Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14487, for William Smither, Virginia
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Service
Va.
Smither, William
Number
S. 14487
Contents
carded
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7534
7534
Kentucky
7534
William Smither
of Boon Co in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Spencer of the Rgt commanded
by Col Stephens in the Virginia
line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 30 Dollars  Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 25 day of April
1833 and Sent to Hon NM
Johnson Georgetown
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $60.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 15.00
Died May 1, 1835 $73.00
A. B.

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book C
Vol. 7
Page 27
Page 3

from 1777 private
9 months
$30

Wm Smither

Hon R. M. Johnson
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832

State of Kentucky
County of Boone Sct
On this 25th day of February in the year 1833 personally appeared before me Horatio R. Wood a Justice of the peace in and for said county of Boone & state of Kentucky William Smither a resident of said county & state aged seventy eight years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.. viz.. That in the year 1776 or 1777 the time not now exactly recollected he entered the service of the United States in the County of Orange & state of Virginia where he then lived as a private volunteer militia man under Capt. Joseph Spencer (who was afterwards Col Ro't. Spencer -)  He volunteered & join'd said company for six months & served said six months by being march'd to the neighbourhood of Norfolk Va.  & was there in the service & engaged in a battle at the long bridge agst. the british where the British Capt. Fordice & his company was defeated.  he was stationed at that place at least half of the six months & the ballance of the time he was part of the time stationed at Williamsburgh Va. & was generally engaged when not stationary in marching about & guarding the county agt. the enemy & was the greater part of the time under Col. or Genl. Edwd. Stephens of Culpepper County Va.  after performing said six months service he return'd home & was discharged at Caroline Courthouse Va.  He then moved to Spotsylvania County Va. and in about two years afterwards he was drafted to serve a tour of three months under a Capt. Bartlett & served said tour by being march'd to the main army below Williamsburgh not very far from York under Genl. Lafayette soon after which they were all forced to retreat before the Enemy up the Country to Albemarle where
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reinforcements were met, when our troops were enabled to force back the enemy & he went in the pursuit of the British below Williamsburgh when he this affiant term of service expired & he was discharged   this was but a very short time before Cornwallis was taken  when in this service he saw Genl. Washington & other officers of distinction - soon after he this affiant return'd home  He moved to Kentucky & perform'd no other service except agst. the Indiana on the frontier in Ky-

That he has no documentary evidence and that he know of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service - 

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state-

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year afsd. before me Horatio R. Wood  J.P.B.C.

William Smither  [handwritten seal]

Boone County Kentucky
We Jesse Terrill a clergyman residing in the County of Boone and State of Kentucky & William Howlett residing in said county & state also do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Smither who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy eight years of age, that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day & year aforesaid before me.
Horatio R. Wood JPBC

Jesse Terrill  [handwritten seal]
William Howlett [handwritten seal]

And the said Horatio R Wood a Justice of the peace as aforesaid and acting as aforesaid do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department
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that the above named affiant Wm Smither was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. - And also certify that the said Wm Smither the same applicant from bodily infirmity cannot attend court - and it is further certified that it appears to me the Justice afsd. that Jesse Terrill who has signed the foregoing certificate is a clergyman & resident of the said county of Boone and State of Kentucky.  and that William Howlett who has also signd the same is a resident also of said County & state and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit   Given under my hand as afsd. this 25th day of February 1833
Horatio R. Wood  JPBC

Commonwealth of Kentucky
County of Boone  Sctt
I Willis Graves Clerk of the County Court in and for said County of Boone, do hereby certify that Horatio R. Wood Esqr. whose genuine signature is to the above and foregoing certificates is one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the said County of Boone duly commissioned appointed and qualified and he is also a Justice of the Boone County Court, which is a court of Record and that full faith and credit is due and should be given to all his official acts.
In Testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand, and affix the seal of my said office hereto this 26th day of February in the year 1833 and 41st year of the Commonwealth.
Willis Graves Clk
[SEAL]
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March 24, 1934

WILLIAM SMITHER
S. 14487
BA-J/MLB

Mr. F. W. Sydnor
3320 North Avenue
Richmond, Virginia

Dear Sir:

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 14487, based upon the Revolutionary War service of William Smither. The date of his birth and names of his parents are not shown in the claim.

While residing in Orange County, Virginia, he enlisted early in the Revolution and served six months as a private in Captain Joseph Spencer's company, Colonel Edward Stevens' Virginia regiment, was in the battle at the Long Bridge near Norfolk. He then moved to Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and about two years afterward enlisted and served a tour of three months in Captain Bartlett's Virginia company, and was discharged a short time before the surrender of Cornwallis; exact dates of service not given.

After the Revolutionary War, the soldier moved to Kentucky where he performed service against the Indians on the frontiers of that state.

William Smither was allowed pension on acct of his Rev. War ser., on his application executed  February 25, 1833, at which time he was aged seventy-eight years and residing in Boone Country, Kentucky.

He died May 1, 1835.

There are no data in the claim relative to soldier's family.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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14487

INVALID.

