Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 1234-200, for William Smoot, Maryland
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( 3 - 1776 )
SERVICE
Md.

Smoot, William

NUMBER
B.L. Wt. 1234-200
recesses
CONTENTS
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Warrant No_.. 1234 _ issued 
to Elizabeth Ratcliffe &c _ 
heirs of Lieut: Wm.. Smoot 
of the Maryland line for 
200 acres of land _ 
March 24th_.. 1827_ 
and deliver'd to Jos: Watson
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State of Maryland } 
County of Charles } ss: I Elizabeth Radcliff of Prince William 
County in the State of Virginia, and one of the heirs at law of William Smoot 
late of the County of Charles deceased do upon oath, testify and declare 
that to the best of my knowledge and beleif the said William Smoot 
was a Lieutenant in the Maryland line of the Continental Army of the 
the revolutionary war and served as such to the close of the war. Also 
I do further testify and declare that I have never received a warrant 
from the U. States for the quantity of land due the said deceased from 
the U. States nor do I beleive that he ever received it or transferred 
his right to it in any manner during his life time. 
Therefore know all men by these presents that I Elizabeth Radcliff 
as aforesaid do hereby constitute and appoint Col. Joseph Watson 
of Washington City my true and lawful attorney for me and in my 
name to demand and receive from the Secretary of war of the U. States 
a warrant for the quantity of land due me in right of said deceased 
And my said attorney is hereby fully authorized and empowered to 
constitute and appoint one or more substitutes or attorneys under him for the 
special purposes therein expressed and the same to revoke at will. 
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal 
Witness this 24h day of February 1827_. 
[signature] John B. Wills [signature] Elizabeth Ratcliffe seal [seal within cloud circle] 
Personally appeared before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in 
and for said County the above named Elizabeth Radcliff signer and sealer 
to the foregoing declaration and power of attorney and acknowledged 
the same to be her [his changed to her] voluntary act and deed for the purposes 
therein named_. Sworn, subscribed and acknowledged before me 
this 24h day of February 1827 
[signature] John B. Wills 
State of Maryland } 
County of Charles } ss: I do hereby certify that John B Wills 
Esquire before whom the foregoing declaration and power of attorney appear to 
have been taken and acknowledged was ^at the time of taking the same one of the 
Justices of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and
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qualified as such, and that to all of his official acts as such, 
due faith and credit should be given_.  
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and 
affixed my seal of office at Port Tobacco 
this twenty sixth day of February in the year of 
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and 
twenty seven. 
[signature] John Barnes Clk of 
Chas. County Court 
[image of stamp or seal] 
State of Maryland } 
County of Charles } ss: Be it remembered that on this day, the 
Twenty fourth day of February Anno Domini 1827, there has been adduced to 
me satisfactory evidence to prove that Elizabeth Radcliff who has 
made the foregoing declaration on oath and has subscribed the power 
of attorney herewith connected, is a niece and one of the heirs of 
William Smoot late a Lieutenant in the Continental Army of the revolutionary 
War ^being the daughter of Baston Smoot a deceased brother of said William Smoot 
and that the other heirs of the said William Smoot are in 
number, to wit: Henry Dodson, Robert Dodson, John 
Dodson, Middleton Dodson, Eleanor Dodson, and 
Sarah Dodson, children of Sarah Dodson, Sister 
of Lieutenant William Smoot, all living in 
Prince George's County in the State of Maryland 
and that the above named persons are all the heirs of the said William 
Smoot known to be living_. 
In witness of all which, I have hereunto affixed my hand 
and seal, in my capacity of a Justice of the Peace, this 
24th day of February 1827_ 
[signature] John B. Wills seal [seal in bubble circle]
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[very faded]
Wont do _ See [illegible]
form a himself [faded/illegible]
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District of Columbia } 
County of Washington } ss: Personally appeared before 
me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for the 
County of Washington District of Columbia aforesaid 
Samuel Smoot and Joseph Ratcliffe both credible 
and disinterested witnesses and made oath, in due form 
of law, that they are well acquainted with Mrs. Elizabeth 
Ratcliffe and that they know her to be the reputed neice 
of Lieutenant William Smoot late of the Maryland Line 
of the Continental Army of the revolutionary war being 
the daughter of Barton Smoot a deceased Brother of the 
said Lieutenant William Smoot and that they have 
reason to believe that the other heirs of the said Lieutenant 
William Smoot and Henry Smoot*, Robert Dodson, John 
Dodson, Middleton Dodson, Eleanor Dodson and Sarah 
Dodson being the children of Sarah Dodson deceased 
who was a sister of said Lieutenant William Smoot, 
and that the above named persons are all the heirs 
of the said Lieutenant William Smoot to us known 
to be now living_. 
Sworn, Subscribed & acknowledged } [signature] Samuel Smoot 
before me this Twenty first day of } [signature] Joseph Ratcliffe 
March 1827 } 
[signature] John Cox } 
Justice of Peace } 
*evidently a mistake in name. 
J.R.
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March 23, 1939 

