Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7517, for Robert Sittington, Virginia
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(8-1776) 

Service 
Va. 

Sittington, Robert

Number 
S. 7517 
Contents 
Candid
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7000 
Virginia 
Robert Sittington 
Of  Bath County in the State of Virginia who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Lewis of the Regiment commanded by Col. Campbell in the Virginia line for [crossed out] Malitia [misspelled]. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 20 Dollars 00 Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 21st day of February 1833 and Sent to Mr. W. McCoy H of Reps. 
Arrears to 4th of March 1833        $40.00 
Semi=anl. Allowance ending 4 Sept. 1856     
                                                        10.00
					             $ 50.00 
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.} 
Recorded by W. L. William Clerk
Book E.  Vol. 6   Page 26
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Robert Sittington
15406 
V
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The Commonwealth of Virginia 
Bath County wit, 
	On this 26th day of September 1832 personally appeared before the Judge of the Circuit Superior Court of law and Chancery for Bathe County, Robert Sittington, a resident of the County aforesaid aged 84 years next November that he was born in 1749 but has no record of his age in Court who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the pension made by the Act of Congress passed June 4th 1832. He states that he served as a substitute for Nathan Crawford in the Revolutionary War against the Indians for a tour of two months in the year 1776 that he served under Captain John Lewis and Lieutenant Samuel Nance at Warwick’s Fort on the frontiers of Augusta County Virginia He states that at the time of his enlistment he lived on the Cowpasteen River in the County of Augusta and state aforesaid. That during the term of service aforesaid he was engaged as a ranger and spy against the Indians but was in no actual engagements he received no written discharge. He further states that he was drafted in the militia services of the [illegible] state of Virginia in the year 1777 for two months to serve against the Indians that he served part of his tour at Warwick’s Fort and part of the time at Cloverlich Fort he was under the command of Captains Samuel Nance and Lieutenant John Cartmill on the frontiers of Augusta County against the Indians was in no engagements against the Indians, he received no written discharge. He further states that he served another tour of duty about one month or six weeks against the British about the year 1778 or 1779 that he was drafted and served under Captain John Mcoy at the times of enlistment he lived in the County of Augusta and marched down below Richmond about half a mile and there remained until he was discharged he was in no engagements with the British and received no discharge in writing. He further states that was drafted in the militia of Virginia for a tour of six weeks about 1779 or 1780 and served under Captain David Givin he then resided in the County of Augusta and marched to North Carolina and was put under the command of Colonel Campbell and was at the battle of Guilford but received no wound his Captain received a discharge from Colonel Williams the aidcamp of General Greene
That some of his neighbors are George Francisco, William Douglass and Adam Dickinson. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Bill of the agency of Any state. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid- 
Robert Sittington
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The aforesaid Adam Dickinson and William Douglass being sworn in Court declare that they are well acquainted with Robert Sittington who was subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty four years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resided to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion- 
	And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and putting the interrogatories presided 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 that Adam Dickinson and William Douglass are resident in this County and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I Charles S Francisco Clerk of the ^ Circuit supena [misspelled] Court of Law + Chancey for Court of Bath County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of Robert Sittington for a pension- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 9th day of September in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty two and 5yth year of the Commonwealth
Ch S Francisco
[Seal] [illegible]
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15406 
Robt Sittington 
Of 
Virginia 
From 1776 private 
6 months, 
$20, 

Va W. McCoy
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BRIEF in the case of Robt Sittington of Bath County in the State of Virginia 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1.	Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge 
2.	If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3.	How old is he? 84 in Nov. 
4.	State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period.  Duration of Service.  Rank.  Names of General and Field officers under whom he served
            Years,    Months,  Days
In 1776                 2             As a                        Gen.  
1777        drafted  2              spy  or                   Capt. Lewis 
1778 or 1779      In 6 weeks    ranger                  Nance
1779 or 1780        Six Weeks      pri.                   Givin, Col Campbell
					                Saml Green, 
5.	In what battles was he engaged? Guilford
6.	Where did he reside when he entered the service? Augusta County Virginia 
7.	In his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? [illegible] 
8.	Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? And if so, in what respect? Defective Declaration of Givin not given- No Clergyman & no name assigned
•	Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
J McCoy  Examining Clerk. 
By 28 1833
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7517
Rev War 
INVALID. 
File No. .7517 
Robert Sittington 
Pri Rev War 
Act: June 7th 32
Index:- Vol. Ab, Page 342 
[Arrangement of 1870.} 
June 3, 1911 L. S. Hansel wife claim allowed, and to apply to and. for payment + descendants no title}
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15406
Robt Sittington 
of 
Virginia
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Robert Sittington which require further proof or explanation. 
1.	Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? No 
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? No 
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? 
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? 
V. Has he mentioned 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 amout [misspelled] of pension he is entitled? No 
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? 
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 
X. Is the Clerk’s seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
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2 
XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No 
XII. If the clergyman’s affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No 
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? No
XIV. + If the applicant’s name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? 
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? 
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such as age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant’s service? No
XVI. +Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 
QUERE V.  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 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 – For – months and – days, I served as a -; and for such service I claim a pension.
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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 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 places 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. 
+QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
	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 claimants 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. 
+QUERE XVI. 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 paper authenticated, the certificate must be attacked 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. 
	In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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 papers.
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Record Division. 
											June 5, 1911. 
Miss Louise S. Hansel, 
	McDowell, Virginia. 
Madam: 
	In response to the later dated the 2” and received the 3” instant, you are advised that in the claim, Bur. File No. 7,517, it appears that Robert Sittington of Bath County, Virginia, was allowed pension upon an [misspelled] certificate issued February 21, 1833. For information relative to the payment of said pension, you should apply to the Auditor for the Interior Department, U.S. Treasury Department, citing the following data; Robert Sittington, Certificate No. 7,000 issued February 21, 1833, under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the Virginia Agency. 
	There is no law which would entitle the descendants of said soldier to pension. 
		Very respectfuly [misspelled], 
			Commissioner.
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[Seal] Records Division JUN 8 1911
Cornell University, 
[illegible] 
June 2, 1914
Dear Sir;- 
	[illegible/faded] In consequence a pension certified was June 7, 1832 your great-great grandfather Robert Sittington of Bath County, an official in a pension in Sept. 26, 1832 & sworn the County Court of [illegible] 
[Seal] PENSION O U.S. OFFICE. JUN 3 1911
S7517 Sells. Does not want record but to know about pay
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Cornell University, 
Ithaca, N.Y. [arrow] In address below 
June 2. 1911. 
My dear Sir:- 
	In consequence of a Pension Law enacted June 7. 1832 my great- great- grandfather Robert Sittington of Bath County, Va, applied for a pension, on Sept. 26. 1832 before the County Court of Bath County, Va. At that time he was 84 years old, a rich man, and not needing a pension in any sense. He died Sept. 18. 1833. Was a pension awarded him and did ^he receive any pension money? I should be greatly obliged for an answer to these questions. Please also oblige me by sending it to Miss Louise S. Hamsel, McDowell, Va. 
	Very respectfully yours, 
		J.R. S. Sterrett 
		Head Processor of Creek