Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5903, for Richard Peek, Virginia
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3-1776
Service VA 
Peek or Peak, Richard
Number S.5903 
Carded 
Contents
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Virginia 12.504 
Richard Peek or Peak 
of Charlotte in the State of Virginia who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Walker of the Regt. commanded by Col. Mason in the Virginia line for 10 months. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831 
Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of May '33 and sent Char. Woodson 
Prospect P. O. Prince Edwd. Co. Va. 
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833. 66.66 
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " 16.66 1/2 $83.32 1/2 
Revolutionary Claim 
Act June 7, 1832. 
Recorded by William Miller Clerk 
Book E. Vol. 6. Page 21
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Richard Peek
10889
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State of Virginia 
Charlotte County } SS. 
On this 6th day of September 1832 personally appeared 
before me Cornelius Barnes a Justice of the peace in 
the County aforesaid, Richard Peek a resident of the 
County aforesaid and State aforesaid aged Eighty 
Seven years last December, who being first sworn 
according to law, doth on his oath, make the following 
declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act 
of Congress, passed the 7th day of June 1832. Saith 
that he was born in the year 1744 in the County of Amelia 
and has resided in the County of Prince Edward untill 
December 1831, since that time in the County of Charlotte. 
That in the year 1779, he was drafted to serve in 
the Virginia Militia and he marched under Capt. 
Henry Walker of Prince Edward County his Col. was 
- Mason he does not recollect of what County 
at this time, and that they marched to Cooper River in 
South Carolina, and that they joined several other 
troops at Salisbury in North Carolina and that he served 
a tour of five months, under Genl. Lincoln, and was 
discharged which, discharge he has lost. - And in 
February 1781, he was again drafted and marched 
under the command of Capt. John Bibb of P Edward County 
to Guilford Court House N Carolina and was in the battle 
at said place under the command of Genl Lawson of P Edward 
and was discharged after serving a tour of about three months
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And in the fall of 1781 he volunteered under Capt. Charles 
Price of Prince Edward County and served a tour 
in Prince Edward County in collecting beers for the 
Army and in carrying them to York Town but 
does not recollect at this time how long the tour 
was, he supposes about two months. He states he 
has no documentary evidence by which he could 
establish, his claims, his discharges were verbal 
or if written, he has lost them, in all his terms 
of service he states he served his full term of 
service, and was honourably discharged. He hereby 
relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or 
annuity except the present, and declares that his 
name is not on the pension Roll of the agency 
of any State 
Richard Peek his X mark 
Charlotte County SC, 
The foregoing declaration of Richard Peck was subscribed 
and sworn to before me a Justice of the peace for 
the said County. Given under my hand this 6th day 
of September 1832. 
Cornelius Barnes JP
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Names of persons to whom Richard Peek is known 
and who can testify as to his character for veracity 
and their belief of his services as a soldier of 
the Revolution- 
John Simmons 
Col. James Madison 
Col. Charles Woodson 
David Anderson 
and Philip Matthews 
I do hereby certify that I have been acquainted 
with Richard Peek for some time and do not 
think that he has been able from age and 
bodily infirmity to get to P Edward C House 
since I have known him. Given under my 
hand this 6th day of September 1832. 
Cornelius Barnes - 
We John Baldwin a Clergyman residing in the neighbourhood 
where the applicant Richard Peek has for a long time untill lately resided in 
the County of Prince Edward in Virginia, and David Anderson 
residing in the same neighbourhood - 
hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Peak who 
has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him 
to be eighty seven years of age; that he is reputed and believed in 
the neighbourhood where he has resided, to have been a soldier of the revolution, 
and that we concur in that opinion. 
John Baldwin 
David Anderson 
The certificate immediately preceeding - Sworn to and subscribed by the Revd. John Baldwin and by David Anderson, before me Charles Woodson a 
Justice of the peace in and for the County of Prince Edward in Virginia this 15th day 
of September 1832 
Charles Woodson J.P.
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Virginia, Charlotte County Court: I Winslow Robinson Clerk of the County 
Court of Charlotte in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that Cornelius 
Barnes is an acting Justice of the peace in and for the said County, and 
that his signature in two places to the annexed Certificate is in his own 
proper, and usual hand writing 
In [illegible] whereof I have hereunto set my 
hand & 
affixed the seal of my office this 1st day of 
October One thousand eight hundred and thirty two.  
Winslow Robinson
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Admit for 10 mo 
as a private - $33.33
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BRIEF in the case of Richard Peek 
County of Charlotte in the State of VA 
(Act 7th June, 1832.) 
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? 
a Judge 
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? 
3. How old is he? 
87 years 
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
Period. In 1779 Feby 1781 Fall 1781 
Duration of Service. Years, Months, 5 3 2 Days. 
Rank. As a Private 
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen. Capt Walker Col Mason 
Capt Bibb Gen Lawson 
Capt Price 
5. In what battles was he engaged? 
Guilford 
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? 
Amelia County NC
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 
traditionary 
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? 
The Clerk has not certified that Charles Woodson is an acting just of the peace- 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned. 
Richard Cutts 
Examining Clerk.
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J L Edwards Esqr 
Comsn. of Pensions 
Department of War 
City of Washington
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13th May 1833 
Sir 
I return the inclosed certificate 
presuming there is some mistake in the name 
of the person to whom it is granted. 
I had transmitted to you the claim of 
Mr Richard Peek or Peak (the name being variously spelt by different persons in the same family) 
The certificate is in the name of Richard Peck 
If it is intended for Richard Peek please to have the name put right and return it to me at 
Prospect Post Office, Prince Edward County VA. 
Address Col Charles Woodson, as I should be unwilling the certificate should fall into the hands of another person of my name in the neighbourhood. 
Very Respectfully 
Your Obt Srvt. 
Charles Woodson 
To 
J L Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pensions 
City of Washington
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5903 
Rev War 
INVALID 
No. 5903 
Richard Peek or Peak 
Priv Rev. War --- 
Act: June 7th '32 
lex:--Vol. , Page 292 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Richard Peek 
Ch Woodson 
Prospect. P O 
Prince Edward C
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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 Richard Peek Charlotte C NC which require further proof or explanation. 
1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 
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? yes 
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 of pension he is entitled? yes 
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes 
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes 
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes 
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
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? yes
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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? yes 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 
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? 
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? yes 
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes 
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? 
XVI. +Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no 
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 his 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 objection able. It must in every case be clearly shewn 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. 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 attached 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 the papers.