Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B. L. Wt. 1920-400, for Thomas Meriwether, Virginia
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SERVICE |   |  NUMBER

Va. | Meriwether, Thomas | B. L. Wt. 1920-400
  | Merriwether |
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Richmond February 14th 1833

Sir

Permit me to introduce the Bearer of this Letter George S. Hawkins Esq. of Florida, who married Miss Jane Louisa Early the great niece of Major Thomas Meriwether of the First Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. George Gibson. As Mr. Hawkins and his Lady live in Florida it would be most to their interest to locate their Land Warrant in Florida.

I suppose the Land Warrant will be in the name of Jane Louisa Early the only Residency Devises under the Will of this and Major Thomas Meriwether and Jane Early who married Eleazer Early whose maiden name was Jane Patterson. The said Jane Louisa Early being the wife of George S. Hawkins Esq. of Florida.

I was the Adm. of Major Thomas Meriwether with the will annexed for the benefit of Mr. George S. Hawkins.

I am with great Esteem
Your obedient Servant
William Du Val Adm.
with the will annexed of
Major Thomas Meriwether
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hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this eighth day of September one thousand eight hundred and two.
T. Meriwether ll (seal)

Signed, sealed, published and declared to be the last will and testament of the said Thomas Meriwether, the word "issue" in the seventeenth line of the first page, being first erased in presence of us whose names are hereunto subscribed, who in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto, on the day and date last above written.
Tho. Camber Walton
David Farris
Wm. Clarke.

Georgia, Jefferson County

Personally appeared William Clarke one of the subscribing witnesses to the last will and testament of Thomas Meriwether deceased, and being sworn saith that he was present and did see the testator sign, seal, publish and pronounce the same to be and contain his last will and testament, and that he was of sound and disposing mind and memory to the best of his knowledge and belief, and that Thomas Camber Walton and David Farris, together with this deponent did subscribe their names as witnesses thereto, at the request, and in the presence of the testator.

Wm. Clarke

Sworn to in open Court 4th April 1803.
Jaz. Bozeman Clk:
Georgia, Jefferson County, Clerk's Office of the inferior Court when setting for ordinary purposes.

I David E. Bothwell, Clk, do hereby certify that the above and foregoing is a true copy of the last will and testament of Thomas Meriwether deceased, of file in this office. Given under my hand and the seal of Office this 29th day of November 1828.

David E. Bothwell, Clk 
(Georgia)
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Georgia, Jefferson County.

I Danl Hook one of the Justices of the inferior Court for the County and State aforesaid, do certify that David E. Bothwell whose name appears to the foregoing certificate is clerk of the inferior Court when setting for ordinary purposes for said County, and that full faith and credit out to be had and given to his attestation as such, and that the same is in due form. Given under my hand and seal this 29th day of November 1828
Danl Hook J. P. Ct.  

Georgia, Chatham County

In the name of God amen. I Jane M Early, being of sound and perfect mind yet, considering the uncertainty of this mental life, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say,

Whereas I am seized to me and my heirs forever of an estate bequeathed by my Uncle Thomas Meriwether late of the County of Jefferson esquire deceased, to me, then a single woman, and known as Jane M. Patterson, by his last will and testament bearing date the 8th day of September 1802, as by reference thereto will more fully appears. And whereas previously to my intermarriage with my present husband, Eleazer Early, it was agree and contracted between us that notwithstanding the said intended marriage all the estate aforesaid together with the rents issued and profits thereof, as should from time to time accrue, should be accounted, reckoned, and taken as a separate and distinct estate of and from the estate of him, the said Eleazer Early, and be - no ways liable or subject to him, onto the payment of his debts but with the profits or increase that should thereafter be gotten, gained or made of the same, be indexed, disposed or employed to such person or persons, and to and for such use and uses, tents purposes, and in such manner
(and)
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and form as I should order and appoint and also that all the said separate and distinct estate before declared and allotted for me as aforesaid and the produce and increase thereof should be had, taken, hold possessed, & enjoyed by such person and persons, and for such use and uses as I should at any time or times hereafter during my life, limit, demise, order or dispose of the same, or any part thereof, either by my last will & testament in writing, or by any other writing whatsoever signed with my hand in the presence of two or more credible witnesses as will more fully appear by reference to the marriage settlement. (Illegible) between the said Eleazer Early, then in the City of Augusta Merchant of the first part, myself (at that time Jane Mercer then Patterson) of t he second part, and Robert Watkins of the County of Richmond Esquire attorney at law, Robert Flourney of the County of Jefferson Esq. and George Watkins of the City of Augusta Esquire of the third part, which said deed of marriage bears date the twenty fourth day of December on thousand eight hundred and three. In witness thereof, I the said Jane M. Early do give and bequeath and devise unto my beloved niece Jane Louisa Early (commonly so called, but whose baptismal and proper name is Jane Louisa Sturges) at this time a single woman my whole estate and property as well real as personal, of what kind, nature or quality so ever, to have and to hold the same, and every part and parcel thereof, unto her the said Jane Louisa, her heirs, executors and administrators forever. And also, I do hereby appoint my beloved niece, as aforesaid to be executive to this my last will and testament, and to the intent that the said Jane Louisa may be assisted by competent Counsel and advice, I do also request Dr. Wm. C. Daniell to act jointly with her as executor, hereby and herein recalling all former wills by one made. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Thirtieth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred
(and)
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and twenty five at Savannah in Georgia
Jane M Early S.S.

