Inclosed please find the declaration and proof in the case of Rachel Debow widow of Frederick Debow deceased as amended by her son and renewed by her surviving heirs. You will discover by the papers on file in your office that she was placed on the Pension list at the rate of $26.67 cents per annum under act of 4th July 1836. And you will also discover from the proof then furnished that a Number of witness is of the first respectability and Revolutionary Soldiers Some of them Pensioners who had a perfect knowledge of the services of Frederick Debow testified full to his services as waggon master & commissary but particularly as Captain and perhaps other offices that I cannot now recolect. That owing to the rules then adopted by the Pension office no Pension would be granted to an officer unless a commission showing his grade or Documentary evidence showing the office he held was furnished. That every proof necessary by witnesses was furnished, but owning to the want of documentary proof at that time a Pension only for a private for eight months, leaving out all the proof for a Pension as an officer. These facts you will find already on file in her original papers. That I frequently insisted for the Pension to be allowed as an officer but was informed by Commissioner Edwards that If documentary evidence was furnished showing that he served in any of the grades proved up then a Pension would be allowed proportional to such grade of office. That upon searching some of these letters from Mr Edwards as commissioner of Pensions I find in one of them the following extract "If record or documentary Evidence can be shown a Pension will be increased to the pay alledged as Captain commissary or wagon master." See letter of J L Edwards 21st June 1839 and other letters by him written in this case I therefore rest the case as conclusive now that the Comptrollers certificate furnished that evidence, and that there is yet to be found in the Pension office and at Raleigh as I fully believe further additional evidence which is your duty to furnish if to be found. I belive the specie payment made to Frederick Debow as stated in Comptrollers certificate shows payments in specie to the amount of $184.44 which agreeable to your calculation will increase the Pension to that amount at least per Annum but you have you say your rules and without saying anything in regard to them as to their being mysterious and uncertain. I deem it my duty to remind you that it is as much a mater of justice "in foro concientio" to guard against withholding a Pension as it is to grant one illegally. I know and can show great injustice has been done to claimants by delaying their claims. I hope to find in this case prompt attention I want your own declarations to be carried out. That each claimant whether present by attorney or letter shall have speedy Justice without delay or partality to one favourit more than another. I make these remarks without any allusions or reflections towards you or any of your clerks under you I do it with the utmost respect. I have no reflections to make all I want is Justice to be done I here take the liberty to state that no claim I ever presented was other than a legal and just one. In conclusion Be pleased to take up this claim at your earliest convenience and allow it, and a certificate for what is due the heirs as Prayed for