On this 1st day of March 1848 personally appeared before the court of pleas and Quarter Sessions for the aforesaid County of Edgecombe, Kinchen Edwards son of Simon & Sally Edwards decd. a resident of said County and State aforesaid aged sixty years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 entitled an act granting half pay deceased persons to certain widows (also the Act of the 3rd of March 1843 granting one years pension to certain widows and the Act of June 17th 1844 continuing the pension of certain widows.)
This Declarant the aforesaid Kinchen Edwards in right of himself and his brothers Benjamin Edwards & Levi Edwards. States that he is the son of Simon Edwards decd who was a Private Soldier of the No. Carolina Militia and also a regular Soldier in the War of the Revolution, as he has understood from his father the said Simon Edwards and fully believes that his Father the said Simon Edwards entered the service of the United States in said war sometime in the year 1780 or 81 he believes and that he was in the service of the United at least two years at different times, Sometimes in the militia and some times in the regular army. That his father the aforesaid Simon Edwards was lawfully married to Sally Dowden soon after he returned from the Army the last time. That his Father the said Simon Edwards died on the (Blank) day of December 1831 leaving his mother the said Sally Edwards a widow, who remained a widow untill her death. That his said mother Sally Edwards departed this life on the twentieth day of April one thousand eight hundred and forty one, leaving surviveing, the following three children (viz) The declarant Kinchen Edwards, Benjamin Edwards and Levi Edwards children and heirs at law of the said Sally Edwards decd.
Sworn to and subscribed on the day & year above written in open Court. Signed Kinchen Edwards Witness: John Norfleet, Clerk
State of North Carolina Edgecombe County Court of pleas and Quarter Sessions held for said County, February Term 1848
Personally appears in open court Kinchen Edwards, who subscribes and makes oath to the facts set forth in the foregoining declaration.
I John Norfleet, Clerk of the said Court (which is a court of record) do certify that the foregoing proceeding were held at February Term 1848 of said Court as appearing of records - In witness whereof, I hereonto set my hand and affix my seal of office at Tarboro this 22nd day of March 1848. John Norfleet, CC
On this 3rd day of May 1848 personally appeared before me John G. Williams one of the acting justices of the peace in afore said county Hardy F. Barnes and after being sworn on the Holy evangelist of Almighty God, says that he was well aquainted with Simon & Sally Edwards, that he has heard the said Simon Edwards many times speaking of being a soldier in the Revolutionary war & - that the said Simon Edwards died in December 1831 leaving his wife Sally widow who remained a widow until her death which took place the 20th April 1841. That Kinchen Edwards, Benjamin Edwards & Levi Edwards are the only surviving children of the said Simon & Sally Edwards - That his father Burrel Barnes administrated on the estate of Simon Edwards and after settling the same - paid the balance over to the said children of Simon & Sally Edwards - Sworn to and subscribed before me Signed: Hardy F. Barnes Jn G Williams JP
I John G. Williams one of the acting Justices of the peace for Edgecombe County do certify that Hardy F. Barnes is a respectable citizen of said County and what he says is intitled to credit - Given under my presence the 3rd May 1848. Signed Jn G. Williams JJ
On this 3rd day of May 1848 personally appeared before me John G. Williams, one of the Acting Justices of peace for said County Robert Lee of said county and after being sworn on the Holy evangelist of Almighty God, saith that Sally Edwards widow of Simon Edwards decd departed this life on the 20th day of April 1841 - Sworn to and subscribed before me. Signed Robert Lee Jn G. Williams, JP
I do hereby certify that Robert Lee is a man of credit - Given under my hand the May 3rd 1848 Jn G. Williams JP
On this 3rd day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty eight personally appeared before me John G. Williams, one of the acting Justices of the peace in and for said county Benjamin Edwards and after being sworn upon the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God saith that he is the son of Simon and Sally Edwards and next to the youngest child, that from the account given him he is now forty six years old - That he has heard his father say many times that he served several times in the Militia and regular Army during the revolutionary war - that his father died in December 1831 and left his mother a widow that remained a widow until her death, which took place 20 Aprii 1841 - There never was any family Bible or any other record kept of the births or deaths of his father and mother’s children - Sworn to and Subscribed before me. Signed Benjamin Edwards Jn G. Williams JP
I do hereby certify that Benjamin Edwards is a respectable citizen of this county and what he says is intitled to credit. Given under my hand the 3rd May 1848 Jn G. Williams JP
I John Norfleet Clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter Sessions of said County, do certify that there is no record evidence in my office relating to the marriage of Simon Edwards and Sally Dowden of said county - and that there is no record evidence of any marriages as far back as the year 1784 in my office.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix my seal of office at Tarboro, this 5th day of May 1848 Signed Jn. Norfleet CC