WebWatson

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Soldier's Pension File from the National Archives
Watson Holderfield/Holyfield/Hollyfield
Pvt., Capt. G.L. Davidson's Co. N.C. Mil.
Survivor's Pension #20,010
Survivor's Pension #12,577
Bounty Land Warrants 2310-80-'50 and 25,974-80-'55

War of 1812

Salisbury, 4 day of September 1814.
I certify that Watson Holderfield a Private
in Captain G. L. Davidsons company of Artillery
attach to the 7th Regiment of detached Militia from
North-Carolina, in the service of the United States,has
performed his tour of service; and is hereby regularly and
honourably discharged.
J. A. Pearson Colonel
7th Regiment N.C. Militia, U. States' service.

------------
State of North Carolina
County of Surry
On this second day of November A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty personally
appeared before me a justice of the peace within and for the County amd State aforesaid
Watson Holyfield aged fifty nine years a resident of the County of Surry and State of North
Carolina who being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical Watson
Holyfield who was a private in the company commanded by Captain W.L. Davidson in the
Seventh Regiment of North Carolina Militia, commanded by Col. Jas. Pearson in the war with
Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June 1812 that he volunteered
in Surry County in the month of October 1811 and was in for the term of six months and was
in actual service for the term of six months in said war and was honorably discharged at
Salisbury N.C. on the fourth day of September A.D. one thousand eight-hundred and fourteen
as will appear by his original certificate of discharge herewith presented or by the muster rolls
of said company. [Did Watson join the militia twice? 1811 and 1814?]
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which he may
be entitled under the act granting bounty land to certain officers and soldiers who have been
engaged in the military service of the United States passed September the 28th AD 1850.

Watson Holyfield
[appears to by signed by Watson himself]

Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year above written. And I hereby certify that
I believe the said Watson Holyfield to be the identical who served as aforesaid and that he is of
the age above stated.
N. H. Blackwood JR

State of North Carolina
Surry county
I Francis K Armstrong, Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions in and for said county
of Surry and State aforesaid, do hereby Certify that Nathaniel H. Blackwood whose signature appears
to the above Certificate is and was Justice of the Peace in and for said County of Surry
at the time he signed the S[?] and that his signature is genuine.
                                                              In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
                                                              and have affixed the seal of my office at office[?]
                                                              the 2nd November 1850
                                                                                             F K Armstrong   Clk
-------------------

Rockford N.C. 2n Nov. 1850 Sir
        Mr Holyfield entered the service some time in the 1st of February 1814 and
continued voluntarily one month after his time of service expired, or, untill aid su[?] to protect
the public stores should arrive and asks will he not be entitled to the amount of land arising to
those engaging for an indefinite period. I ask this merely for information as there are several
of that class in this section wishing to know so[?].
                                                                                                    Respectfully --
                                                                                                      N. H. Blackwood
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[March 27, 1851 Warrant No. 2310 was issued to Watson Holyfield and apparently
sent to N.H. Blackwood, Rockford N.C.]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SURVIVING OFFICER OR SOLDIER'S DECLARATION FOR
ADDITIONAL BOUNTY LAND

State of North Carolina
County of surry
        On this 23 day of March, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, (1855)
personally appeared before me, a justice of the Peace within and for the County and State
aforesaid, Watson Holyfield aged 64 years, a resident of Surry County, in the State
of North Carolina, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is the identical
Watson Holyfield, who was a Private Soldier in the Company commanded by Captain
Davidson, in the 7th regiment of North Carolina militia, commanded by Col. Jesse A Pearson,
in the War with Great Britain of 1812: for the term of fourteen days; that he has heretofore
made application for bounty land under the Act of 28 September 1850, and received
a land warrant, No.[blank], for 80 acres, which he has legally disposed of, and cannot
now return.
        He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the additional bounty land to
which he may be entitled under the Act approved the 3rd day of march, 1855. He also declares,
that he has never applied for nor received, under this [or] any other act of Congress
any bounty land warrant except the one above mentioned.
                                                                                               Watson Holyfield

        We, Thos. Crumpler and A. H. Dobson residents of Surry County, in the State of N.
Carolina, upon our oaths, declare that the foregoing declaration was signed and
acknowledged by Watson Holyfield in our presence, and that we believe, from the
appearance and statements of the applicant, that he is the identical person he represents
himself to be.
                                                                                                 Thos. Crumpler
                                                                                A. H. Dobson

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day
and year above written; and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons; that the
claimant is the person he represents himself to be, and that I have no interest in this claim.
John Hamlin, J.P.