Signed sealed -- published and declared by the above named Jane M Early to be her last will and testament in the presence of us, who in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses, in the presence of the Testatrix. (Illegible) having been first made in the 28th & 29th and ensured in the 30th lines
Eliza Miller  M. Richardson
J V Bereau Notary Public
Filed 27th May 1829.
Saml M Bond C. C. O. C. C.

State of Georgia
Chatham County } In the Court of Ordinary Chambers 26th June 1928. Present the Honorable Elias Fort & Jacob Read esquires, Justices of the Inferior Court of Chatham County sitting for Ordinary purposes. Personally appeared Joseph V Bereau, one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing sustainment of writing purporting to be t he last will and testament of Jane M Early (late consent of Eleazer Early at present of Brunswick) deceased, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was present and did see the said Jane M Early deceased, sign and seal and heard her pronounce, publish and declare the said instrument of writing to be and contain her last will and testament, that he said Jane M Early was at the time of executing the same, of sound and disposing mind and memory to the best of the deponents knowledge and belief, that he the deponent and Mrs. Martha Richardson & Mrs. Eliza Miller subscribed their names as witnesses to the due execution of the said last will and testament at the request of the said Jane M Early in her presence, and in thepresence of each other.
J. V. Bereau.
Sworn in open Court this
26th day of June 1829.
Saml. M. Bond C.C.O.C.C.
(6th)
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6th July 1829 Then appeared Jane Louisa Early executrix named in the within Will of Jane M Early deceased and qualified as as such by taking the oath of an executor as prescribed by Law.
Saml M Bond CC.O.CC.
Recorded in Will Book. I. folio 90 to 92 & examined by me this 9 July 1829
Saml. M. Bond. CC.O.CC.

State of Georgia
Chatham County
Clerks Office of the Court of Ordinary.
I. do hereby certify that the above written and foregoing and annexed pages of writing contain a true copy of the last will and testament of Mrs. Jane M. Early deceased, with the probate thereof by me taken from and collected with the originals of record.
{Seal} Given under my hand and the seal of the Court of Ordinary at Savannah this nineth day of July one thousand eight hundred and twenty nine.
Saml. M. Bond Clk.
CC.O.CC.

State of Georgia
Chatham County} In the Court of Ordinary July Term 1820.
At a regular meeting of the Justices of the Inferior Court of Chatham County for Ordinary purposes at the Court House in Savannah on monday the sixth day of July 1829. Present the Honble Elias Fort, Jacob Read and Patrick Houston. This ordered that the last will and testament of Jane M. Early deceased which was proved in vocation before two Justices, be approved, allowed of & accorded. There appeared Jane Louisa Early executrix named in the said last Will and testament and qualified as such by taking the oath of an executor as prescribed by Law.
Extracts from the Minutes
Saml. M Bond Clk
CC. O. CC.
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I David Bullock do hereby certify that I was acquainted with Jane Patterson and her Sister Susanna Patterson who removed to the State of Georgia the former with her Uncle Thomas Meriwether, Jane intermarried with a Mr. Eleazer Early of the State of Georgia, who were both at my house in the City of Richmond, where they staid several days, and I understood from them that they had adopted the daughter of the said Susanna as their own, that she had taken the name of Early, and that they had placed her at School in Philadelphia. Mr. Early has been at my house since the death of his wife, and spoke of his said adopted daughter, and his wish to befriend her in obtaining what she was entitled to from the estate of the said Thos Meriwether
David Bullock

State of Virginia
Louisa County, to Wit
I Frederick Harris a justice of the peace in the County aforesaid do hereby certify that David Bullock made oath before me to the truth of the foregoing certificate.
Given under my hand the 20th November 1832
Fred: Harris.

