Peter Arrant
The State of South Carolina }
Chesterfield District }
On this the twenty fifth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before B. S. Earle on of the ordinary judges of the said State at the Court of Common Pleas now setting Peter Arrant a resident in the District and State aforesaid aged eighty three years in November next who being first duly sworn according to Law on his oath maketh the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7 1832; That at the commencement of the Revolutionary War he resided and has continued to reside since in the District of Chesterfield and State aforesaid. That he went into the service first under Captain Thomas McManus in the militia service on Lynches Creek against the Tories and was absent at that time about four weeks. That he cannot fix the dates when he entered the service (being unable to read or write) that he afterwards joined General Francis Marion’s Brigade under the command of Lieutenant George Taylor. That he recollects to have joined General Marion’s Brigade at one tine at Benbows Ferry and march with that Brigade across the Santee River to Watboo near Moncks Corner in the neighborhood of Charleston; this was the last service he died where he was discharged from the service by General Francis Marion. That he was out at that time forty days. That at another time he was drafted to serve in the militia service for three months to the month of this, the particular service he does not recollect but recollects it was said to go toward Virginia and he hired on James Mac Dees as his substitute who performed the service and deponent paid him $20 or $25 for the service. That he several times joined General Marion’s Brigade and was on Santee – Lynches Creek – Sutts? Lake and Pee Dee River. That he was not personally present in any engagement which General Marion had with the Tories, nor does his imperfect memory enable him to state how often he joined the Brigade nor the precise time he continued when called out, he however does recollect that he was frequently out for short periods and continued out, until he was discharged at the times his terms of service severally expired. The Deponent is unable to fix with certainty the period of his whole service but is confident that he must have served at least six months exclusive of the three months for which he hired a substitute. That he recollects but two persons who served with him in the Revolutionary War who are now alive, viz, James Hunter and Robert Kirkley who reside in Lancaster District who are very old and infirm.
He hereby relinquishes every claim to a pension and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state whosoever.
Sworn to and subscribed the } his
day and year aforesaid } Peter X Arrant
Baylis J. Earle } Mark
Preside Judge of the Circuit of the Court of Sessions and Common Pleas in open court at Chesterfield Court House in the State and District aforesaid.
James Hunter personally appeared before me in open court and being duly sworn says that he joined General Francis Marion’s Brigade at Walboo near L??? during the American Revolutionary War; That when he arrived that Peter Arrant a soldier in the said Brigade and was under the immediate command of Captain John P. Rushing; That he was in a mess with said Arrant was discharged from the service and returned home. That he cannot say how long said Arrant had been in the service when deponent went to camp. That he knows that said Arrant was frequently called into the service but is unable to state how long he was in the service at deponent terms but knows that he was repeatedly on duty. That deponent has resided for the time of the Revolution to the present time near the said Arrant. That he has always been reputed and believed to be a Revolutionary Soldier and that he has uniformly conducted himself as a good citizen and has never heard his veracity questioned.
Sworn before me this } his
day of September 1832 } James X Hunter
B. J. Earle presiding Judge Mark
of the Court of Common Pleas and Sessions in open court at Chesterfield Court House in the State and District aforesaid.
John Kirkley appeared before me appeared before me in open court and being sworn says that he has been intimately acquainted with Peter Arrant for 35 years; That he was always reputed to have been a Revolutionary Soldier in his neighborhood and of which he has never entertained a doubt. His character is good and has not heard his veracity doubted.
Sworn to before me this }
day of September 1832 } John Kirkley
B. J. Earle presiding Judge
as aforesaid in open court.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting 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 James Hunter who hath signed the foregoing certificate is resident in Lancaster District and that John Kirkley who signed the last above certificate resides in Chesterfield District; That they are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
- J. Eearle
Presiding Judge
I John Craig, clerk of Court of Sessions and common pleas and for Chesterfield District and in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Peter Arrant for a pension.
In testimony thereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty day of September
Anno Domino 1832 John Craig, CCP
State of North Carolina }
Anson County }
On this 30th day of November 1836 appeared before me Samuel Parker one of the acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid Peter Arrant a Soldier of the Revolution after being sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following Declaration hereunto annexed in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of June the 7th 1832.
That he was called into service by the authority of the State of South Carolina in Class as Private Soldier under Captain McManus as my former Declaration made will more fully show served one month in imbodied corps. The year he does not recollect. I served one month under Lieutenant Taylor under General Marion, served one month and ten days under same officers, served three tours of duty at separate times one month each in General Marion’s Brigade making six months and ten days which is as far as I can at this time recollect it being for short of all the service rendered to the United States during the Revolutionary War, the pass of time deprives my frail memory of stating with precision the length of all my service. I have some imperfect recollections of serving as much as nine months in all in General Marion’s detachment but could not positively state his last service, he recollects was short time before the close of the war he returned home and soon after married by the date of the age of his oldest child, my reasons for not mending my Declaration sooner, I am old and infirm and not able to travel to the Court House now in th 87 years of my age and the Court House thirty miles distant and my agent died in the time my reasons for making this amended Declaration in North Carolina living near the line and is most easy for me in my present situation and convenient to a clergyman and Justice of the Peace.
I relinquish every claim to a Pension or annuity whatsoever and declare my name is not on the Pension role of the State or the United States.
Question 1: Where and in what year were you born? In the State of Pennsylvania the 30th day of November 1749.
Question 2: Have you any record of your age if so where is it? I had in a Book kept by my father of his children’s ages in the Dutch Tongue but it has been destroyed.
Question 3: Where were you living when called into service and where have you lived ever since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live? Chesterfield District South Carolina into service and continue to live there to the present day.
Question 4: How where you called into service? Were you drafted? Did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom? Once drafted all other times by Class.
Question 5: State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the Troops such Continental and Militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your services? General Marion, Captain McManus, Lieutenant Taylor; there were Militia officers as I understood.
Question 6: Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it? I received discharges from my officers but have been lost.
Question 7: State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood who can certify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your service as a Soldier of the Revolution. Jesse Lewellin Cleryman and Joshua Walters.
Sworn and subscribed this 30th his
day of November 1836 before Peter X Arrant
Samuel Parker, JP Mark
I Jesse Lewellin, Clergyman, do certify that he resides in the same neighborhood of Peter Arrant for Twenty seven years and that it is reputed and believed that he was a Soldier of the Revolution and I concur in that opinion and I further declare that I believe he served as stated and that he is of the age which he states and from the time I knew him he has been an orderly member of the Church. I Joshua Walters residing in the same neighborhood of Peter Arrant and am well acquainted with him forty two years and that it is reputed and believed that he was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as stated and age also and I concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed this 30th day
of November 1836, before me Jesse Lewellen
Samuel Parker, JP Joshua Walters
I Samuel Parker one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the County Anson State of North Carolina residing in the neighborhood of Jesse Lewellen believe him to be a clergyman and Joshua Walters residing in the same neighborhood and is a man of credit and that Peter Arrant is too infirm to be carried far from his dwelling infirm by age and once crippled by a fall from a horse and that I believe him to be of the age he states and after putting to him the Interrogation prescribed by the War Department, I believe him to be a Soldier of the Revolution and served as stated.
Given under my hand this 30th
day of November 1836,
Samuel Parker
I Norflet D. Boggan Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions do hereby certify that Samuel Parker is one of the acting Justices in and for the county of Anson, State of North Carolina and the signature purporting to be his is genuine.
Given under my had and the seal of office, annexed this 14th day of December 1836.
- D. Boggan, clerk
James C. Pigg Note: Peter’s original application was declared invalid; afterwards he was approved for $20 per annum from 4 September 1839 thru 4 March 1841.