Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 1310, for Roger Nelson, Maryland
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Continental
Md.

Nelson, Roger
Eliza

NUMBER
W. 1310
B.L. Wt. 1600-200. Lieut.
-
Issued Dec. 23, 1799
No papers
Page 2

Reported
Letter to M. B. Luckett
Jan. 23, 1849

53
Maryland
Eliza Nelson 
widow of Roger Nelson
who served in the Revolutionary war, as a Lieut . of Dragoons Va Line

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 400 Dollars -
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of Feb. 1849, and sent to Hon. J. Dixon Roman [Illegible]

[Illegible] rded on Roll of Pensioners under act
[Illegible]1848, page 25, Vol. 1
[Illegible] July, book D
Page 3

Maryland Frederick County to wit,
I hereby certify that it appears from the Record
of Marriage License in my office, that a Marriage License was issued on the Second day of
February 1797 to Capt. Roger Nelson and Miss Elizabeth Harrison.
In Testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe
my name and affix the seal of Frederick County Court this fourteenth day of November 1848.
Wm B. Tyler, Clk
Fredk Co Court
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State of Maryland, Frederick County to wit: On
this fifteenth day of January Eighteen
hundred & forty nine personally in Open Court appeared before me the Subscriber one of the Judges of the Fifth Judicial District
of the State of Maryland, Eliza Nelson, a resident of Frederick Town, in the County of Frederick in said state; aged sixty seven years
who, being first duly sworn, according to law,
doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 15th 1848, "That she is the Widow of Roger Nelson, who served in the Army of the Revolution. 
She further declares that she was married to
the said Roger Nelson on the second day of
February in the year seventeen hundred
& ninety seven; that her husband, the afore said Roger Nelson died on the seventh-day of June Eighteen hundred & fifteen; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place at the time above stated. She further swears that she is now a widow, and that she has never before made any application for a pension.

Sworn to & subscribed on the day & year above written before. 
Rich H. Marshall
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State of Maryland Frederick County Set
I hereby certify that Rich H Marshall by before
whom the within declaration was made, and whose
name is thereto subscribed, was at the time there
of a Judge of the Fifth Judicial District of
the State of Maryland composed of the Counties
Frederick, Washington & Allegany duly commissioned,
and qualified.
In testimony whereof I hereto set
my hand and affix the seal of
Frederick County Court this Sixteenth
day of January 1849.
Mr. Bayler Clk
Page 6

D. Richardson
for
[illegible]
Hon. J Dixon Roman
House of Reps
Page 7

Thomas Jefferson President of the United States of America, To all to whom these Presents shall
come Greeting.
Know Ye, That in consideration of Military Service performed by Roger Nelson a Lieutenant for the War to the United States in the Virginia Line on Continental Establishment, and in pursuance of an Act of the Congress of the United States passed on the 10th day of August in the year 1790 Entitled "An Act to enable the Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia Line on Continental Establishment to obtain Titles to certain Lands lying Northwest of the River Ohio between the Little Miami and Scioto" and another Act of the said Congress passed on the 9th day of June in the year 1794 amendatory of the said Act, There is granted by the said United States unto the said Roger Nelson, a certain Tract of Land containing Two thousand six hundred sixty six & two thirds acres, situate between the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers, Northwest of the River Ohio, as by Survey bearing date the tenth day of October in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety two, and bounded and described as follows, to wit, Surveyed for Roger Nelson Two thousand six hundred sixty six and two thirds acres of Land on two Military Patents to wit, On No 2843 for one thousand acres, in favor of the said Roger Nelson; And on No 2844 for one thousand six hundred sixty six & two thirds Acres in favor of the said Roger Nelson. On the Waters of Todd Fork a branch of the Little Miami, Beginning at four White Oaks South corner to John P Harrisons Survey No 1494, thence with his line North fifty three
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degrees East six hundred and forty poles crossing four
Branches at eighty poles one hundred and sixty six poles two hundred and sixty poles and five hundred and thirty poles to three Dogwoods and a black Oak East corner to said Harrison, thence South thirty seven degrees East six hundred sixty six and two third poles crossing a branch at five hundred and thirty poles and six hundred and two poles to three White Oaks, thence South fifty three degrees West six hundred and forty poles to three Hickories thence North thirty seven degrees West six hundred sixty six and two thirds poles to the beginning with the appurtenances, To have and To hold the said Track of Lands with the Appurtenances, unto the said Roger Nelson and his heirs and assigns forever.

