Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5642, for Lewis Johnston, Virginia
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SERVICE
Va.

Johnston, Lewis

NUMBER
R.5642
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5642

Lewis Johnston

REJECTED
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No. 3884

Lewis Johnston deceased
Virginia

to A. Gillespie 28 October. 1854

Rejected
Lewis died March 1819
widow died April 1822


Act 7th June 1832
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The name of "Lewis Johnson" is not returned on the records of the Virginia Cont. Line among those entitled to or who have received bounty lands from the United States.

Examined Room 98
Oct. 27, 1854
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Louisa O House - Virginia.

Lewis Johnson, or widow no papers
Va. - Original

Hon L.P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
City of Washington
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State of Virginia
Louisa County ss

  The declaration of Lucy J. Burruss of the county of Louisa, the daughter of Lewis Johnston deceased who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution who being duly sworn according to law deposes and says that her said father Lewis Johnston was a soldier in the war of the revolution that so far as she is informed and verily believes, he served for the space of five years or more, and that neither he nor his children have ever received any bounty land or pension for his said services. He died about March 1819 and left three children to wit Lucy J. Burruss, Mary & Matilda. Mary is dead & left one living child Elizabeth Goodwin, Matilda is also dead and left two children, Levi Miller & Lucy Miller. The widow of Lewis Johnston died about April 1822.  She makes this declaration in order to obtain any pension or bounty land to which the heirs of the said Lewis Johnston is entitled.
Lucy T. Burruss
Sworn to and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace in and for Louisa County, this 24th day of October 1854
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Louisa County Va. October 21, 1859

Dear Sir,
  I send these papers in this informal way to request the favor of you to examine with the claim of the heirs of Lewis Johnston deceased.  If further proof is necessary please inform me as the agent of Lucy J. Burruss what is necessary.  Mrs. Burruss thinks her father went into service from the county of Essex State of Virginia.
Very respectfully yours
Wm. A. Gillespie

She acknowledged the power of attorney before me a Justice of the Peace, but as that is informal & the object now is only that of enquiring , I dispense with regular forms.
W.A.G.
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I Lucy J. Burruss of the County of Louisa State of Virginia a daughter and heir of Lewis Johnston decd. (and also a daughter and heir of his widow) Lewis Johnston having been a revolutionary soldier and having served as I have been informed five years or during the war) do hereby constitute and appoint William A. Gillespie my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name to apply to the War Department for any pension halfpay or arranges of pension which may be due to Sd. Lewis Johnston or his heirs. 

Given under my hand and seal this 24 day of October 1854
[signature] Lucy J. Burruss

Witness
1. [blank]
2. [blank]

State of Virginia Louisa Cty
Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the county and state aforesaid, Lucy J. Burruss and acknowledged the foregoing power of Attorney to be her act and deed. Given under my hand and seal this [blank] day of [blank] 1854
J. P.
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Resthaven, 30 Rohde Avenue,
Saint Augustine, Fla., August 20, 1912.

To The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:--

Can you give me any record of Lewis Johnston [handwritten note R.5642], of Albemarle County, Virginia; who was a soldier of the Revolutionary Army, presumably enlisting from Albemarle County. He was in the Battle of King's Mountain. His home was in Albemarle County, 12 miles or thereabouts from Charlottesville, and was I have been told called Glenburnia. He was my great grandfather, his daughter Lucy Johnston having married my paternal grandfather, Henry Burruss, about 1815 or 16, from that point the line is the same as that given in the accompanying letter asking record of John Burruss.

Lewis Johnston was a Mason of high rank, and a friend of Thomas Jefferson, and distinguished in his day for patriotism and strong character.

The information is asked for the purpose of completing applications to the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, and I shall greatly appreciate any help you can give.

Thanking you in advance, I am,
Very sincerely yours,
[signature] The Sister Esther Carlotta S.R.
(nee Carlotta Burruss; now a Sister of Charity.)

R. 5642
[stamp] U.S. Pension Office D Aug 22 1912
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Rev. War Section.

August 31, 1912.

The Sister Esther Carlotta S. R.
Resthaven, 30 Rohde Avenue,
Saint Augustine, Fla.

Madam:

In response to your letter dated the 20 and received the 22 instant, you are advised that the papers in claim R. File No. 5642, Rev. War, show that on October 24, 1854, Lucy J. Burruss of Louisa County, Virginia, file a claim for pension or bounty land due his heirs, on account of the services of her father Lewis Johnston. She stated that he entered the service from Essex County, Virginia, and was a soldier in the Revolution for five years or more; that he died about March---1819, his widow, name not stated, died about April -- 1822: and that he left three children: Lucy J. Burruss; Mary who died, leaving one child Elizabeth Goodwin in 1854; Matilda who died, leaving two children Lewis and Lucy Miller in 1854.

The claim was rejected on the ground that Lewis Johnston and his widow died before the passage of any pension law under which their children might have been entitled to pension, and his name was not found among the returns of "War's men", consequently they had no title to bounty land.

You are further advised that the pension records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to John Burruss
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R. File No. 5642 - 2

of the Revolution, or Henry Burruss of the War of 1812.
Very respectfully,
[signature] J. L. Davenport
Commissioner.