Cross-Referencing Pension Files: The Revolutionary War Pension File of Asa Spelmore

A good practice when studying pension files is to locate the records of those who made sworn statements in support of a fellow soldier's application. Asa Spelman (Spelmore) had testified on behalf of John Carter on 13 Dec 1820.

Below you will find the first installment of Asa Spelmore's pension application (images 1-4). Because the file consists of a total of nineteen images, it will be treated as a mini-series.

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NARA Publication M804

SERVICE                                        NUMBER
N.C.                Spelmore, Asa           S42022

[Left Side]
18-691 R
North Carolina
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Asa Spelmore
(aged 74)
of Craven Cy in the State of N. Carolina
who was a Private in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Davidson of the N. Carolina
line, for the term of nine months 1778-9
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Inscribed on the roll of North Carolina
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 13 of September 1820.
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Certificate of Pension issued the 1 of July 1822
[Gentle] Thomas Watson Esq.

Newbern, N.C.

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Arrears to 4th of March 1822  141.83

[s]emi anl all'ce ending 4 Sept 1822   48      

$189.83

{Revolutionary claim,

Act 18th March 1818.}

May 1, 1820

(Not on list)

_____________________________________

[Left Side]

[per call ?] 14 Sept 1831

to the Pensioner

District of North Carolina

Craven County

Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions

September Term A.D. 1820

On this 13th day of September 1820 personally

appeared, in open Court, the said Court being

a court of record proceeding according to the

Course of the Common Law, with a Jurisdiction

unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record,

of its proceedings, and having power to fine and

imprison Asa Spelmore commonly called

Asa Spelmore, aged seventy four years who

being first duly sworn according to law, doth on 

his oath make the following declaration, in order

to obtain the provision made by the Acts of

Congress of 18th March 1818 and the 19th May

1820 that he the said Asa Spelmore enlisted

in the Company commanded by Captain

Quinn in the Tenth North Carolina Regiment

Continental Establishment Commanded by Colonel

Davidson, that he enlisted for nine months, &

served out his term, but cannot state the day

of his enlistment or discharge, he was discharged

at Halifax in North Carolina. He was not in

any engagement except a skirmish near West

point and at King's ferry in Jersey. he has

no other evidence of his service in his power

than the annexed affidavits of Isaac Perkins

and John Carter. And in [persuance] of the

Act of 19th May 1820. I do solemnly swear

that I was a resident Citizen of the United

States on the 18th day of March 1818, and

that I have not since that time by gift

sale or in any manner, disposed of my property

or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to

diminish it as to bring myself within the

provisions of an "Act of Congress entitled

An Act to provide for certain persons engaged

in the land and navel service of the 

United States, in the Revolutionary War passed

on the 18th day of March 1818. And that

I have not , nor any person in trust for me, 

my property or securities, contracts or debts owed

to me, nor have I any income or any property

except one Canoe, one paddle, declarant is

by occupation a Cooper, but from age &

infirmities he can work but little. He has

no family and resides with his brother.

Sworn to and declared, (signed)                 his                   

on the 13th day of)        Asa   X    Spelmore

September 1820)              mark                  

Isaac Perkins maketh oath that he was a

private soldier in the 2nd Regiment North

Carolina line in the Continental establishment in

the War of the Revolution, that while on service

at White Plains in the State of New York

a detachment of Continental troops [                ] that

place on duty, and among them he said the

the petitioner Asa Spelman or Spelmore whom he

had been long acquainted with in No. Carolina

that said Spelmore was then serving as a

Continental soldier, but deponent does not know

the length of his Services, deponent was at the

battle of Monmouth and at the seige of

Charleston.                      his                         

(signed)    Isaac      X     Perkins        

mark