SS

In Witness Whereof, the said Thomas Jefferson President of the United States of America hath caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed and signed the same with his hand at the City of Washington the eleventh day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and three and of the Independence of the United States of America the twenty Eighth

Th Jefferson
By the President
James Madison
Secretary of State
Page 9

General Land Office

I James Whitcomb Commissioner of the General Land Office do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a Patent from the Records of this Office.

In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and caused the seal of this Office to be affixed at the City of Washington the 26th day of April 1840.

James Whitcomb
Commissioner
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State of Maryland, Prince George's County Set

On this 21st day of November in the year of our
Lord eighteen hundred and forty-eight,
personally appeared Mrs. Sarah C. Waring
in and Mrs Grace C. Tyler, before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace of the said State, in and for Prince George's County, and severally
made oath on the Holy Evangelly of Almighty God that they were present at
the house of the late Dr John Tyler, in Fredericktown, in said State, on or about the 2nd of February, 1797, and witnessed the marriage of their Sister, Mrs. Eliza Nelson, (then Miss Eliza Harrison) to her late husband, Gen Roger Nelson, by the Rev M Boivers, then Rector of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Frederick, the location of which church is not recollected and that the said Gen Roger Nelson and their sister Mrs Eliza Nelson resided together as man and wife till the death of said Roger Nelson; and that Mrs Eliza Nelson, now residing in Fredericktown is the identical person above mentioned ~ And I 
certify that I do know the said Sarah C. Waring and Grace C Tyler to be ladies of high standing and worthy of all credit.

Sworn before,
Geo. W Wilson
J.P.
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Maryland Prince George County Set
I hereby certify that George W. Wilson Gentleman before whom the aforegoing affidavit appears to have been made was on the Day of the date here of one of the said State Justices of the Peace in and fore said County duly Commissioned and Sworn, 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of Prince George County Court this 23rd day of November 1848

In. R. Brooke Clk
of G.G County Court
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Sec.

Roger Nelson
W. 1310
MCS:MLB

October 31, 1930

Ella Lonn
Department of History
Goucher College
Baltimore, Maryland

Dear Madam:
You are advised that the pension claim of Eliza Nelson, as the widow of Roger Nelson, a soldier of the Revolution, is on file in this bureau.

In the papers of this claim it is stated that Roger Nelson died June 7, 1815, in Frederick, Frederick County, Maryland, but the date of his birth or his age at any period does not appear.

Roger Nelson did not file a claim for pension in his own behalf.

It is regretted that this bureau is unable to furnish you with the date of birth of this soldier.

Very truly yours
E. W. Morgan
Action Commissioner

Sec 1835 list
Pensioned from Sept. 4, 1802
Act of Nich. 3, 1803 - Fred. Co, Md
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No 60
Eliza Nelson
[Illegible] M.B. Luckett
Jany 23, '49

et 29 July 48
Page 14

1930, Oct 31, Ella Lonn adv. date of soldier's birth [illegible] on record. 
WCS
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 1310
Eliza Nelson,
Widow.
Roger Nelson, 
Lieut. Rev. War
Act: July 29, 1848
Index: __ Vol. M, Page 79
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

GOUCHER COLLEGE
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
October 25, 1930

Director,
Pension Bureau,
Washington, D. C.

My dear Sir:
I am writing the article on General Roger Nelson for the Dictionary of American Biography. I an experiencing great
difficulty in determining the exact date of his birth. I find no less than four differing years given, while nowhere is the day or
month recorded.

It has occurred to me that possibly he or his descendants might appear on the pension rolls. At least, I do know that he received
a grant of government land in Ohio. If he does appear upon your rolls, the date of his birth would probaly [probably] be recorded there.

He was a lieutenant in the Fifth Maryland Regiment, fought at the battles of Camden, Guilford Court House and Eutaw Springs, was
imprisoned on the British prison ships in Charleston harbor. His title of gneral [general] was acquired after the War in service with the Maryland militia. He was born in Frederick County, Maryland.

From his tombstone I can fix his birth as in either 1759 or 1769, dependent on what part of the year he was born is recorded as of June 7, 1815.

I should greatly appreciate any assistance you may be able to afford me. May I beg your kind immediate attention, as my article is now due.

