OBION COUNTY, TN - MISCELLANEOUS - Lemuel Curlin, 1812 Pension Papers File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jim Curlin curlin@crosslink.net ************************************************************************ USGENWEB 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. ************************************************************************ APPLICATION, LETTERS & DENIALS RE: WAR OF 1812 PENSION LEMUEL PRINCE CURLIN Application No. 34.048 Tennessee, Obion County 14 December 1878. Personally appeared before me, F.M. Trevathen, the same being a Notary Public within and for the County and State aforesaid. (1) LEMUEL CURLIN aged 80 years, a resident of Obion, in the County of Obion, in the State of Tennessee, who, being sworn duly according to law, declares that he is the identical (2) LEMUEL CURLIN, who served under the name of (3) LEMUEL CURLIN as a (4) Private in the Company commanded by Captain Mathis, in the regiment of North Carolina, Halifax, Co. in the War of 1812; that he (5) voluntered at Brinklys Tavern, N.C. July, 1814 for the term of during war and continued in said war for the term of (6) Seven months, and was honorably discharged at Brinkleys Tavern, N.C. on 8 Feb. 1815. That since his discharge he has resided as follows, viz; (7) I left N.C. to South Carolina 1815 lived there Three years, Then to Wilson Co. Tenn., lived there Two years Then to what is called Obion Co., Tenn. where I am now. The following was his description at the time of his enlistment, viz; (8) 17 years of age, farming North Carolina, 5 feet 10 inches high, light hair, blue eyes, complexion fair or sandy [ruddy?]. He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the pension to which he may be entitled to under the provisions of Sections 4736 to 4740 inclusive Revised Statutes, and the Act of March 9, 1878, and hereby constitutes and appoints, with full powers of substitution and revocation, Gilbert ????? of Washington D.C., his true and lawful attorney, to prosecute his claim. He also declares that he has heretofore made application for (9) I never made any application for Land Bounty or Pension. And that his residence is Union City, County of Obion, State of Tennessee, and that his post-office address is Union City, Obion Co., Tennessee. Claimants Signature - Lemuel Curlin Attest: John B. Harrison T.R. Curlin ************************************************* (Copy of application obtained from National Archives, Washington, DC - Feb. 25, 1969 by Lenora D. Lewis) Subject - Lemuel Curlin Application for a pension for service in War of 1812 Union City, Tenn. June 7, 1879 Mr. Gallen E. Green I have been from home - my father receive your letter but you learn that he had no education so he could not answer it. He says he told you all that he could recolect - He says the 1st ? Capt was by the name of Finch - But when he volunteer in this Company that was made up at Brinkley Old Tavern in Halifax, Co., N.C. My Capt. was by the name of Mathews - He came there and made the Company and then I think he was promoted to a higher office - About the time that we was order to move to the ( ? at Cape ? River - ) We march some 3 days and then we was stopt - I can give you the names of a good many privates and my Sargant his name was Steptto - this is the best I can do. Signed - Lemuel Curlin By (X) T.R. Curlin ************************************************* Subject - Letters written by Thomas Ransom Curlin (1) June 7, 1879. Note - This is my interpretation of what the letter is saying. (L.D.L.) ######################################################################### No. 34,048 TREASURY DEPARTMENT Third Auditor's Office September 6th 1879 Respectfully returned to the Commissioners of Pensions with the information that Ensign Wm Matthias belonged to Hillary Bell's Company of Major Caleb Etheridges Regt. --- Capt. Isham Matthews was attached to Col. Andrew Joiner's Regt. --- There is no means by which to trace the Companies belonginig to the above Regiments. The only CURLIN on the Rolls of Capt. Isham Matthew's Company is John Curlin. On the rolls appear the following remarks "Two days rations while in Newbern & eight days rations to last tehm back to Binkleys Tavern in Halifax County. Signed - A. Cauldwell Acting-Deputy Auditor. Union City Jan. ? or June 25?, 1880 [I think Jan. 25, 1880?? KCW] In answer to your of 23 - [letter of ?] - I never applied for a Land warrent ? -you wanted to know something more about my Capt. name I told you all I could in my petition. I told you I served 3 months as a substitute at Norfolk in my brother Jesse Curlin plase (place) while he was sick - as soon as he got well he came back and take his plase (place) and then I went home to my fathers and there was a Company orginizing there of volenters and I joined that Company it was my Nabor Boy (neighbor boy) and was in camp 3 months with them and drew Rashins (rations) from the government and we was order to march and we was out 3 days on a march then was order back and was dismiss and Mathewws was the name of my Capt. - It has been so long I might have forgot his given name but the name you have sonds (sounds) formiller (familiar) withe (with) me - My brother John Curlin