Service dates: 3 years

Pension: $80 per annum. Began on  January 2, 1834 when he lived in Perry County. 

Date of Death: May 15, 1857 (est. 101 years old)

NOTE: This file is especially valuable because it places Edward Box in both Perry and Decatur Counties, Tennessee, gives a firsthand residence timeline, and contains testimony from associates and probable relatives familiar with his Revolutionary War service and later life.

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Widow’s Declaration

State of Tennessee
County of Decatur

On this 6th day of September A.D. 1858 personally appeared before me in open County Court of Decatur County Nancy Box a resident of the State of Tennessee and county aforesaid aged seventy five years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 granting pensions to widows.

That she is the widow of Edward Box who was a private in the Revolutionary War and whose name appears on the pension roll of Tennessee at the rate of eighty dollars per annum.

She further declares that she was married to the said Edward Box on the 7th day of March 1842; that her husband the aforesaid Edward Box died on the 15th day of May 1857 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.

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She further declares that she was not married to the said Edward Box prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first day of January 1794, viz. at the time above stated.

Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written.

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Nancy X Box
(her mark)

M. J. Fisher clk. 

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Affidavit Regarding Marriage and Death

State of Tennessee
Decatur County

On this ___ day of September 1858 personally appeared before me in open County Court of Decatur County John Graves a resident of Decatur County and State aforesaid aged sixty one years, who being duly sworn according to law declares that he was well acquainted with Edward Box and Nancy Box his wife and that the said Edward Box and Nancy were married in the year 1842 by one Thomas King a minister of the gospel and that he was living in the neighborhood at the time and knows of the death of the said Edward Box, who died on the 15th day of May 1857 and that the aforesaid Nancy Box has remained the widow of Edward Box ever since his death.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this day and year above written and I hereby certify that the witness is credible.

John Graves 

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Affidavit of Minister Thomas King

State of Tennessee
Decatur County

I, Thomas King one of the acting Justices of the Peace within and for the county and state aforesaid do hereby certify that I joined Edward Box and Nancy Box together in the holy bonds of matrimony in the year 1842 and that I am the identical Thomas King who performed said marriage ceremony and officiated at the funeral and burial of said Edward Box.

Witness my hand and seal this 6th day of September 1858.

Thomas King J.P. 

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Statement Concerning Revolutionary Service

(From later Bureau summary)

It appears that Edward Box enlisted “at Reedy River, Laurens County, South Carolina,” date not given, and served three years as private in Captain Robert Hamilton’s Company, Colonel Warton’s South Carolina Regiment.

He was placed on the pension roll January 2, 1834, while living in Perry County, Tennessee.

In May 1855 he was a resident of Decatur County, Tennessee, and then stated that he was about one hundred and one years of age. He died May 15, 1857.

He married March 7, 1842, Nancy, her maiden name not stated.

Said Nancy Box was allowed pension on her application executed September 6, 1858, while living in Decatur County, Tennessee, aged about seventy five years.

There are no further data on file relative to their family.

 

Supporting Statement by Hiram Box

(Important family testimony)

State of Tennessee
McNairy County

On this 3rd day of May 1855 before me personally appeared Hiram Box aged about forty four years, a resident of McNairy County in the State of Tennessee, who being duly sworn according to law deposes and says:

That he has been acquainted with Edward Box for the last forty years and knows him to be the identical person who served in the Revolutionary War as a private soldier in South Carolina. He further states that he has often heard the said Edward Box relate incidents of the Revolutionary War and particularly the battles of Cowpens and Eutaw Springs in which he was engaged and further that the said Edward Box has lived in the counties of Perry and Decatur in the State of Tennessee for upwards of thirty years.

Hiram Box 

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Additional Genealogical Notes from the File

• Edward Box was receiving a pension under the Act of 7 June 1832.

• Pension certificate number: S.23960

• Widow pension number: W.25268

• Widow Nancy Box was approximately 75 in 1858, implying birth about 1782–1783.

• Edward Box stated in later correspondence that he was about 101 years old in 1855, implying birth about 1753–1754.

• Residence progression documented in the file:

  • Laurens County, South Carolina (service)

  • Perry County, Tennessee (1830s pension period)

  • Decatur County, Tennessee (1850s)

• An affidavit filed by John Henson in 1853 accused  Box of being a Tory and stated he should return all pension payments up to that date.  That was about $920.  His pension was stopped and the allegations investigated by the War Department. 

• The pension was ultimately restored and continued until his death.

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