing affidavit is an acting Justice of the Peace in aforesaid county & that the annexed signature is his genuine signature. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 4th day of November 1833. EB Reynolds Clk Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. State of Georgia, DeKalb County: On the ninth day of July in the year eighteen hundred & thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Inferior Court now sitting in and for the said County of DeKalb, Thomas Slay a resident of said County and State aged Eighty years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in addition to the one made in October last in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832 --- That he entered the service of the United States as a volunteer and a private under the following named officers and served as herein stated. Shortly after the commencement of the revolution he enlisted as a volunteer in the militia service under Capt James Fair for a three month tour and marched from his residence in North Carolina to Charleston in the State of South Carolina where he was in a siege of what was called forty days and nights under the following named officers Capt George Lowman & Col. Malmady who were officers in the regular service & after the first three months had expired he then volunteered for six months under Capt George Lowman & Col. Malmady and under a regular discipline Genl Lincoln chief commander and as soon as he enlisted for six months under the above named officers he returned home to his residence in North Carolina in Anson County and remained there and thereabouts for three months after which time he states he joined Genl Francis Marions company or army at Culps Ferry on big Pedee River in Marlborough District in South Carolina and then volunteered under Capt. James Fair for two three months tours and he states he was in many skirmishes during that service from Charleston to Georgetown & from there Wilmington. He states that after the expiration of the above named tours under Capt. James Fair he volunteered under Capt Patrick Bogan officer of the militia and under the special command of Col Thomas Wade for a three months tour. He states he served that time entirely in pursuit of the tories. He states be also served under Capt. Brackin for some considerable time but how long he does not recollect and under the special command of Genl Marion he states that during the time for which he enlisted under Capt George Lowman & Col. Malmady Genl Lincoln chief commander he was taken prisoner by the British at Charleston in South Carolina and was imprison about a week. He states the first general engagement he was in was at Charleston & his second was at Utaw Springs between Camden & Charleston on the High hills of Sanitee under the command of Genl Greene. He states that that was the last general engagement he was in but was at the taking of Wilmington after that time. He states he served generally through the whole war. he further states he served at least six years. He states he received several written discharges that have long since been comsumed by fire and does not [know] by what officers they were signed and states at this time he has no documentary evidence of his having served but can prove part of his service by John Dabbs a resident of said state & county whose certificate is amended to his declaration. He states he has no record of his age. He states he was born on the Eastern shores of Maryland in Pennsylvania Quenans County. He states he was living in North Carolina when he was called into service and lived there ever since until he removed to the County of DeKalb & State of Georgia where he now lives. He states all the services he performed was as a volunteer & private. He states he is well known to John Dabbs, Trussy Jarmon, Silus McGrudy [McGreedy or McGrady?], Sally [Tully?] Choice & William Ezzard all of whom can testify as to his character for truth & veracity and also of their belief of his having served in the revolution and also all of whom reside in said state. He hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. He further states that it is inconvenient for him to procure the certificate of a clergyman as there is no one at this court who is acquainted with him. Thomas Ray J.I.C. John Dobbs J.I.C. his Edwards Jones J.I.C. Thomas "T" Slay [Justice Inferior Court] mark We Stephen Hightower residing in the State and County aforesaid and Silus McGrudy residing in the same do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Slay who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty years of age that he is respected 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 and year aforesaid Thomas Ray J.I.C. Stephen Hightower John Dobbs J.I.C. Silus McGrudy Edward Jones J.I.C. And the said court does duly declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after making the interrogatives 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 Stephen Hightower who has signed the preceeding certificate is a clergyman resident in the state and county aforesaid and that Silus McGrudy who has also signed the same is a resident of the same state and county and that they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. Thomas Ray J.I.C. John Dobbs J.I.C. Edward Jones J.I.C. I Elzy B. Reynolds Clerk of the Inferior Court of said County of DeKalb do hereby certify that the foregoing contained the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Slay for a pension. I do further certify that Thomas Ray John Dobbs and Edward Jones whose names appear to the foregoing certificate are the acting Justices of said court. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 19th day of July 1833. E.B. Reynolds Clk Georgia, DeKalb County: I Elzy B. Reynolds Clerk of the Inferior Court in & for said County do hereby certify that William Cochran whose name appears to the within certificate is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County & that due faith & credit ought to be given to his attestation as such given under my hand & seal this 19th day of July 1833. E.B. Reynolds Clk Georgia, DeKalb County: Personally appeared before me John Dabbs who after being duly sworn deposeth and saith that whilst the deponent was a soldier of the Revolutionary war he was acquainted with Thomas Slay who has made the foregoing to which this declaration that said Slay served in one company and the deponent in another that he saw him frequently and believes the said Slay to have been at the battle of Utaw Springs & believes he was taken prisoner at Charleston but does know it of his own knowledge. Deponent cannot say how long he served. Sworn to and subscribed this 12th July 1833 before me. William Cochran J.P. his John "D" Dabbs mark I William Cochran an acting Justice of the Peace in & for said County do certify that the John Dabbs whose name appears to the foregoing affidavit is a person of sincerity and entitled to Credit. Witness my hand and seal the 12th of July 1833. William Cochran J.P. STATE OF GEORGIA. Murray COUNTY, SS. BE it known, That before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Inferior Court in and for the County aforesaid, personally appeared Thomas Slay and made oath in due form of Law, that he is the identical person named in an original certificate in his possession, of which (I certify) the following is a true copy: WAR DEPARTMENT. REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM. I certify, that in conformity with Law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Thomas Slay of the State of Georgia who was a private in the War of the Revolution is entitled to receive Fifty Dollars per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and paid semi-annually on the 4th of March and 4th of September in every year. GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this 18th Day of December One thousand eight hundred and thirty three. Examined, and Countersigned. J. L. Edwards Lew Cass Comr. of Pensions SECRETARY OF WAR FINAL PAYMENT VOUCHER Murray County, Georgia 1840 Sep 5, M247, Roll 32 That he now resides in Murray County, State of Georgia, and has resided there for the space of Eight Months Past; and that previous thereto, he resided in DeKalb County, Georgia. Sworn and subscribed, this } fifth Day of } his Sept. 1840 } Thomas "T" Slay before me. } mark Jordan Webb } K. W. Hargrove JIC } This fifth day of September 1840 I, K. W. Hargrove a Magistrate in the County above named, do hereby certify, that I have the most satisfactory evidence, viz. the certificate and my personal knowledge that Thomas Slay who has this day appeared before me to take the oath of Identiy, is the identical person named in the Pension Certificate, which he has exhibited before me, numbered 23.285 and bearing date at the War Office, the 18 Day of December 1833; and signed by Lewis Cass Secretary of War. Given under my hand at Spring Place on the day and year above written.KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that I, Thomas Slay of Murray County, State of Georgia, a Revolutionay Pensioner of the United States, do hereby constitute and appoint William Morell my true and lawful Attorney, for me, and in my name, to receive from the Agent of the United States for paying Pensions in Savannah, State of Georgia, my Pension from the fourth Day of March 1840 to the fourth Day of September 1840. Witness my hand and seal this 5th Day of September 1840. SEALED and delivered in presence of } his Jordan Webb } Thomas "T" Slay K. W. Hargrove JIC } mark References