Skip to main content

This day personally appeared Reuben Graves a resident of Jackson County and State aforesaid before me Silas C. Cornwell one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county of Smith and State of Tennessee and made oath before me, in due form of law that he is about Seventy Seven years of age. That he is now a Pensioner of the United States. He States that he was well acquanted with Rachel Debow as before her marriage With Frederich Debow they went to School togather lived close neighbour her name previous to her marriage was Rachel Rogers. This affiant was present at their marriage believes it was the identical time She mentions in her Declaration to wit in September 1777 he knows it was in at the time of year they were making cider at her fathers he had a large orchard and made a great quantity of cider he recolects it was at the time also the country people are making and taking care of their fodder; he knows that She was legally married to the said Frederich Debow he thinks Col Major Archibald Murphy marrid then he was a Justice of the peace This affiant knows that from his own knowledge that Frederick Debow was a Wagon Master in the War of the revolution. But this affiant does not recolect the particulars of his Services as after his marriage he moved higer up in North Carolina and this affiant lived in Virginia close to the line and when this affiant was called to Serve the tours of Service he performed he always had to go north in his own state except one tour he went South when the battle of Stono on Svanah Rive ^was fought^ at Which time this affiant was at Camden Mrs Debow's father lived at the time of the marriage on the line between North Carolina and Virginia

Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 22d day of July 1837
Silas C Cornwell JP Justice peace

I Silas C Cornwell one of the acting Justices of the Peace for the county of Smith and State of Tennessee do hereby certify that I am well acquanted With Reuben Graves who had this day appeared before me and made the foregoing affidavit in the Suport of the claim to a Pension of Mrs. Rachel Debow. That he resides within four miles of him the undersigned for the last twenty years and within County of Jackson.

That he the said Reuben Graves is a man of the first Character and reputation. That full faith and credit are due to his Statements and I hereby certify the same

Given under my hand and seal this 22d day of July 1837

Silas C Cornwell JP
Justice peace

State of Tennessee
Smith County}
I John J. Burnett clerk of the county court of said Smith County do hereby certify ^that^ Charles McMurry and Silas C Cornwell before whom before whom the foregoing declaration of Rachel Debow and affidavits of Sarah Thomson and Reuben Graves were had were at the time the same purports to bear date acting Justices of the peace constitutionally elected and duly commissioned and qualified to act as such and that full faith and credit is and of right ought to be given to their official facts

In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my Seal of office, a office this 4 day of January 1838 & 62 Year of American independence

John J Burnett clerk
of Smith County Court