was drafted but nover (never) went - he hired a substitute - his name was William Edwards - Sow (So) he never served in the army - the manes (name or men?) of my Company I give you before or a part of them it seems that my name is hard to find - if you find the Roll of the Company that was maid (made) in North Carr?????? (Carolina) Halifax County, Enfield Court House and Capt. Mathhews you will find my name Lemuel Curlin - I was in my 17 year - is (this) is all the information that I can give at present. Yours Signed - LEMUEL CURLIN ************************************************* Subject - (2) In regards to pension application of Lemuel Prince Curlin for services in War of 1812. Note - This is my interpretation of what the letter is saying. (L.D.L.) Department of the Interior Pension Office Washington, D.C. May 3rd 1880 Sir, In your claim for pension under Act of March 9th 1878 No. 34048 you are informed that your letter forwarded by G.E. Green Esq contains no information that will give a clue to your service. There was one John Curlin who served in Capt Isham Matthews Company, and the persons you name may have served, no search having been made for these names for the reason that if found their services would not establish yours. The letter of Oct 25 is returned as it contains the informations covering your allegations - Did you ever apply for a Land Warrant - Please return this letter with your reply. Very respectfully J.A. Bruitey [? signature] Commissioner Lemuel Curlin Care Galen E. Green Eq Jackson Madison Co Tenn. ************************************************* [Note: the above letter was transcribed directly from the letter from the Pension Office, a copy being in my possession - KCW] ************************************************* Subject - Letters written in regards to pension application of Lemuel Curlin. the letters were possibly written by T.R. Curlin son of Lemuel Curlin, however, they were signed Lemuel Curlin and did not have the signature of T.R. Curlin added to them as the letter [dated 7 Jun 1879] above was signed. (L.D.L) ######################################################################### Union City Jan. ? or Jun ? 13, 1880 [I think 13 Jun 1880? - KCW] In answer to your ? of 5 [?] - I cant tell you much more than I told you in my petition. I never applied for a Land Warrant? and now since I seen your letter of the 25 of Oct. and studied over the name of my Capt. I am certain you have his name (Ishum Mathews) I was with him 3 months or more as a soldier and then was dismissed------ ? was mad and we all went home - John Curlin was my brother - He never belong to the army and he was all the John Curlin in that County that I know of - My brother Jesse Curlin did belong to the (Service? or Scouts? or ?) as I told you before in my other letter - I had no education and vary young - I have forgotten a great deal of the past - So I have give you as I now recolect - I know I served the United States as a soldier under Capt. Mathews in North Carolina, Halifax County - when I was very young - My family urlins was all that I knew of in Carolinas. Yours Signed - Lemuel Curlin [the following note typed at the bottom of the above page is by Lenora D. Lewis] Note - The wording and spelling in these Three letters seem to have been written by the same person, only one of them was signed by T.R. Curlin as well as Lemuel Curlin. Facts learned about Lemuel Curlin that I had no record of before. 1 - His lack of education. 2 - In his application he stated that he left North Carolina and went to South Carolina (Where & What County?) then moved to Wilson Co. Tenn. before coming to Obion County, Tenn. (1822 or 1823?) 3 - Proof that he had brothers Jesse & John Curlin. I had seen them listed as his brothers on family records [what are these?], but this is proof. 4 - Some family records give his birth date as 1798 and his marker in Shady Grove Cemetery, Obion County, Tenn. gives his birthdate as 1800. This establishes the fact that in 1878 he was 80 years old. 5 - From the evidence in the report of the TREASURY DEPARTMENT it would seem that Lemuel Curlin was never able to establish the fact that he served in the War of 1812. May 16, 1968 - Lenora D. Lewis 820 So. 3rd. Street Mayfield, Ky. 42066 ************************************************************************ Date of Transcription: 4 Mar 1997 KCW Location of Transcription: Cary, NC Note: All of the above letters excepting the ones dated 6 Sep 1879 & 3 May 1880 were copied from a typed transcription done previously by Lenora D. Lewis of Mayfield, KY on 25 Feb 1969. A copy of her transcription was given to me by Wayma Richards of Brownsville, TN on 24 Feb 1997. I have copied her transcription verbatim, using her underlining and notations. She typed it on an old typewriter, therefore she did not have other ways to highlight certain words. I do not think the actual documents looked like her transcriptions in form (content, yes). The other two letter transcriptions were taken from copies of the actual documents I have in my possession, given to me by Betty Curlin of Brownsville TN on 4 Feb 1997. I have copied these verbatim. Any [ ] denotes comments or questions by me - Kim Curlin Wettroth