In 1832 Congress passed an "Act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers of the revolution" that provided a pension for Revolutionary War veterans who had served six months or more. Previous acts going all the way back to 1776 had provided pensions for particular groups, like injured soldiers or the indigent, but the 1832 act opened it up to anyone still living. Since it was offered in gratitude for their service, it was called the Gratuitous Pension.
To claim his pension, my fourth great-grandfather Zerobabel Gay swore out a statement describing his service, according to instructions published by the War Department. The statement is part of his surviving pension records, shown below. I've included my attempt at a transcription.
State of Tennessee
Davidson County, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions October ?? 1832
This day personally appeared before us William Williams, Jesse Wharton and Enoch P. Connel justices of said court Zerobabel Gay a resident of said county aged seventy five or six years, who being first duly sworn according to our maker the following statement to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he was born in North Hampton County in the State of North Carolina, and now about from seventy four to seventy six years of age. That he enlisted in the militia service of the state of North Carolina under the command of Captain William Madray in the regiment commanded by Colonel Linton [William Thomas Linton] in General Butler’s Brigade [John Butler]; he entered in the year 1781. The month he does not now remember. The troops were collected at Halifax in North Carolina and marched from thence to Guilford where they joined the Division of the regular army under the command of General Greene [Nathanial Greene]. The troops to which the applicant belonged were engaged in the battle of Guilford. His Captain ran away early in the action -- the company commanded by the Col of the regiment Linton fired four rounds and gave way. This service was for three months -- and after the battle of Guilford the applicant entered the regular service in the Georgia or South Carolina lines in the year of 1781 under Captain Raiford [Robert Raiford] -- and served in the regiment of the lines aforesaid for the span of twelve months under the following named officers -- Major Donoho -- Colonel Armstrong and General Greene [possibly the 4th North Carolina Regiment]. From Guilford Courthouse the applicant was marched down into South Carolina, and was a part of the baggage guard at the Eutaw Springs [Battle of Eutaw Springs] -- and as much as he now remembers the name of the Lieutenant was Ball -- in South Carolina the applicant was stationed at the “Four ??s” [Fort Dobbs?]. Bacon’s Bridge and the High Hill in Santee ?? until his year expired when he received an honorable discharge in ?? which he has had the misfortune to have had burned with all his property -- and consequently he has no documentary evidence of his service -- nor does he know any person by whom he can form the same fully?. He has the affidavit of Benjamin Barnes who knows part of his service. The applicant
has no record of his age, and is quite illiterate -- his Captain supposed him to be about twenty one or two years of age when he enlisted. He lived in North Hampton County North Carolina after the war removed thence to Georgia and then to Tennessee where he has lived some seven or eight years. He hereby relinquishes any pension claim that he may have but this present, and desires that his name may be entered? of those entitled to pay for their services.
Sworn & Subscribed in open court this 27th day of October 1832.
Zerobabel Gay (his mark)
?? Henry Ewing Clerk of Davidson County Board.
Mr. William H. Hagans [probably a Justice of the Peace at the time] and Thomas Bell citizens of Davidson County State of Tennessee do hereby certify that we have known Zerobabel Gay the afore named applicant for two years or more that he is a citizen of said county and a man of truth and entitled credit upon his oath. We also certify that we believe him to be about seventy five or six years of age that he has always since our acquaintance with him has? reputed and believed to be a soldier of the revolution in the neighborhood in which he lived, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & Subscribed in open court
This 1st Day of November 1832
?? Henry Ewing Clerk
of Davidson County Board
(Signatures of William H Hagans and Thos Belle)
State of Tennessee
Davidson County
Court of Pleas + quarter sessions October ?? 1832
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter + putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the before named applicant was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and served as he states. And the said court also certify that William H. Hagans and Thomas Bell who have signed the above certificate are residents of said county and as reputable and credible men their statements are entitled to full force of faith and credit. Signed in open court this 1st November 1832:
E. P. Connell
Will Williams
J Wharton
Zerobabel Gay was awarded a pension of $50 per year, awarded retroactively from March 4, 1831, in accordance with the Act. Like all the rest of the pensioners, he would receive his pension in two installments on March 4th and September 4th, until he died in 1838 at the age of... well, I don't know, and neither did he.