Colo. Bullock has been known to me all my life, he is a Gentleman of high respectability, and his statements are to be perfectly relied on
Novr. 27th 1832 P. V. Daniel

Colo. Bullock has been known to me more than forty years. No man possesses a fairer character or is entitled to more credit.
J. Marshall

George S. Hawkins this day personally appeared before me the undersigned Auditor of Public Accounts and made oath that on the 5th day of May 1832, he intermarried with Jane  Louisa Sturges alias Early sole Legatee of Jane M Early late Jane M. Patterson who was Legatee of Thos. Meriwether, and that he at present resides with his wife at Appalachicola West, Florida.
(Given)
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Given under my hand this 15 Feby 1833.
Jas. E Heath. Aud Va.

Auditors office of Virginia
19. Feb. 1833.
I do hereby certify that the foregoing are true copies of papers filed in this office upon the settlement of the Judgement of Thomas Meriwether judgement for Half pay. I further certify that it was proved to my satisfaction that Geo: S. Hawkins was the sole Legatee in right of his wife entitled to the benefit of the said judgement
Jas E Heath Aud of Va.

For Geo: S. Hawkins
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BOUNTY LAND
FOR REVOLUTIONARY SERVICES-CLAIM OF HEIRS.

(NO. 1.)

Territory of Florida
County of Jackson,} SS.
I, Jane Louisa Hawkins and one of the heirs at law of Thomas Meriwether late of the County of Jefferson and State of Georgia but now deceased, do, upon oath, testify and declare, that to the best of my knowledge and belief, the said Thomas Meriwether was a Major in the first (Gibsons) Regiment of Infantry belonging to the Virginia line on Continental establishment, during the Revolutionary War. I do further testify and declare, that I have never received a warrant from the United States for the quantity of land due the said deceased, from the United States; nor do I believe 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, Jane Louisa Hawkins as aforesaid, do hereby constitute and appoint Col. JOSEPH WATSON my true and lawful attorney, for me, in my name, to demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States, for the time being, a warrant for the quantity of land due in right of said deceased. And my said attorney I do hereby fully authorize and empower to constitute and appoint, one or more substitutes or attorneys under him, for the special purpose herein expressed, and the same to revoke all at will.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this fifth day of July A.D. 1833
Jane L Hawkins
In presence of
Henry N Nowland
& Richd. L. Watson J.P.

(NO. 2.)
PERSONALLY appeared before me, the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the above named County, the above named Jane Louisa Hawkins signer and sealer to the foregoing declaration and power of attorney, and made oath in due form of law to the one, and acknowledged the other, as her voluntary act and deed for the purposes therein named.
Sworn, subscribed, and acknowledged before me, this twelfth day of July A.D. 1832 - 
Richd L Watson JP.

(NO. 3.)
Territory of Florida
County of Jackson} SS.
PERSONALLY appeared before the subscriber, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the county aforesaid, William McKinzie and John P. Lockhart both credible and disinterested persons, who, being duly sworn, did depose and say, that they verily believe that Thomas Meriwether named in the within declaration, signed by Jane Louisa Hawkins, served in the Virginia line, during the Revolutionary War: That they have understood that he died about 19 years since, viz. on or about the __ day of ____ 1803 at Sugarville within the State of Georgia leaving no widow, and that Jane Louisa Kawins - 
is the reputed and only heir at law of him, said Thomas Meriwether
J. Porter Lockhart
William A. McKinzie
Sworn and subscribed before me, this
12th day of July A.D. 1832-
Richd L Watson J.P.
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(NO. 4.)
Territory of Florida
County of Jackson} SS.
BE IT REMEMBERED, That on this day, to wit: the twelfth day of July Anno Domini, 1832, there has been adduced satisfactory proof to me of William McKinzie and J. Porter Lockhart two credible witnesses, and other explanations and information submitted, that Jane L. Hawkins who has made the declaration on oath, and has subscribed the power of attorney herewith connected, is a grand niece and one of the heirs of Thomas Meriwether late a Major - in the Continental army of the Revolutionary War, and that the other heirs of the said Thomas Meriwether are none in number, viz, _____ who is a __ of the said _______ and resides, or is supposed to reside at _______ within the _____
and that the above named person is the only heir of the said Thomas Meriwether known to be living.
IN WITNESS OF ALL WHICH, I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal office in my capacity of a Clerk of Jackson County this twelfth day of July - Anno Domini, 1832
Henry N. Noland