BA-J/AWF anc [notation unclear] 
William Smoot 
B.L.Wt. 1234-200 

Mrs. Elizabeth S. Hammond 
Box 23 
North Pleasureville 
Kentucky 

Dear Madam: 

The data which follow were obtained from 
papers on file in claim for bounty land, based 
upon the service of William Smoot, in the War of 
the Revolution. 
William Smoot of Charles County, Maryland 
served as lieutenant in the Maryland Line, until 
the close of the Revolution, no dates of service 
given. 
The date and place of birth of William Smoot, 
names of his parents, and date of his death are not 
shown. 
On February 24, 1827, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Ratcliffe of Prince William County, Virginia, applied 
for the bounty land due the heirs of Lieutenant 
William Smoot. The heirs were: herself, daughter 
of his deceased brother, Barton Smoot; and Henry 
Dodson, Robert Dodson, John Dodson, Middleton Dodson, 
Eleanor Dodson, and Sarah Dodson, children of his 
deceased sister, Sarah Dodson, the said Dodson children 
were living in Prince Georges County, Maryland. 
Two hundred acres of bounty land were allowed 
these heirs, on Warrant # 1234, which was issued 
March 24, 1827. 
Samuel Smoot and Joseph Ratcliffe testified in
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Washington, D. C., in 1827, as to the relationship 
of Mrs. Elizabeth Ratcliffe to Lieutenant William 
Smoot; it was not stated that they were related to 
the family. 
The papers on file in this claim contain no 
further discernible family data. 
If you desire information in regard [to] the 
location of the land referred to herein, you should 
apply to The Commissioner of the General Land 
Office, this city, and furnish the following data- 
Warrant #1234- 200 acres- issued March 24, 1827. 
Very truly yours 
A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator
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March 21, 1939 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX 
BA-J/MLB 

Mrs. Elizabeth S. Hammond 
Box 23 
North Pleasureville, Kentucky 

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you requested the 
Revolutionary War records of George or John Smoot (Smout or Smute) 
of Saint Mary's County, Maryland, or others of that surname. 
There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based 
upon service in the Revolution of a John Smoot of Maryland, or of 
any George Smoot, all spellings of the surname searched. A claim 
for pension has been found, however, of a John Smoot who served in 
that war from Virginia. His record and that of William Smoot of 
Maryland are furnished you herewith. 
Very truly yours 
A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator 

[handwritten note] 
See her letter in this 
Bounty Land Claim
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July 7, 1933 
XXXXXXXXXXXX 
[handwitten correction] 1234 -200 
William Smoot-B.L.Wt.1234-20( 
BA-J/AWF 
Archibald F. Bennett, Secretary 
Genealogical Society of Utah 
47 East South Temple Street 
Salt Lake City, Utah 

Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your letter of June 16, 
in which you request the Revolutionary War records 
of Lieutenant William Smoot, Captain William Barton 
Smoot and John Smoot,all of Charles County or St. 
Marys County, Maryland. 
The records have been searched and there is no 
claim for pension or bounty land on file, based upon 
service in the War of the Revolution of John Smoot 
of Maryland, or of William Barton Smoot. Such claims 
are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished 
by this office. 
The Revolutionary War record of Lieutenant 
William Smoot is given below as found in bounty land 
claim, filed under Warrant No. 1234- 200. 
William Smoot of Charles County, Maryland served 
as lieutenant in the Maryland Line, until the close 
of the war; no dates of service given. 
The date, place of birth and date of death of 
William Smoot are not given; nor are the names of 
his parents stated. 
On February 24, 1827, Mrs. Elizabeth Ratcliffe 
of Prince William County, Virginia, applied for the 
bounty land due the heirs of Lieutenant William Smoot. 
The heirs were: herself, the daughter of his deceased 
brother, Barton Smoot; and Henry Dodson, Robert Dodson,
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John Dodson, Middleton Dodson, Eleanor Dodson, and Sarah 
Dodson, the children of his deceased sister, Sarah 
Dodson, and all were living in Prince Georges County, 
Maryland. 
Two hundred acres of bounty land were allowed 
these heirs, on Warrant 1234, which was issued March 
24, 1827. 
Samuel Smoot and Joseph Ratcliffe testified in 
Washington, D. C., in 1827, as to the relationship of 
Mrs. Elizabeth Ratcliffe to the soldier, Lieutenant 
William Smoot, but did not state any relationship to
each other or to the family. 
Very truly yours 
A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator
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[handwritten note down side of left margin] 
letter mailed to 
Robert Murray Stewart 
C/O U.S. Bureau of Efficiency 
who wishes to take it to the Senator, 

November 2, 1923. 

Honorable Reed Smoot, 
United States Senate. 

My dear Senator: 

I have the honor to advise you that you 
are herewith furnished the histories of the soldiers of 
the Revolution named Smoot found on the records of this 
Bureau. 
From the papers in the pension claim, Survivor File 
1252, it appears that John Smoot was born May 11, 1755, 
place not stated. 
While living in Frederick County, Virginia, he 
enlisted in July 1775, served as a private in Captain Daniel 
Morgan's Company of Riflemen, was in General Benedict 
Arnold's Expedition to Quebec, was taken sick and sent 
back to Cambridge, where, about the first of January 1776, 
he was placed in Captain Hugh Stephenson's Company of 
Riflemen and was discharged in July 1776. 
He enlisted in the fall of 1779, served in Captain 
Ben Roberts' Company, Colonels George Slaughter and Clark's 
Regiment and was discharged in the fall of 1780. 
[page] 1
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Lee [unclear notations in upper left] 