Thanking you in advance, I am,
very cordially yours,
Ella Lonn

U.S. Pension Office
Oct 28, 1930
Page 16

State of Maryland
Frederick County

On this _____ day of _____ of personally appeared
Before the _____ this _____ Eliza Nelms, a
resident of (illegible) in the County of Frederick, State of
Maryland aged _____  years, who being first duly
sworn, according to law, doth on her oath make the
following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of
the provision made by the act of Congress passed July
5, 1848

That she is the widow of Roger Nelson who was a
lieutenant of Cavalry in the Virginia line during the
revolutionary war - that the time of his entrance
in to the army, the length of his service as well as
the nature of such service & the time of his
leaving which, as the Deponent is informed & believes
was until the war terminated are 
all show by the records, (illegible) & other
papers now or file in the war department to
which this deponent (illegible)  refers

She further (illegible) d.... H: (as the form
requires" In this particular all the proof
which is required will or exhibited f(illegible)
(illegible)
Page 17

Annapolis MD
Nov 30

5

M.B. Luckett, Esq.
Frederick Town,
Maryland

Mail
Page 18

Land Office
Annapolis, 29 Novr, 1848.

Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 18th Inst, respecting the Revolutionary
services of Genl Roger Nelson, was received, and I should have replied
to it before, but have been prevented doing so, by a press of business
The records of the revolution are very imperfect and I cannot ascertain
from them, the length of time Genl Nelson was in service. I find
paper on file in this office, headed, "Return of Officers in the 6th
Maryland Regiment, 15th December, 1780," this paper after giving the
names of the officers of the Regiment, their rank and the date of their
Commissions, has near the end of the paper, the following Entry, Volunteer
Roger Nelson, who served in the Ranks and was wounded and was wounded and 
made prisoner 16th, August last, has been recommended for a Commission,
He served from 1st, June, 1780.
Signed,
O. A. Williams, Col"

Camp Charlotte
18th Decr 1780,
From the above mentioned paper, it would appear
that Roger Nelson's service commenced as a volunteer, on the 1st of
June
1780, and remained a private, I presume, until the 16th of August,
1780, when he was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of
Camden,-- By another paper also on file in this Office, headed,
"Arrangement of the Maryland line in 5 Regiments January 1st 1781"
It appears, that Roger Nelson, was commissioned a Lieutenant, in the
5th Regiment, on the 15th of July, 1780,
(show)
Page 19

show at what time he left the service, but I should infer from his
accounts upon the Army Legers, and the fact of his having Bounty
land awarded him by the State of Maryland for his revolutionary
services, that he was in service until the termination of the war.

By a list also of "accounts paid by the State of Maryland, for
recruiting the Army of the United States", It appears that Roger
Nelson, received on the 6th August, 1783, L28.19.32s. I have thus
furnished in this letter, all the information or evidence, that the records
of the Revolution, afford of the Service of Roger Nelson, and presume
that it will answer, as well as if I had made the statement in the
form of a Certificate.
I am very respectfully
yr obd svt
George G. Brewer

W. B. Luckett
Esqr
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Annapolis, MD
Feb 7

5

Col. James G. Berret
Pension Office
Washington City, D.C.

Mail
Page 21

Land Office
Annapolis 6th Feby 1849

Dear Sir; 
I send you enclosed at the request of Mrs. Maulsby a
certificate from the records of the Revolution, of the service of Roger
Nelson, late an officer, in the War of the Revolution.-- The records are
very imperfect and do not show the termination of his service, but there
can be no doubt, I should think, that he was in service to the disbanding
of the Army in 1783, I infer so, from the fact of his being
allowed Bounty land by the State for his service in the Revolution, and
from his account upon the Army Ledger, I have also often heard
an old uncle of mine, whom I believed you served with in the Legislature in 1839 (Nichs A. Brewer say he was 
in service to the close of the War,)
he was an old man and an intimate
friend of Roger Nelson, and in 1839, openly testified before the Legislature 
as to his service in the war of the Revolution, that he had served
to the termination of the war. I have furnished you with all the
evidence the records in this office
afford of his service

Very respectfully the
G. G. Brewer

J. G. Berrett Esq
Page 22

Frederick Sep. 18. 1843
D Sir
Mrs Nelson has some difficulty in
making out her case with regard to
the time when General  Nelson entered
the army the service he was in & his time 
of his leaving the service.

These facts known she is led to believe 
and fully shows by the records of the War
Department the muster rolls &
the commission he had held was - its
is believed that of a Lieutenant of Cavalry
under Col. Washington in the Virginia line.
He entered the army, when very young at
an early period of the war & continued
in service  as is understood till the and
of the war.

