• Type: Revolutionary War Pension Application

• Filed under the Act of June 7, 1832

• Residence at declaration: Buncombe County, North Carolina

• Approximate age at declaration: about 74 years

• Later transferred his pension to West Tennessee Office with residence in Perry County.

 

Summary of Service

Samuel Eakin declared that:

• He entered service in North Carolina militia during the Revolutionary War.

• He served under several officers at different periods.

• He participated in campaigns against the Cherokee and Tory forces.

• He was involved in operations around the western frontier settlements.

• His aggregate service amounted to approximately twelve months or more.

The declaration is lengthy because it was assembled from scattered periods of frontier militia duty rather than one continuous enlistment.

Abstracted Translation of the Main Declaration

Opening Declaration

Samuel Eakin appeared in open court in Buncombe County, North Carolina, in 1832 to apply for a pension under the federal pension act.

He stated that he was born in Rowan County, North Carolina, though he did not possess a written record of his age. He testified that he entered service while residing in Burke County, North Carolina.

First Period of Service

He first entered service sometime around 1778 or 1779. He served as a private in the North Carolina militia under Captain David Vance. The company marched against hostile Cherokee Indians on the western frontier.  He described frontier ranging duty and movement through settlements exposed to Indian attacks.

Additional Frontier Service

Eakin stated that he afterward served several additional tours under different officers, including:

• Captain William Moore

• Captain [possibly] McDowell

• Colonel Charles McDowell

• Colonel Benjamin Cleveland (mentioned indirectly in connection with militia operations)

Some service involved:

• guarding frontier inhabitants,

• scouting,

• pursuing Tories,

• protecting settlements,

• and responding to Indian incursions.

Campaigns Against Tories

Part of his service involved suppressing Loyalist activity in western North Carolina. He described militia mobilization after alarms and disturbances caused by Tory groups. These expeditions were generally short tours ranging from weeks to several months.

Cherokee Expedition

A substantial portion of the declaration concerns operations against the Cherokee.

Eakin described:

• marching through mountainous country,

• constructing forts or stations,

• ranging along the frontier,

• and remaining in service until danger subsided.

This type of service was common in western North Carolina during the late Revolutionary period.

Aggregate Service

Eakin stated that his several tours together amounted to approximately “twelve months” or slightly more in total militia service.

Witness Testimony

Two supporting witnesses testified on Samuel Eakin’s behalf.

The witnesses affirmed:

• that they knew Samuel Eakin,

• that he was regarded as a Revolutionary War soldier,

• and that his character for truthfulness was good.

One witness appears to have been:

• James Edney

Another witness name is partially obscured in the copy.

Court Certification

The Buncombe County Court certified that:

• Samuel Eakin was a credible man,

• his declaration was entitled to belief,

• and the court considered him a proper applicant for a Revolutionary War pension.

The declaration was signed:

Samuel Eakin

Pension Office Notations

Subsequent pages contain administrative review notes by the Pension Office.

The file was reviewed for:

• sufficiency of residence statements,

• adequacy of officer identifications,

• proof of service,

• witness competency,

• and conformity with pension regulations.

The pension was ultimately allowed.

Genealogical Information Extracted

Samuel Eakin

• Born: probably circa 1757–1758

• Birthplace: Rowan County, North Carolina

• Residence during service: Burke County, North Carolina

• Residence in 1832: Buncombe County, North Carolina

Military Associations

Associated officers named or referenced include:

• Capt. David Vance

• Capt. William Moore

• Col. Charles McDowell

Historical Context

Samuel Eakin’s service is characteristic of western North Carolina Revolutionary militia duty:

• irregular enlistments,

• frontier defense,

• anti-Tory patrols,

• Cherokee campaigns,

• and local militia mobilizations.

Unlike Continental Line soldiers, frontier militia veterans often served in numerous short tours spread over several years.

The following pages are not part of Samuel Eakin’s narrative declaration itself, but are Pension Office review sheets and administrative endorsements attached to the file.

File Jacket Notes

Cover Card

Eakin, Samuel
N.C.
S. 3317

Invalid Pension Card

INVALID
File No. 3317
Samuel Eakin
Pvt. N.C. Mil.

Pension Office Examination Sheet

Objections to Admission of Pension Claim

The review form reads substantially as follows:

Brief objections to the admission of Pension Claims, or which those answering them negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Samuel Eakin which requires further proof or explanation.

The form then lists standardized review questions.

Examination Questions

I.

Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II.

Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

III.

If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV.

Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?

V.

Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the officers under whom he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?

VI.

Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII.

Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?

VIII.

Has the Court given their opinion?

IX.

Has the Clerk given his certificate?

X.

Is the Clerk’s seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?

XI.

Has the applicant sustained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?

XII.

If the clergyman’s affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

XIII.

If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV.

If the applicant’s name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?

XV.

Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was such a relation, or of such age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant’s service?

XVI.

Are the papers authenticated in the regular manner?

XVII.

Are the notes interrogatories by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And if not, which of them is not answered?

Printed Explanatory Notes

The remaining pages consist largely of printed Pension Office instructions explaining how county courts and clerks should prepare Revolutionary pension applications.

These instructions concern:

• residence statements,

• proof of service,

• witness requirements,

• authentication procedures,

• acceptable documentary evidence,

• and official seals and certifications.

Final Administrative Context

The file notes show that Samuel Eakin’s application underwent the standard federal review process for Revolutionary War pensions under the Act of 7 June 1832. The review centered on:

• sufficiency of his militia service description,

• identification of officers,

• credibility of witnesses,

• and compliance with Pension Office regulations.

The file was ultimately accepted and pensioned. 

 

“Removed to West Tennessee”

This appears in the administrative endorsement area rather than in Samuel Eakin’s own sworn declaration.

The notation likely reflects a Pension Office tracking remark indicating that the pensioner later relocated to western Tennessee after the original application period in North Carolina.

No county is specified in the visible notation itself.

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