Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13153, John Gibson, Va.
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Service:  Va. (Virginia)  Gibson, John
Number: S.13153
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16.700
Virginia
John Gibson
Franklin Co in the State of Virginia a who was a [illegible] in the Company commanded by Captain Green of the regt: commanded by Col J Calloway in the Va [illegible] line for 7 mo for 6 mo Sgt.
Subscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Sept 1833 and sent to Cabb Tate Clk Ct.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833             $83.33
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March '34 16.67
                                                               $100.00

Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk Book A Vol. 6 Page 9
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No. 25685
John Gibson Franklin County Virginia

Adn 7 months. 6 Months thereof as Sergeant.

[illegible] 83.33

Caleb Tate Clk Franklin County Virga
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office  183

Sir:
     The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and regulations will show what is necessary to be done. These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus:}). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, showing the Service of John Gibson Franklin County Virginia
Period when this service was rendered  Vol 1780 
 Duration of the claimant's service Years/Months/Days  -/1- 
 Rank of the Claimant  private
 Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.  Col Lynch, Col James Calloway, Cap Greer
 Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service  34 years Bedford County Virginia
Proof by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary evidence paper court
Period when the service was rendered  Called out
 Duration of the claimant's service Years/Months/Days  -/3/-
Rank of the claimant  Sergiant
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Cap Greer, Cap Arthur Genl Lawson, Ba Stuben
Period when service was rendered  Called out 1781 
 Duration of the claimant's service Years/Months/Days  -/3/-
Rank of the claimant  Sergiant
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.  Cap Dogget, Genl Lawson

I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant, 
     J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
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REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians [musicians] or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of
On this [blank] day of [blank] personally appeared (a) before A.B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank] years, who being first duly sworn, according to the 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 June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank] , with [blank] and served in the [blank] regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided  when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of [blank] Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] 
day of [blank] &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank] and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank], who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank] years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal [blank] 
of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
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alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer. Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:--For---year----months, and days, I served as a [blank]. For ---months and --- days, I served as a [blank]; and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months, is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority ; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
Proof of Service.
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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Gibson, John
Declaration
25885
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State of Virginia Franklin County [illeg.]
    On this 6th day of May 1833 personally 
appeared in Open Court, before the Court of 
Franklin County _ John Gibson a resident of 
of [repeated] said county aged Eighty four 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 
act of Congress passed the 7th June 1832.
That he entered the Service of the United 
States, during the revolutionary war _ and 
served under the following named officers _
as herein after stated _ that he entered the
Service as a Volunteer _ under Col. Charles Lynch
in the county of Bedford now Franklin where 
he then and now resides That in the year 1780
he was marched to Montgomery Va. after some 
Tories that they succeeded in capturing
Captain & Lieutenant of the Tories that he was
called out and performed several short tours
under under [illeg. name] [second "under" and the illegible 
name crossed out] Col James 
Calloway & said Col. Lynch _ and Captains
Greer, Arthur, & Dagget, that the tours after
the Tories aforesaid amounted in all to one month _
That he was called out & marched under Captain
Moses Greer _ to Petersburg in Va. in the year
from age and infirmity he cant remember the year
and then joined Genl Lawsons Brigade
the whole commanded by Baron Steuban
that he served under Lawson three months
This tour he served as a Sergant the whole tour
& was also charged _ Soon after returning 
home he was again in 1781 called out & 
marched under the orders of Captain Dogget
to the point a fork Va. where he was
under the orders of Genl Lawson _ that
the army was engaged in watching the
the [repeated] movements of Genl Cornwallis __
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That having served the time of three months he
was discharged __ his discharges if in writing
have long been lost or mislaid ___ he
has no documentary evidence-- but refers
to the testimony of Capt Moses Greer who
commanded him at different times during the
war of the revolution and to Abraham Absher
a soldier of the revolution. He avers
that he was during the revolution in actual
service seven months as he verily believes __ He was born in Chesterfield County Va
and has lived in Bedford and Franklin
counties Va __ which counties were formerly one county from the before the revolutionary War to this time.
The interogatories of the [struck through] presented by the war department being sent by the court __ this declaration is an answer
He hereby relinquishes all claims whatever to a
pension or annuity except the present, and
declares that his name, is not on the pension
Roll of the agency of any State, his mark John Gibson X
Franklin County [illeg.]
We Moses Greer Jr a clergyman -- 
residing in the County of Franklin, and Joel Akers -- residing in the same County, certify that we are
well acquainted with
John Gibson, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be Eighty four years of age 
that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion Sworn & subscribed this day of year aforesaid --
[signed]
Moses Greer Jr
Joel Akers
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and the Court do hereby declare their opinion after an investigation of the matter and after [Word] to the applicant the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above [Word] applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states, and the Court doth Certify that the [Word] applicant is esteemed a man of strict truth and integrity, -- and they further certify that it appears to them that [Name] Greer Jr who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman residing in the County of Franklin, and that Lael Albers who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County and is a Credible person
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13153
INVALID
File No 13.153
John Gibson
Priv. [Word. Word]
Act: June 4th 1832
Index:-Vol. 1, Page 142
Arrangement of 1870.