George Brown PENSION

George Brown

submitted by Mary Floy Katzman

State of Tennessee, County of Johnson
On this twenty third day of January A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty one personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace within and for the County and State aforesaid, George Brown aged sixty six years, a resident of Johnson in the State of Tennessee who being duly sworn according to law declares that he is the identical George Brown who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Jesse Cole in the Regiment of East Tennessee Malitia Commanded by Colonel Samuel Wear in the war with Great Britain declared by the United States on the 18th day of June A.D. 1812; that he was drafted in Carter County and enrolled at Elizabethton on or about the 18th day of October 18 1813 for the term of three months and continued in actual service in said war for the term of three months and was honorably discharged at Knoxville in Knox County on the 18th day of January 1814, as will appear by the muster rolls of said Company but did not receive a certificate of discharge untill he returned to Carter County on the 29th day of January A.D. 1814 at Fish Springs near Elizabethton. He further states that he received an honorable certificate of discharge but shortly after he received it let one, Alexander Doran, have it to present to the pay master in order that he might draw the back wages that were due him for said services, therefore he cannot present it with this declaration.

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 1850.

Signed George Brown Sworn to by R. Moore, J.P. for Johnson County

State of Tennessee, County of Carter
On this 23rd day of May A.D. one thousand eight hundred and seventy one personally appeared before me James L. Bradley, Clerk of the Carter County Court, a Court of Record within and for the County and State aforesaid George Brown aged 87 years, a resident of the 9th District County of Carter, State of Tennessee who, being duly sworn according to law, declares that he is married; that his wife's name was Sarah Brown, to whom he was married at Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co., NC the 1st day of May 1804; that he served the full period of sixty days in the military service of the United States in the war of 1812; that he is the identical George Brown who volunteered in Captain Jessee Cole's company, Wears regiment Jackson division at Elizabethton, Tenn on the 18th day of October 1812 and was honorably discharged at the Fish Springs, Tenn. on the 29th day of January 1814; that he served most of term of service at Fort Armstrong on the Coose? River in Alabama now, but then the Creek and Cherokee Nation of Indianas occupied that portion of Territory. Then he applied for and received a land warrant first for 40 acres and afterwards 120 acres, but does not remember the No.(number?), that he relies upon the proof in support of that claim to support this claim for Pension. that he, at no time during the late rebellion against the authority of the United Stated, adherred to the cause of the enemies of the Government, giving them aid or 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; that he makes this declaration for the purpose of being placed on the pension roll of the United States, under the provision of the act approved February 14th 1871 and he hereby constitutes and appoints with full power of substitution and revocation John W. McGill of Washington, DC his true and lawful Attorney to prosecute his claim and obtain the pension certificate that may be issued; that his post office is at Elizabethton, County of Carter, State of Tennessee; that his domicile or place of abode is 3 miles from Elizabethton.

George Brown (his X mark)
Attest: John C. Smith

Jonesborough, Tenn March 9th /74
Hon J. H. Baker
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir:

I have the honor to report, in the case of George Brown, pension No. 14-233, War 1812, suspended on accusation of dislloyalty, that claimant is not now living, having died some two months since, his wife having died prior to death of claimant.

At the time of the breaking out of the War of 1861, claimant was living with his "son-in-law" a few miles from Elizabethton, Carter Co., Tennessee, he remained with him till sometime in the year of /63 or thereabouts, he left his "son-in-law" because they could not agree as they took different sides in the war. Claimant moved in to Johnson Co. about 30 miles from Elizabethton, and in the present state of the mountain streams, and rivers, the citizens of Elizabethton told me it would be impossible to go there for the snow is melting from the mountains and the streams are literally torrents, and this is a bridgeless country. One of the witnesses who vouched for claimants loyalty was, during the war a rank Rebel, as testified to by J.B. Miller the P.M. (post master?) of Elizabethton. See Exhibit "A"

The other was a boy and grandson to Claimant, but is away from home at present.

John W. Heaton testifies that he lived neighbor to Claimant and heard him on different occasions express Rebel sentiments. See Exhibit "B". Samuel Stover states that he lived a neighbor to Claimant during the first two years of the and that it was known in the neighborhood that he was a Rebel and also that he left his "son-in-law's" house because his "Son-in-law" was a Union man and Claimant and he could not agree. See Exhibit "C".

