Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8627, for Ameriah Read, Virginia
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(3-1776)
SERVICE                            NUMBER     
Va.          Read, Ameriah       R. 8627
                         Amariah or   

CONTENTS
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State of Virginia, County of Nansemond, ss:
   On this 13th day of January 1834, personally appeared in
open Court, before Mills Riddock, Samuel Corbell, Burwell
Riddick, Wm. H. Godwin the Court of Nansemond County now 
sitting, Amariah Read, a resident of the aforesaid
County + state, age seventy-two 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 June 7th 1832.
   That he entered the service of the United States in the
early part of the year 1778 as a volunteer under Capt.
Abram Coles in the militia service, and served three
tours of six weeks each under Capt. Coles, making
four months and six days that this service was
performed on Nansemond River and in Norfolk County.
   That in the year 1779 he was drafted into service
under the Command of Capt. William Riddick, and
served twelve weeks under this Captain in the
Counties of Nansemond, Isle of Wight and Norfolk; 
that he was in a skirmish with the enemy, whilst
under the Command of Capt. William Riddick, near
Portsmouth in Norfolk County - That again in
1779 he entered the service as a substitute for John
Harrell, under the Command of Captain Blount, and
served twelve weeks in the Counties of Nansemond
and Isle of Wight.  That in 1781 he was again
drafted into service under the Command of Captain
Daniel Riddick and served eight weeks under this
Captain in Nansemond + Isle of Wight Counties and in
the neighborhood of Williamsburg and little York;
[The next line is crossed out.]
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that whilst under the command of Capt. Daniel Riddick, he
was stationed, with a large body of Militia, within a
mile or two of little York when Cornwallis was taken;
that Colonel Brook Willis and Col. Josiah Riddick were
the field officers who commanded during the several
terms of my engagement.  that he recollects
to have seen General Charles Harrison and Genl
Mulenburg at Portsmouth, Virginia, and Genl
Washington at little York, after the battle;
that he recollects to have received discharges from
officers under whom he served during the Revolutionary
War, particularly one given to him after the
battle at little York, but does not know what
has become of them now.  That the whole of
his service was performed in the field, and that
he was not engaged in any civil pursuit during
the performance of his service.  That he has no 
documentary evidence and knows of no person
now living who can testify to his services.
He hereby relinquishes any claim 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.  Sworn to and subscribed the day and
year aforesaid.
Amariah his X mark Read
Questions propounded to the applicant by the Court.
1st.  Where, and in what year were you born? Ans: I was
born in Nansemond County, Virginia, and was sixteen
years old when I first entered the services, which was
in the year 1778.
2nd.  Have you any record of your age; and if so where is it?
Ans.  I have no record of my age, but my Mother told
me I was sixteen years old when I went into the service,
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which was in 1778, the year before Suffolk was [illegible]
3rd.  Where were you living when called into service; where
have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where 
do you now live?  Ans: I now live, and have
always lived in Nansemond County, Virginia.
4th.  How were you called into service; were you drafted,
did you volunteer or were you a substitute? and
if a substitute, for whom?  Ans: I volunteered the
first term of my engagement, was a substitute for
John Harrell one term, and was drafted the
other two terms.
5th.  State the names of some of the regular officers who
were with the troops when you served, such
Continental + Militia Regiments as you can recollect,
and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans: I recollect to have seen Genl. Harrison and Genl.
Mulenburgh at Portsmouth, Virginia, and to have
seen Genl. Washington at little York, and was
stationed with a large body of militia forces
near little York before the battle.  I have
detailed the general circumstances of my service
so far as my memory enables me to recollect, in
the body of my declaration.
6th.  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service,
and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has
become of it?  Ans:  I did receive several discharges
from different officers under whom I served, but
they are lost or destroyed.
7th.  State the name of persons to whom you are known
in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
to your character for veracity, and their belief of
your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
Ans:  any of ny neighbors who are present at court
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will testify to my character and to their belief of my
revolutionary services - here are Jeremiah Peale
and Francis D. Charlton.
Jeremiah Peale + Francis D. Charlton residing in the
County of Nansemond + State of Virginia, hereby
certify, that we are well acquainted with Amariah
Read, who has subscribed + sworn to the foregoing
declaration; that we believe him to be Seventy-two
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 can concur
in that opinion.  Sworn, and subscribed, the
day + year aforesaid.
Jeremiah his X mark Peele       F. D Charlton 
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.  Adn the Court further certifies, that
Jeremiah Peele + Francis D. Charlton who have signed the preceding
certificate, are residents of Nansemond County, and are
credible persons, and that their statement is entitled
to credit.
I, John T. Kilby, Clerk of the Court of Nansemond County,
do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the
application of Amariah Read for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand
and Seal of Nansemond Office.  This 17th
day of January 1834.3
John T. Kilby Clk.
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[This line is crossed out: "Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 6, 1875."]

