Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39851, for John Spears, Virginia
Page 1

Service
Continental (Va)
Spears, John

Number
S. 39851
Page 2

39851
INVALID
Revy
File No. 39851
John Spears
Priv Rev War
Act: 18th March 18
Index - Vol 3 Page 483

1921 Sept 20 hist to Mrs Ray M Persons - En
1932 Apr 7 - Hist to Mrs C. G Young (See (?) case of william Spears or Speares, S39840) MLB
Page 3

[illegible]
Revwar

Monticello, Ga., August 29, 1921.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Sir:
Will you let me know what your records show concerning the Revolutionary service of John Spears, whose name appears on the Pension list of 1840 as a resident of Jasper County, Ga.?
Respectfully,
Mrs. Ray M. Persons.
Page 4

[black ink oval stamp]
RECORD DIVISION
AUG 31 1921

[black ink round stamp]
PENSION OFFICE.
U.S. 
AUG 31 1921
Page 5

[left hand page] 
Date of death not on A.B.

[right hand side]
20,071
Georgia
John Spears
of Newton Coy [County] in the State of Georgia
who was a Private in the Company commanded 
by Captain James Gunn of the Regiment commanded by Colonel [William] Washington's in the Virginia line, for the term of three years from 
October 1777 to October 1781

Inscribed on the roll of Georgia at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 14 day of December 1829

Certificate of Pension issued the 30 of December 1829 and Sent to the Hon. Thomas F. Foster House
 of Reps

Arrears to 4th of March 1829 $21.67
Semi-anu'l all'ce ending 
$21.67

{Revolutionary Claim, Acts March 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820}

Recored Book C Vol 8 page 118
BLB
Page 6

Original Claim
under the Pension Law papers 18th March 1818.
Georgia
Newton County
On this thirtieth day of Sept 1812 personally appeared in open Court, it being a court of Record and One of the Superior Courts of this State for the "Flint Circuit," John Spears, a resident of said County, aged Seventy Two years, who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provisions made by the Acts of Congress of the 18th March 1818, and the 1st May 1820

that he the said John Spears enlisted, during the war, on the 20th day of October of
the year 1777, in the State of Virginia in the company, commanded by Captain James Gunn in the regiment commanded by Col. William Washington, in the line of the State of Virginia, on the Continental establishment; and that he continued to Serve in the Said Corps, until October 1781, when he was discharged from Service, in Said regiment, in the State of Virginia, in Consequence of a wound:

that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, except the present; and that his name is not on the roll of any State, except Virginia; and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension, were his ignorance of the provisions made by Congress by the Acts of 1818 & 1820, and that he has heretofore made application, and that the same had been returned for informality 

And in pursuance of the Act of the 1st May 1820, I do solemnly swear that I was a Resident of the United States, on the 18th day of March 1818, and that I have not since that time, by Gift, Sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provision of an Act of Congress entitled  "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War," passed on the 18th day of March 1818: And that I have not, nor had any person intrust for me any property, or Securities, Contracts, or debts due
Page 7

to me; for had I any income, other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed; That Since the 18th of March 1818, there had no change here made by me, in any way in my property-
John Spears

Sworn to & declared on the 30th September 1821
Christopher B. Stong.
Judge Supr County Flint Dist Georgia.-

I, John H. Trimble Clerk of the Superior Court of Newton County do hereby Certify that it appears to the Satisfaction of the Court that the Said John Spears did Serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceeding declaration, against the Common Enemy for the Term of Nine Months under One engagement On the Continental establishment. 

I also Certify, that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the Said Court; And I do further Certify that it is the opinion of Said Court, that the total amount in value of said property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is ninety four Dollars - 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of this said Court On thirtieth day of Sept 1821
John H. Trimble clerk
Supr Court Newton County
Page 8

John Spairs [Spears]
pension papers

recd 14 Dec 1929
Hon T. F. Foster
HR
Page 9

Schedule Value
One Bed & some Little Household furniture
$25.00
Four Head of Cattle 20.00
Nine head of Hoggs 9.00
1 Mare 40.00
$94.00
Page 10

April 13, 1932
BA-J/MLB
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
JOHN SPEARS
S. 39851

Mrs. C. G. Young
Proctor, Arkansas

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter of recent date, relative to John Spear, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 39851, based upon the military service of John Spears in the Revolutionary War. 

John Spears enlisted October 20, 1777, in Virginia, and served a sprivate in Captain Jame Gunn's company, Colonel William Washington's Continental regiment, and on account of a wound, the details of which were not stated, was discharged in October, 1781.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 30, 1829, at which time he was a resident of Newton County, Georgia, aged seventy-two years. 

There are no family data on file.

The above history is that of the only soldier named John Spears who served or was pensioned from the State of Georgia.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
Page 11

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., Sept 20, 1921

In reply to your request of ______, received ____ for a statement of the military history of Jno. Spears a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S. 39851

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Oct. 20 1777
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
to Oct. 1781 when he was discharged on account of a wound, details not stated.
RANK.
Pvt.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Jas Gunn
COLONEL.
Wm Washington
STATE.
Va.

Battles engaged in, none stated
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl. in Va.
Date of application for pension, Sept 20, 1829.
Residence at date of application, Newton Co. Ga.
Age at date of application, 72 years
Remarks; No fam. data.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 12

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51-
12-5-41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Spears, John
GRADE Private
LINE New York
WARRANT NUMBER 7785
ACREAGE. 100
ISSUED September 27, 1790
to Jacob Tremper assignee
The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent
dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.