John NELSON W53, West Tenn. #19522 $80/year issued 17 Sept. 1833 Lucy NELSON, widow Tenn. #77110 and #9984 $80/year issued 29 April 1846.
1 Oct. 1832 Warren County, Tenn. John NELSON aged 73 years last July, resident of Warren County on the Barren Fork of Duck River, stated he was born in Cumberland County, N.C., and presents a record of his age. He enlisted as a captain of a company under Col. James THORNTON in April 1778. He recruited 120 men from several North Carolina counties. He participated in the battle at Camden. At a place called The Junipers on South Carolina he received a bayonet wound in his side. He continued in service until Oct. 1782. His discharge burned with his home in Moore County, N.C. Since the war he has lived in N.C., S.C., Ky., and Indiana, and he now resides in this county. Hugh O’NEIL and Alexander GRANT, John GRAHAM and William BROWN, J.P. can vouch for him. Hugh O’NEIL and Alexander GRANT, both of Warren County, testify on behalf of Nelson’s Character and reputation.
1 July 1833 Warren County, Tenn. John NELSON , resident, repeats the essentials of his previous statement.
20 March 1834 Franklin County John NELSON requests government officials to furnish information regarding his service to his agent, Vispasian ELLIS of Accomack County Va. John DOUGHERTY, J.P., certifies that NELSON has sworn he was a captain in the North Carolina line.
10 Aug. 1834 Coffee County, Tenn. John NELSON swears he has resided in Coffee County for 14 years, and prior to that lived in Indiana.
4 Sept. 1834 John NELSON appoints Hamilton L. DUNCAN his attorney.
23 Oct. 1843 Coffee County, Tenn. Lucy NELSON aged about 71 states she is the widow of pensioner John NELSON. They were married by Rev. Sherwood WHITE in Chatham County, N.C. on 12 Oct. 1786. He died in Coffee County 19 Aug. 1843. She presented the record of their family as proof. (Torn piece from the Bible record) John NELSON was born 9 July 1775 John NELSON and Lucy HART married 12 Oct. 1786 by Shurwood WHITE Baptist preacher. Lucy HARTT was born 11 Dec. 1772 Mary NELSON , daughter , was born 25 May 1789 Rebeckah NELSON, daughter, was born 11 June 1791 James DAVIS and Rebeckah NELSON married 25 June 1807 by John HENRIX, Minister Duncard Church.
23 Oct. 1843 Coffee County, Tenn. Alexander ENSEY aged 34 and Amgrose N. DUNCAN aged 78 state they were present at the death of John NELSON on 19 Aug. 1843. Mary HAITHCOCK aged 52 states the family Bible of John NELSON has been in her possession since his death. She saw him write the entry of his marriage in it, transcribing it form an older Bible which was nearly worn out.
27 Feb. 1844 Coffee County, Tenn. Lucy Nelson states that no license for her marriage was ever issued. An announcement that the marriage was to take place was made at he meeting house before and after preaching, in accordance with the laws of North Carolina at that time. William D DUNCAN, aged about 67, states he knew John and Lucy NELSON for about 42 years, having met them at the church where they were members. They were not persons of education but John NELSON could write. When DUNCAN first knew them, the oldest of their children was about grown. John NELSON died in Coffee County. John BANKS Aged 6(?) states he became acquainted with NELSON about 1808. They then had grown children and were then and continued to be members of the Methodist church. John NELSON was a member of the Masonic fraternity. They had lived in Coffee County about 15 years before the death if John NELSON. 2 April 1846 Lucy NELSON aged 74 states a Mr. JACKSON of Murfreesboro wrote her previous pension application and obtained proof of her marriage from her brother, James HART, who was present at the wedding. James VAUGHN, J.P., vouches for Lucy NELSON and states she is too old and infirm to appear in court.
Hanse NELSON W1462 East Tenn. 33.33/year issued 18(?) 1834(?) Delilah NELSON, widow Tenn. #9691 and #9436, 33.33/year issued 17 Sept. 1853. Bounty Land Warrent #66198-160-55 Hanse and Delilah NELSON were not Franklin County residents, but three persons who were residents testified on their behalf. Their lengthy file is summarized here. Hanse NELSON was born in Shenandoah County, Va., in 1753. At age 3 or 4 he removed to Rowan County, N.C., where he lived during war the and for a short time afterward. After the war he removed to Newberry District, S.C. where he resided for many years. There he married Delilah TAYLOR in 1768. He later lived in Edgefield District, S.C. for two years, in Greenville, S.C. for several years, in Green County, Tenn., for one year and then in McMinn County, Tenn. until removing to Knox County, Tenn., in 1833 or 1834. John NELSON Sr., of Knox County, stated in 1834 that he was 76 years of age and was an older brother to Hanse NELSON. They had served together during the war, and John NELSON was also a pensioner. (Not the same John NELSON who was in Franklin Co.) Hanse NELSON died 1 March 1843 in Meigs County, Tenn., and was survived by Delilah NELSON. The widow applied for pension several times between 1844 and 1857. The residence was Roan County, Tenn. In 1857 she was living with family of one Richard NELSON .
In 1854 one Mark NELSON testified on her behalf. A “family record” is mentioned in her affidavits but does not appear in the file. The following documents were sworn in Franklin County, Tenn., on 19 March 1853 in behalf of Delilah NELSON: John HEATHCOCK aged 43 stated his mother, Mary Ann HEATHCOCK. was the oldest child of Hanse and Delilah NELSON She was born in 1788, according to the old family records which have been destroyed. A.M. WILSON aged 87 states he was raised in South Carolina and in 1790 he was moving and stayed at the home of Hanse and Delilah NELSON in that state. He was also aquainted with Mary Ann HEATHCOCK and believes she was 64 or 65 years of age at the time of her death. Sarah NELSON aged 63 states she knew Mary Ann HEATHCOCK form her earliest recollection until Mary Ann’s death. they were children together and Mary Ann was older than Sarah. Affiant is surE of heR own age, having taken it from her father’s records. Affiant declares she is in no way related to Delilah NELSON. Note The pension roll published for congress in 1835 shows a John NELSON was on rolls in Franklin County in 1828, whose name was dropped from the roll because the claim was fraudulent. This apparently is not the same John NELSON who was pensioned, with widow Lucy. No further information has been located.

Contributed by: Mary Lu Johnson who would like to know more about this family, especially the son, John NELSON.