He enlisted in July 1781, in Captain Cadwalader 
Slaughter's Company, was at the siege of Yorktown and 
was discharged after serving three months. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed 
September 20, 1832, while living in Hardin County, 
Kentucky. There is no data on file as to family. 
[check mark in margin] 
From the papers in the bounty land claim Warrant 
1234, it appears that William Shoot of Charles County, 
Maryland, served as a lieutenant of the Maryland Line, 
in the War of the Revolution , until the close of said 
war. Dates of service are not on record. 
On February 24, 1827, Elizabeth Ratcliffe of Prince 
William County, Virginia applied for the bounty land due 
his heirs. They were herself, the daughter of his 
deceased brother Barton Smoot; and Henry, Robert, John, 
Middleton, Eleanor and Sarah Dodson, all living in Prince 
Georges County, Maryland, the children of his deceased 
sister Sarah Dodson. 
Two hundred acres of bounty land were allowed to 
said heirs, on Warrant 1234, which issued March 24, 1827. 
Samuel Smoot and Joseph Ratcliffe testified in 
Washington, D.C. in 1827, as to the relationship of Mrs.
Elizabeth Ratcliffe to the soldier but did not [crossed out] say whether [end cross out] 
[handwritten correction] show any relationship to each 
other nor to the fam_ [page] 2
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they were related to him or her. 
There is no further data on file as to the soldier, 
or the family.
From the papers in the pension claim, Widow File 
4075, it appears that James Smoot was born May 25, 1764, 
" in Lord Fairfax's Manor in the County of Fauquier and 
State of Virginia".
While living in Fauquier County, Virginia, he 
enlisted in August, or September 1780, served as a private 
in Captain Francis Triplett's Company, which joined the  
the troops under the command of Colonel Daniel Morgan. 
He was in the battle of Cowpens and was discharged after
serving five, or six months.  
After remaining at home about three weeks, he joined
the army under General Weadon at Williamsburg, was one of 
the 
guard stationed at Burwell's Ferry, was in an 
engagement at Williamsburg as a volunteere under Major 
Armistead and was discharged after serving three months, and 
returned home in June 1781. 
About the first of July 1781, he entered Captain 
James Grigsby's Company, Colonel Elias Edmunds' Regiment, 
was at the siege of Yorktown, after the surrender he was 
[page] 3
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detailed as a guard under Major Walsh, conducted the 
prisoners to Winchester and returned home in November, or 
December 1781, having served five months. 
He moved from Fauquier County, Virginia to Wilkes 
County, North Carolina in 1783. 
He married in Wilkes County, North Carolina, October 
28, 1754, Fanny Vickes of said county. 
he was allowed pension on his application executed 
October 30, 1832, while living in Wilkes County, North 
Carolina, and he died April 29, 1845. 
The widow Fanny was allowed pension on her 
application executed May 31, 1845, while living in Wilkes County, 
North Carolina aged about eighty-six years. She died
December 5, 1848, leaving the children: Nancy Vickers 
and Susannah Parker, both residing in Wilkes County, 
North Carolina in 1854. 
Sincerely,
Washington Gardner
Commissioner.
[page] 4
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[circular stamp in upper left] 
RECEIVED FEB 11 1939 [otherwise illegible] 
Feb. 2 - 1939.
Veteran's Administration. 
Sirs: I am writing you 
for information _ the Revolutionary 
War Record of "George [name checked] of John [name checked] 
Smoot"_ he had a son 
Read or (Reed) Smoot and is 
in my line of ancestry - I am 
wanting to enter the D.A.R. on 
his record if possible - from
some records of St. Mary's County, 
Maryland we find where a 
certain John Smoot and his son 
George took the oath of Fidelity 
during the War - I am trying to 
find him among the military record 
from that County - I do not know 
his wife and very little else 
to relate regarding him - I do 
know, however, that among the 
first ancestors the name was
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spelled quite differently.-- we have 
seen it Smute, Smout, but for 
the later generations it has 
been Smoot. 
Will you kindly give information 
or War Record of any soldier by 
this name Smoot - I may thus 
be able to get some information 
that will lead to further research 
to establish identification. 
Please let me hear at earliest 
possible time as I am most 
anxious to get my line ready 
for admittance - give any [underlined] or 
all [underlined] information you may be
able to find please. 
Mrs. Elizabeth S. Hammond 
North Pleasureville, 
Kentucky. 
Box 23.
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[circular stamp with clock numerals around the edge] 
[arrow pointing to 12] 
RECEIVED 
FEB 11 1939 
MAIL SUB-DIV. 
VETS. ADM. 
[Illegible] 3
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THE GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF UTAH 
47 EAST SOUTH TEMPLE STREET 
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 

[circular stamp with clock numerals around the edge] 
[arrow pointing to 11:30 space] 
RECEIVED 
JUN 20 1933 
MAIL SUB-DIV 
VET. ADM. 
READER 15 

June 16, 1933  
[handwritten note] only if Md [with initial o pointing to "Lieut." in third line] 

The Veterans Administration 
Washington, D. C. 

Dear Sirs: 

Will you kindly send us the pension record containing anything 
of genealogical value regarding the following members of the Smoot family 
from Charles or St. Marys Co., Md.: first, Lieut. William Smoot; second, Capt. 
[handwritten margin circle] William Barton Smoot; third, [underlined with handwritten circle] John Smoot, who served in the Revolutionary War. 

[handwritten] of Md 

Sincerely yours, 
GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY OF UTAH. 
[SIGNATURE] AF Bennett 
Archibald F. Bennett, 
Secretary. 

AFB :K