To claim his pension, my fourth great-grandfather Zerobabel Gay swore out a statement describing his service, according to instructions published by the War Department. The statement is part of his surviving pension records, shown below. I've included my attempt at a transcription.
State of Tennessee
Davidson County, Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions October ?? 1832
This day personally appeared before us William Williams, Jesse Wharton and Enoch P. Connel justices of said court Zerobabel Gay a resident of said county aged seventy five or six years, who being first duly sworn according to our maker the following statement to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he was born in North Hampton County in the State of North Carolina, and now about from seventy four to seventy six years of age. That he enlisted in the militia service of the state of North Carolina under the command of Captain William Madray in the regiment commanded by Colonel Linton [William Thomas Linton] in General Butler’s Brigade [John Butler]; he entered in the year 1781. The month he does not now remember. The troops were collected at Halifax in North Carolina and marched from thence to Guilford where they joined the Division of the regular army under the command of General Greene [Nathanial Greene]. The troops to which the applicant belonged were engaged in the battle of Guilford. His Captain ran away early in the action -- the company commanded by the Col of the regiment Linton fired four rounds and gave way. This service was for three months -- and after the battle of Guilford the applicant entered the regular service in the Georgia or South Carolina lines in the year of 1781 under Captain Raiford [Robert Raiford] -- and served in the regiment of the lines aforesaid for the span of twelve months under the following named officers -- Major Donoho -- Colonel Armstrong and General Greene [possibly the 4th North Carolina Regiment]. From Guilford Courthouse the applicant was marched down into South Carolina, and was a part of the baggage guard at the Eutaw Springs [Battle of Eutaw Springs] -- and as much as he now remembers the name of the Lieutenant was Ball -- in South Carolina the applicant was stationed at the “Four ??s” [Fort Dobbs?]. Bacon’s Bridge and the High Hill in Santee ?? until his year expired when he received an honorable discharge in ?? which he has had the misfortune to have had burned with all his property -- and consequently he has no documentary evidence of his service -- nor does he know any person by whom he can form the same fully?. He has the affidavit of Benjamin Barnes who knows part of his service. The applicant
has no record of his age, and is quite illiterate -- his Captain supposed him to be about twenty one or two years of age when he enlisted. He lived in North Hampton County North Carolina after the war removed thence to Georgia and then to Tennessee where he has lived some seven or eight years. He hereby relinquishes any pension claim that he may have but this present, and desires that his name may be entered? of those entitled to pay for their services.
Sworn & Subscribed in open court this 27th day of October 1832.
Zerobabel Gay (his mark)
?? Henry Ewing Clerk of Davidson County Board.
Mr. William H. Hagans [probably a Justice of the Peace at the time] and Thomas Bell citizens of Davidson County State of Tennessee do hereby certify that we have known Zerobabel Gay the afore named applicant for two years or more that he is a citizen of said county and a man of truth and entitled credit upon his oath. We also certify that we believe him to be about seventy five or six years of age that he has always since our acquaintance with him has? reputed and believed to be a soldier of the revolution in the neighborhood in which he lived, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & Subscribed in open court
This 1st Day of November 1832
?? Henry Ewing Clerk
of Davidson County Board
(Signatures of William H Hagans and Thos Belle)
State of Tennessee
Davidson County
Court of Pleas + quarter sessions October ?? 1832
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after investigation of the matter + putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the before named applicant was a soldier of the Revolutionary War and served as he states. And the said court also certify that William H. Hagans and Thomas Bell who have signed the above certificate are residents of said county and as reputable and credible men their statements are entitled to full force of faith and credit. Signed in open court this 1st November 1832:
E. P. Connell
Will Williams
J Wharton
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