Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 38178, for Francis Matthews, Maryland
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Service
MD

Matthews, Francis

Number
S.38178
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Left Side Page

Notification sent September 7th, 1820 to D. D. Sheffers Staunton Virginia

Right Side Page

5232
Virginia
Francis Matthews
Private
Capt. Prater
Maryland Line 1779
in the army of the united states during the Revolutionary War

Inscribed on the roll of Virginia at the rate of 8 dollars per month to commence on the 12 of May 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 7 of Jan 1819 and sent to Hon Mr. McCoy
H. Reps

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1818 $29.87
Semi-anl all'ce ending 4 Mar 1819 $48.00
$77.87

{Revolutionary Claim Act 18th March 1818}

3 years

Continued
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Francis Mathews
5232 Certificate of
Declaration

Jan 1819

Mar 1819
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State of Virginia
August County to wit

On this 26th day of June 1820 personally appeared in open court being a court of record for said county, Francis Mathews almost sixty-two years of age, resident in the said county, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare as follows to wit; that he served as a private soldier in the army of the United States in the time of the revolutionary war; that on the 12th day of May 1779 he enlisted with Capt. James Prater a recruiting officer in the continental army at Old Town; in the state of Maryland; that shortly thereafter he took the oath of fidelity before Col. Henry Schock at Hagers Town in the same state; and marched from thence by the order of Capt. Adam Witt to Frederick Town in the same state where after remaining with the recruiting party a few days he proceeded with the same to Annapolis, that he was there inspected by Gen William Smallwood who commanded in the state of Maryland and by him attached to the third regiment of regular troops commanded by Col Adams and placed in the company commanded by Capt. Greg that he continued at Annapolis until sometime in the year 1780; that during the time he was stationed there he received a wound in his left thigh where on service in row galley which was ordered into the Chesapeake Bay and was there attacked by an enemy vessel; that when he recovered from said wound he was ordered to Frederick Town in the state of Maryland where he was put under Capt. Jack or John Reed; that he continued in Frederick Town; that he continued in Frederick Town under said Reed until the 17th day of September 1782 when he was discharged and received a written discharge from said Reed which discharge he lost not long since, that he enlisted for three years or during the war and at the time of his enlistment was promised one hundred and sixty acres of land. He further states that he is in such reduced circumstances at to require the assistance of his county for support. He is now so old and infirm that he is not able to work, his only occupation is to collect a few rags and sell them at a paper mill.
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which he makes a few dollar in the course of the year; he has already made a declaration under the act of congress passed on the 18th of March 1818 the date of which declaration he does not recollect, his pension certificate is dated the 8th of January 1819; the only members of his family are himself and his wife - she is about three or four years younger than himself - she is very infirm and sickly, when able to do anything her time is occupied in attending to the household duties or in spinning a little for the neighbors when she can get employment. She is able to contribute very little to her own support or that of this affiant. He further saith on oath that he was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818; and that he has not since that time by gift, sale or in any other manner disposed of his property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring himself within the provisions of an act of congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and navel services of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18th day of March 1818, & that he has not nor has any person in trust for him any property or securities, contracts or debts due to him nor has he any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by him subscribed.

Scheule of the Estate of the said Francis Mathews, necessary clothing and bedding excepted.
A debt of Nine shillings and nine pence due from Sheffrey Morton, 1 skillet, 1 Dutch oven, 4 pewter plates, 1 coffee pot, 2 or 3 old knives and forks, 1 poor old horse, 1 old tea pot, 1/2 dozen cups and saucers, 2 teaspoons, 1 old tablespoon, 2 or 3 old chairs, 1 small table

Francis Mathews
His X Mark

Sworn to and declared on the 26th day of June 1820 before the said court of Augusta.

Test:
Erasmus Shilling Clerk

I Erasmus Shilling clerk of the county court of August do hereby certify that the preceding oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said court and I do further certify that it is
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is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is Forty dollars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said court at this twenty-eighth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty.

Erasmus Shilling - Clerk

SEAL
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Francis Mathews
12th May 1818
Correct

Suspended for Maryland Rolls

from 
James Williams
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Virginia
August County to wit

Francis Mathews of the county aforesaid personally appeared before me John Brown, Judge of the Chancery District Courthouse at Staunton in the count & state aforesaid & being sworn, saith that in the year 1779 he enlisted as a private soldier for three years or during the war in Capt. Gray's company third Maryland Regiment on Continental Establishment; that some short time afterwards he received a wound whilst on board a row galley in the Chesapeake Bay in consequence of which after remaining a considerable time under the surgeon's care he was sent back to Frederick Town Maryland where he continued to perform duty as guard at the magazine & barracks until the close of the war when he was discharged by Capt. John Reed - that he received a regular discharge which he has left with a friend but which was afterwards returned to him has been unfortunately lost. This affiant saith that he was never been allowed a pension by the laws of the United States; that he is a poor man in very reduced circumstances & that he stands in need of the aid of his county for support.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & caused the seal of office of aforesaid court to be affixed this 12th May 1818.

J. Moss

James Kilkenny of the said county of August being also sworn saith that the above-named Francis Mathews left with him some time since sundry papers relative to the services of the said Mathews in the revolutionary War; that amongst these papers was one signed by a Capt. Reed purporting
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to be an honorable discharge given to the said Mathews and stating the time of his service, which this affiant cannot now recollect but thinks it was some years. This affiant afterwards returned these papers to the said Mathews who informs him that they have been lost. This affiant has known the said Mathews for some years past - has frequently heard him speak of his revolutionary services & believes him to be a man of truth.

Sworn to before me the 13th day of May 1818

Jn Brown
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In reply to your request of blank received blank for a statement of the military history of Francis Mathews a soldier of the revolutionary war you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this bureau.  S. File 38178

Dates of Enlistment or Appointment - May 12, 1779
Length of Service - to Sept 17, 1782
Rank - Private
Officers under whom service was rendered - Capt. Gray and John Reed and Col Adams
State - MD

Note: Wounded in left thigh while serving in a row galley on the Chesapeake & was detained in Hosp at Annapolis sometime.

Battles engaged in - Attacked by British vessel in Chesapeake Bay
Residence of soldier at enlistment - Ent at Old Town, Maryland
Date of application for pension - May 12, 1818 allowed
Residence at date of application - August Co, VA
Age at date of application - about 60 yrs.
Remarks: Wife was 3 yrs his junior name not stated - no child referred to
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38178
Revy
INVALID

File No 38178
Francis Matthews
Pri Rev War

Act: 18 March '18

Index Vol 2 Page 274
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1911, Apr 5 - History to Wm B Mathews
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State of west Virginia
Supreme Court of Appeals
Charleston

Judges
L. Judson Williams - President
Henry Brannon
George Poffenbarger
William N. Miller
Ira E Robinson
WM B Mathews - Clerk

March 30, 1911

Pension Office, 
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen:

Francis Mathews of the Maryland line was a revolutionary soldier pensioned January 7, 1819, application made May 12, 1818, age 76 years. See Augusta County, Virgnia, Pensioners page 40, Virginial Pension Roll, published 1834. Please furnish me all the information concerning this pensioner on file in your office. I am especially desirous of knowing whether or not he had a son by the name of Thomas Mathews, of Queen Anne's County Maryland.

Very respectfully

Wm B Mathews

WBM/D.