John W. Cameron, also testifies to his disloyalty and to the fact of his leaving him home on that account. See Exhibit "D"

Daniel Ellis, a man whose verocity or integrity, is not doubted by any one and whose services, the Government recognized by appropriating $3,000 or more as renumeration therefore, states positively that he knows claimant to have been during the war, a strong rebel and also that he left his house then moved to Sullivan Co.[sic] because his sentiment differed from those of his "Son-in-law" with whom he lived. See Exhibit "E".

Carter County, claims to have been the most loyal County in Tennessee, that there were but few rebels in the county and that therefore every disloyal man was known as such and I have failed to find one Union man who considers George Brown anything but a Rebel sympathizer and I would respectifully recommend that the name of George Brown be dropped from the pension rolls.

Very respectfully
J.A. McKinstry, Special Agt.

Exhibit A

On this 4 day of March 1874 at Elizabethton County of Carter State of Tennessee before me J.A. McKenstry, a special agent of the Pension Office, personally appeared J.B. Miller who being duly sworn declares that his age is 36 years, that he resides in Elizabethton County and State affore said, and that he knows John Nave, one of the individuals who vouched for the loyalty of George Brown, in his application for pension and that he knows him to be, during the war of 1861, a rank rebel, that he reported Union men, and injured them to the extent of his ability, that he rendered himself so obnoxtrous [sic] to Union men that he did not dare to remain at his home, but left the state for his own safety and remained away about 3 years. Affiant further says that he has no interest direct or indirect in the claim of .....

Exhibit B

On this 2nd day of March 1874 at Elizabethton, County of Carter, State of Tennessee, before me J. A. McKinstry a Special Agent of the Pension Office, personally appeared John W. Heaton, who being by me duly sworn according to law, declares his his age is 45 years, that he resides at Elizabethton County of Carter, State of Tennessee, and that he has known George Brown, Claiment for the last twenty years, and that at the breaking out of the War of 1861, he lived neighbor to claimant and knows that George Brown was counted a rebel by all who knew him and affiant himself believes it to be true, for he knows that he expressed himself as such, in conversations held with him on different occasions and he further declares that he has no interest, direct or indirect, in the clam of George Brown for a Pension, and further saith not.
Signed John W. Heaton

Exhibit C

On this 2nd day of March 1874, at Elizabethton, County of Carter, State of Tennessee, before me John A. McKinstry, a Special Agent of the Pension Office, personally appeared Samuel Stover, who being by me duly sworn according to law, cedlares that his age is 30 years, that he resides at Elizabethton, County of Carter, State of Tennessee and that he lived neighbor to George Brown. Claimant during the first two years of the War of 1861 and that it was understood in the neighborhood, generally, that George Brown was a strong rebel sympathizer. Claimant lived with his son-in-law, John Grindstaff and that there was a division in sentiment, Grindstaff being a Union man and that George Brown left his son-in-law and moved into Johnson County where affiant had no further opportunity of knowing of or about him....
Signed Samuel Stover

Exhibit D

On this 2nd day of March 1874 at Elizabethton, County of Carter, State of Tennessee, before me J.A. McKinstry, a Special Agent of the Pension Office, personally appeared John W. Cameron, who being by me duly sworn according to law, declares that his age is 38 years, that he resides at Elizabethton, County of Carter, State of Tennessee, and that he knew George Brown, claimant, during the War of 1861, and that during that time he had several conversations with claimant and on such occasions, claimant expressed rebel sentiments and it was generally understood by Union men that sd Brown was a rebel. Affiant further says that claimant lived with his son-in-law, John Grindstaff, who was a Union man, but on account of disagreements in politics that is as touching the War, they seperated, Brown moving in to Johnson County.....Signed John W. Cameron

Exhibit E

On this 4th day of March 1874, at Elizabethton, County of Carter, State of Tennessee, before me, J.A. McKinstry, a Special Agent of the Pension Office, personally appeared Daniel Ellis, who being duly sworn, states that his age is 45 years, that he resides at Elizabethton, state and county aforesaid, and tht he has known George Brown, claimant for the past 15 years, that he knew him during the War of 1861, and knew positively that he was a straight out Rebel, and knew that he left his son-in-law's house who is a Union man because they could not agree in their sympathies in regard to the war. Affiant further states that claimant advocated the Rebel cause strongly and he further states he has no interest direct or indirect in the claim of George Brown from...

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