State of Tennessee Smith County
On this 30th day of July 1840 personally appeared before me Patrick Fergusson one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid Lydia Ray a resident of the county aforesaid aged upwards of eighty ^five^ years as Stated in a former Declaration sent to the War office at Washington City, who being sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Provision made by that the act of Congress passed July 4th 1836
That in addition to her former Declaration heretofore made under said act as above stated Granting pay and Pensions to certain widows she further states that at the time of making said Declaration she did not know that it was necessary to state all the services of her husband in the War of the Revolution nor does she recolect now at this time that the question was asked of her at that time the subjects was new to her and had only been known to her a few minutes before she made said Declaration and she gave in the service of her husband that was most fresh in her memory to her, the last service being an engagement for six months and during that time as a before stated he served four months came home sick and died but a few days before Cornwallis encamped on her plantation and robbed her of all her property
She now declares and states that her husband the said Joseph Ray served a tour of three months in the light horse troops of north Carolina under Captain Hodge and ^in the regiment of Colonel Armand^ some time previous to the last tour in which he died and furnished his own horse making in all seven months service and this she is abundantly able to prove by witnesses of living of the highest Respectability. She does not make this Statement for the mere purpose of obtaing the small pittance Government may allow to her but that Justice should be done in the case and this she is certain of as she recolects the service. She further declares that she is now old and infirm not able to attend to any business whatever and cannot in all probability live long to reap the benefits that she is justly entitled to but as she is informed that it is her right she claims it agreable to the act aforesaid
Sworn to and subscribed before me this day and year first above written
Patrick Fergusson J.P.
Justice of the Peace
State of Tennessee Smith County
I Patrick Fergusson one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county and do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Lydia Ray who has this day made the foregoing amended declaration before me that she is a woman of truth and veracity and that full faith and credit are due and of right ought to be given to his statements I further certify that owing to sickness and old age she cannot go to make this declaration in open court
In testamony Whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed my seal this 30th day of July 1840
Patrick Fergusson JP
Justice of the Peace
State of Tennessee Smith County
I John J Burnett clerk of Smith County Court hereby Certify that Patrick Fergusson before whom the written declaration of Lydia Ray was made was at the time the same purports to bear date and now is one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said Smith County duly Commissioned and qualified as the law directs and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal of office the 2nd Day of January 1841
John J Burnett clerk
of Smith County Court