REJECTED
8627.
P.O.
Amariah Read
Service:___

Enlisted;___, 18
Discharged:___, 18
Application filed:___, 18
Alleges:___
Re-enlisted:___
Attorney:___
P.O.___
___Recognized.   ___Contrac
___Cert, of Dis. Searched for___, 18
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Amariah of Read-
Va,
Rejected, See let 6 Sept 1833
to
John T. Kilby
to Hon. F. Mallory
March 24, 1842
Suffolk CH
[illegible] Set 24 March [illegible]
R.D. Webb
act 7 June 1832
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Ho [illegible]
March 22 1842
Sir
   I desire an answer to the 
enclosed letter form Mr James P. Guzin of Suffolk
Va.  If your department cannot furnish
the information ask you a favor to 
send it to the proper one for that purpose.
Very
[illegible]
F. Mallory
J L Edwards Esq
Comm. of Pensions
Washington 
D.C.
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26.323.
Amariah of Read
8627
[illegible]
Rejected, s=See let
Sept 6 1833 to
John T. Kilby
Suffolk CH
Va.
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In Nansemond County Court 13th May 1833
Virginia County of Nansemond Sc
On this 13th day of May 1833, personally appeared in open Court
before Josiah Riddick, Hardy Cross, Edward R. Hunter, and
Edwin B. Sumner, the Court of Nansemond County, now sitting
Ameriah of Read, a free man of colour By birth, a resident
of Nansemond of Nansemond County and State of Virginia aged
73 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 June 7th 1832.  He says
that he entered the service of the United States under the
following named officer and served as herein stated.  That he
entered as a militia man (drafted) on his own account on the
     day of     under Captain John Coles,
Lieutenant Samuel Riddick, and Ensign Zachariah McClenny,
and served he thinks about 6 months at Portsmouth, Smithfield
(in Isle of Wight County) and Surry County; and that he was
discharged at Babbs old field in Isle of Wight County, then
came home and stayed a few days only, when one John Harrell
employed his as a substitute for about 3 months service; and 
that he served out the time under Captain
that he served the tour (for Harrell) out, on the North side
of James river, he was there discharged and then came home
(Nansemond County) and when again called on, he volunteered
his services to go to Portsmouth to dig down some embankments,
William Riddick Captain David Campbell Lieutenant.
     Ensign, that he served there only about 6 weeks,
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Seeing General Washing at or near Little York; that he has
no recollection of any of the regular officers; that he has no
documentary evidence, having lost his discharges; that he
thinks he can prove this by James Wright and Jospeh Ross;
that he was born in the County of Nansemond, Virginia;
that he has no record of his age, that he has always lived in
Nansemond County Virginia; that he has stated all he knows about
the matter, further he cannot recollect.  he hereby relinquishes
every claim 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, sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
(Signed)
Ameriah of his + mark Read
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the 
investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories presented by the 
war department, that the above named
applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served, as he states.
In the same Court Joesph Ross aged 77 years and James Wright
aged 79 years, being sworn, saith that they well recollect to have
seen the aforesaid Ameriah of Read in the service of the revolution
several times, how long the said Ameriah served, they___
cannot tell; Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
(Signed)
Joseph his + mark Ross, James Wright.
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Virginia, County of Nansemond Sc.
   I, John T. Kilby, Clerk of the County
Court of Nansemond, do hereby certify that
the foregoing is a true copy as taken from
the record of my office.
   In testimony
and faith whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name
and cause the seal of my County
to be affixed this 7th day of
June A.D. 1833.
John T. Kilby Clk