State of North Carolina
County of Surry
        I, clerk of the County Court in and for the aforesaid County, a Court of Record, &c.,
do hereby certify that John Hamlin Esquire, before whom the foregoing declaration and
affidavit were made, was at the time a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and
qualified by law to administer oaths, &c, and that the above is his
genuine signature.
                                In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and affix my Seal of
                                office on this 23 day of March A.D. 1855.
                                                                                                 J[?] H[?]Dobson
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUSPENDED BOUNTY LAND CLAIM RE-EXAMINED

Treasury Department
Third Auditor's Office
Feb 28 1856
Watson Hollyfield served in Captain Geo L Davidson's Company N.C. Militia from the
1st day Feb. until the 4th of Sept 1814.
Commissioner of Pensions, Department of the Interior
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Department of the Interior
Pension Office
Washington, D.C., Sept. 14, 1871

Sir:
        The application of Watson Hollyfield for survivor pension, No. 20,010, under act of
February 14, 1871, has been received and filed in this office.
        You will be informed if any testimony is required in support of the allegations made in
the declaration.
                            Very respectfully,
                                                                           J.H. Baker
                                                                                        Commissioner
        Chal. C Tucker
            Washington
                        D.C.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DECLARATION OF SURVIVING SOLDIER FOR PENSION
ACT OF FEBRUARY 14, 1871 State of North Carolina
Surry County
On this 3rd day of May, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy one,
personally appeared before me (1) Alexander H Foreman clerk of the Superior Court of
Said County, a court of record within and for the county and State aforesaid (2) Watson
Holyfield, aged 80 years, a resident of Rockford, County of Surry, and State of North
Carolina, who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is unmarried; (3) that
his wife's name was Margaret Venable to whom he was married at Wm Venables, on
the 29th day of December 1814; that he served the full period of sixty days in the
(4) military service of the United States in the war of 1812; that he is the identical Watson
Holyfield who (5) enlisted in Captain George L Davidson's Company, artillery Regiment,
____ Brigade, ____ Division, at Salisbury in the State of North Carolina, on the __ day of
February, 1814, and was honorably discharged at Salisbury, on the ___ day of____, 1814;
that (6) That his discharge is on file in the office of the Interior at Washington City in the case
of his application for bounty land under an act of Congress passed in 1854, 1855 or 1856
under which he obtained 24 [or 21] warrants for 80 acres each of land. ---no. not remembered
-------that he at no time, during the late rebellion against the authority of the
United States, adhered to the cause of the enemies of the Government, giving them aid and
comfort, or exercised the functions of any office whatever under any authority or pretended
authority in hostility to the United States; and that he will support the Constitution of the
United States; that he is not in receipt of a pension under any previous act; (7) that he makes
this declarationfor the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States under
the provisions of the Act of February 14, 1871; and he hereby constitutes and appoints, with
full power of substitution and revocation, Charles C. Tucker, of Wahington, D.C., his true and
lawful Attorney, to prosecute his claim and obtain the pension certificate that may be issued;
that his post office is at Rockford, County of Surry, State of North Carolina, and that his
domicil or place of abode is Rockford.
Watson Holyfield
Attest:
L. H. Burrus
D. D. Tiller
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Form of Certificate

I, B. C. Myers, Post Master at Mt. Nebo, N.C. do hereby certify, that after careful
investigation, I am convinced that Lee H Burris and D. D. Tiller who, as I am informed,
have testified to the loyalty of Watson Holyfield are persons of undoubted good character
for truth and veracity, and that their statements in the affidavit referred to are worthy of full
faith and credit.
        Dated at Mt. Nebo, N.C. this 17. day of Sept, 1871        BC Byers Post Master
                                                                                                        at Mt. Nebo N.C.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[On Nov 14, 1871 the Department of the Interior requested official evidence of Watson's service.
The following was sent to them.]
Treasury Department, Third Auditor's Office
February 7, 1872
Respectfully returned to the Commissioner of Pensions with the information that the name of
Watson Holyfield is not borne on the Rolls of Captain George L. Davidson's Company of
North Carolina Militia, War of 1812, on file in this Office.
Watson Holderfield served in the above Company from 1 February 1814,
to 4 September 1814 and signs by mark X.
                    Allan Rutherford   Auditor
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 12577
War of 1812
Survivors' Pension
North Carolina, Watson Holyfield, Company Capt. G. Davidson, Regiment N.C. Militia
Raleigh Agency., Rate per month--Eight dollars Commencing February 14, 1871.
Certificate dated Feb 15th '72 and sent to Pension Agent.
Act 14th February, 1871 Vol NC, Page 88
J. M. Kavannaugh Clerk
25974--80--55   (Watson Hollyfield)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ser.[?] Orig. #20010
Sur. Ctf. #12577
Bounty Land Warrants 2310-80-'50,
                                    25,974-80-'55
Hollyfield Watson or ("Holyfield")
    wife Hollyfield, Margaret
En. Feb. 1, 1814
Dis. Sept. 4, 1814
Residence of Soldier 1850 - 1855 - Surry Co. N.C.
                                 1871 - Rockford, Surry Co. N.C.
Residence of wife - 1814 - N.C.
Maiden name of wife - Margaret Venable
Marriage of Soldeir and wife - Dec. 29, 1814 N.C.
Death of wife - Soldier states May 3, 1871 that he was then unmarried. No other data
as to probable death of wife.
[Dated] 5-28-78
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Recommended Reading for the War of 1812
Encyclopedia of the War of 1812 1997
Heidler, David Stephen, 1955-

An Authentic History of the Second War for Independence
Brown, Samuel R., 1775-1817
This is a very old book which is available at some libraries on microform.
I believe it is number 34233 in a series called Early American Imprints (Second series).

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