In my previous letter to you I requested
of you such information touching these
facts, as your office would afford

He was at the time of his joining
the army a citizen of Maryland
His living in the Virginia line makes it the
more difficult to establish his service by being
not in my line & Mrs. Nelson, memory 
from age - is not unable her my (illegible)
Page 23

to recollect what she learned  of his
service from himself.

I have prepared a statement or
declaration which I would submit
to you  to say whether it will be
sufficient.

I hope I am asking nothing 
of which I am not authorized
& which your duties of office might 
prohibit you from doing.
yours with respect
Wm Monn
Page 24

J. L. Edwards Esqr
Pension Office
Washington City
D.C.

(stamp)
Frederick MD
??
Page 25

Frederick. Decr 1st 1848

Dear  Sir
Mrs Eliza Nelson, widow of Genl Roger Nelson
will under the recent act of Congress be entitled
to a pension. I am about preparing for her the papers
& proofs necessary to obtain it.

In reference to the services, grade, & of General Nelson
I have written to Mr Brewer, of Annapolis
to get such information as might be on file in
the land office there; and have received from
him the enclosed reply.

My object in writing to you, is, to ascertain
whether the information therein is sufficiently
full, and if so, in what shape it should be put.
If not full enough what character & extent
of proof is required.

May I ask the favor of as early a reply as
you can conveniently make. Please return
to me Mr. Brewer's letter
Respectfully
Mountjoy B. Luckett
Page 26

Official Business
Col James G. Berrit
Chief Clerk. Pension Office
Washington D.C.
Page 27

Frederick Jany 15th, 1849
Dear Sir
Enclosed I send Mrs Nelson's attested declaration & proof of General Nelson's death. The Honorable J. D. Roman will hand you the proof of Mrs Nelson's marriage. Mr Maulsly [illegible] informs me that proof of General Nelson's service, grade & as furnished by government records.
Yours Respectfully
MB Luckett
Page 28

[Illegible] Co
Eliza Nelson
and of Roger
M
act 29 July 1848
Married in 1797
husband died 1815

Admo. Zyec[illegible] Lt. Buy Drayand,
$400.00 [illegible]
4 March 1848
Hon J Dixon Roman
House of Reps
Page 29

State of Maryland Frederick County to wit
Be it remembered that on this 15th day
of January Eighteen hundred & forty
nine before the subscriber a justice
of the peace of the State of Maryland in
& for Frederick County aforesaid personally
appeared Dr William Tyler sr
& made oath on the Holy Evangely of
Almighty God that he was well acquainted
with General Roger Nelson of
said County & state; that he was the
attending Physician of said Roger
Nelson in his last illness & that the
said Roger Nelson died in Frederick
Town in said County & State
on the seventh day of June
Eighteen hundred & fifteen
Sworn before
James Bartges
Justice of the peace

State of Maryland Frederick County Sct
I hereby certify That James Bartgis Esquire before
whom the above affidavit was made and who
has thereto subscribed his name was at the time
of so doing a Justice of the peace of the State of
in and for the County of Frederick duly
commissioned and sworn
In Testimony whereof I hereunto set
my hand and affix the seal of
Frederick County Court this Sixteenth
day of January 1849
Wm B. Tyler Clk
Page 30

Frederick, Jany 17th 1849

My dear Sir,
I to day received from Mr Roman a letter in which he informs me that you desire a certified license of the marriage of Roger Nelson to the present applicant for a pension. I send a Clerk certificate - authenticated by the Court seal.
Very Respectfully,
MB Luckett
Page 31

Land Office,
Annapolis 5th February, 1849.
Among the Records and papers of the Revolution in this office
there is a paper on file headed as follows, "return of Officers in the 6th Maryland Regiment 15th Decr 1780", and near the and of
said paper, there is also the following entry, viz, "Volunteer Reger Nelson, who served in the ranks & was wounded & made prisoner
16 August last, has been recommended for a Commission, he served from 1 June, 1780
Signed
O.A. Williams Col

Camp Charlotte,
18 Decr 1780,
I also further Certify, that by another paper, also remaining in this office
headed as follows, "Arrangement of the Maryland Line in 5 Regiment 1st Jany, 1781,"
That the name of Roger Nelson, appears
upon said paper, to have been commissioned a Lieutenant, in the 5th
Regiment, the 15th of July, 1780, and by a Depreciation pay
Roll, he appears to have received pay on the 8th of August, 1783,
depreciation pay money issued to the Maryland quota of troops
on Continental Establishment.-- He had also Bounty land awarded
him by the State of Maryland for his Revolutionary services
George G. Brewer
Regr Land off. Md