(NO. 5.)
Territory of Florida
County of Jackson} SS.
I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, That J Henry N Noland whom the declaration, power of attorney, and deposition hereto annexed appear to have been made, was, at the time of signing and making the same, one of the Justices of the Peace, in and for county of Jackson aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified as such, and to all his acts as such, due faith and credit should and ought to be given.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office, at Marianna this twelfth day of July 1832-
Henry N Nowland Clerk

It is only requisite that one of [illegible] declaration and power of attorney. Although in the states of Main, Massach[illegible] Rhode-Island, Connecticut, and Vermont; the Judges of Probate, in New-York and [illegible] ates; in South Carolina and Georgia the Ordinaries; in Virginia, North-Carolina, [illegible] and the other Western States, the Courts of Record are considered as authoriz[illegible] yet it is deemed expedient to accompany their certificates (which must be under seal, [illegible] accounted for) with the evidence on which they may grant them, and hence the deposition No. 3, herewith, which is indispensable as to the States of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and North-Carolina, where it has been considered that no particular officer is authorized to certify heirship, yet even in these, it is advisable, to cause the certificate of heirship No. 4, to be signed by the officer charged by law, with the granting letters of administration, and receiving the proof of wills.
DIRECTIONS AS TO FILLING OUT THE BLANKS.
In the declaration, after the name in the first line, place the degree of relationship-After regiment in the 5th line, place infantry, artillery, dragoons, invalids, sappers and miners, Hazen or Congress, as the case may be, the other blanks sufficiently indicate the words to be supplied.
In deposition No. 3, previous to the word widow, place the word a, or no, as the case may be; and in the blank which follows, place the names of all the heirs, having care after the name of each, to state, his or her degree of relationship to the deceased; the other blanks sufficiently indicate the words to be supplied. In the certificate of heirship, No. 4, after the wood proof, insert the words to me, or the court of ___ holden at _____ as the case may require; and previous to the words and one, insert the degree of relationship of the person who signs the power of attorney. In the large blank, insert the names of all the other heirs, designating their relationship and residence; the other blanks sufficiently indicate the words to be supplied.
Mrs. Hawkins does not know the precise time of the death of Major Meriwether-
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I certify that I was well acquainted with Thomas Merriwether, as a Major in the first Virginia regiment, commanded by Col. George Gibson, having been a Ensign in the same regiment myself: but he entered the service at the organization of the regiment and I have no doubt but he retired under the resolves of October 1780 at the same time and in the same manner with Captains Charles and Thomas Snell and Lieutenant Churchill Gibbs, [illegible] and Augus Tucker, George Tipton and myself later -
Washington City 16th [illegible] 1831.
John Nicholas Capt. & Lt. Col.
in Revol.y War
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D of Columbia
County of Washington} Sct
Sworn & subscribed to on this the 16th Septr 1831 before
C H W Whorton JP

Major Ths. Merriwether
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Territory of Florida
Jackson County Clerks Office: I, Henry N. Nowland, clerk of Jackson County in said Territory do hereby certify that Richard L. Watson, whose signature is contd within in this Certificate, was on the twelfth day of July last a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Jackson in the Territory of Florida - In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office this twelfth day of October One thousand eight hundred & thirty two=
Henry N. Nowland

Richard L. Watson

Mariana. Oct. 12. 1832, I, Addison Mandell Judge of the County Court in & for the County of Jackson in the Territory of Florida, do hereby Certify, that Henry N. Nowland whose signature is annexed to the foregoing certificate is Clerk of said County of Jackson duly & lawfully Commissioned, and that all faith & Credit are to be given to his Acts as such Clerk aforesaid =