Rev War

File No. 14,487
William Smither
Priv. Rev. War

Act: June 7th, 1832

Index:--Vol. 1, Page 348

[Arrangement of 1870]

1917, Dec. 28. History to Mrs. Wm. G. Smither

1932, Nov 26. Hist. to Mrs Harry Skinner --  MLB

1934. Mar 24. Hist. to Mr. F. W. Sydnor
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In reply to your request of ____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of William Smither a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR&lt; you will find below the desired information as contained in his [marked out: (or his widow's)] application for pension of file in this Bureau.  S. F. 14,487.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  |  STATE.
1775  |  6 MOS.  |  Pvt.  |  Captain Joseph Spencer |  Colonel Edwd. Stevens  |  Va.
1780 or 1781  |  3 mos.  | ___ |  Bartlett

The above is the only William Smither found in the Pension records of this Bureau.

Battles engaged in, Long Bridge
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Orange Co Va at 1st enlistment Spotsylvania Co, Va. at 2nd enlistment
Date of application for pension, Feb. 25, 1833, His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Boone Co., Ky.
Age at date of application, 778 yrs. He died May 1, 1835.
Remarks:  There is no data relative to family.  For the date of last paymt of his pension and person to whom said paymt was made, address the Auditor for the Interior Dept. wash. D.C. giving the following data:  William Smither, Cert 7534, issued April 5, 1833, at $30 per an from Mch 4, 1831, under Act of June 7, 1832, Kentucky Agency.
Respectfully, 
Commissioner.

(Battle referred to was in 1775.)

)Date of death taken from Agency Book)
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March 24, 1934.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/ady

Mr. F. W. Sydnor
3320 North Avenue
Richmond, Virginia

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War records of William Smither and William Smithey, also the War of 1812 record of Edmund Smither who gave bond on November 25, 1813 in Essex County,
for his marriage with Margery Mahon, in 1821 moved to Richmond, and for whose two orphan children, Robert G. and Arena H. Smither, one Blair Bolling was appointed guardian in December 1832.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon service of the above named Edmund Smither. Such claims are the source of War of 1812 data furnished by this office.

The records of the two Revolutionary War pensioners William Smither and William Smithy are furnished you herewith as found in the respective claims for pension based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.
\Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator,
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PHONE CLAY 862

H. O. SKINNER & CO.
139-141 EAST SHORT STREET
RADIATORS, STARTERS AND GENERATORS, BATTERIES, HORNS, LIGHTS
CARBURETORS, SPEEDOMETERS, OIL FILLERS AND SPARK PLUGS
ALEMITING AND WASHING
LEXINGTON, KY.

Nov 12, 1932.

Secy. of Pensions

My dear Sir.
Will you please send me any information you may have concerning the two following names.
I. William Smithers list of pensions 1835.
II. William Smither, a private in Virginia malitia [sic] on pension roll Apr 25, 1833 commenced Mch 4. 1831.
Sincerely
Mrs. Harry Skinner
146 Bell Court E.
Lexington

[ink stamp:  RECEIVED NOV 16 1932]
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Richmond, Va.
Dec. 18. 1917.

Hon. G. M. Saltzgaber

Dear Sir,

I am trying to gain all possible knowledge of the following ancestors of my husband in hopes of establishing a membership in the D. A. R. Society for my daughter.  Through your kindness I have already established one clear line, and I will be able to dig them out and place their names on the D. A. R. Roll of
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Revo.
Sec 
m

Honor.

William [interlineated: only one in files] Smither, private in Virginia Militia, serving in Kentucky.  He received a pension, and must have been about seventy nine or eighty years old when he made application for it.  If any other person than himself drew his pension, I would like to learn their names, also when it ceased.  I think he made application about 1831, '83.
Thomas Vaughan, private in John Camps Co, belonging to the First Va. State Regt. commanded by Col. George Gibsons.
Thomas Wilson, Lieutenant in Va. State Lines for three years service.
Thanking you for you interest & information,
I am
yours truly
Mrs. W. G. Smither.
1808 Barton Ave.
Richmond, Va.
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November 26, 1932

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
William Smithers, S. 17682
William Smither, S. 14437
BA-J/MB

Mrs. Harry Skinner
146 Bell Court East
Lexington, Kentucky

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter of November 12, relative to William Smithers and William Smither, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
You are furnished herein the records of the only soldiers of those names found in the Revolutionary war records of this office.
WILLIAM SMITHERS, S. 17682
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 17682, based upon the Revolutionary War service of William Smithers,
He was born December 22, 1741, in Stafford County, Virginia; the names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Stafford County, Virginia, he enlisted, date not stated, and served three tours of two months each as a private in the Virginia troops, under Captain Lee Colonels George Stubblefield, McWilliams and Chew; a part of the time he was engaged in guarding prisoners from York to Winchester.
After the Revolutionary war, the soldier lived for some time in Stafford County, Virginia, then moved to Franklin County, Kentucky, where he resided for about twenty-two years, thence to Indiana.
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He was allowed pension on his application executed October 4, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Lawrenceburg Township, Dearborn County, Indiana.
William Smithers died May 14, 1833.
No reference was made in the claim to wife or children.
In 1832, Reuben Smithers or Smothers and Catherine Smothers or Smithers, residents of Lawrenceburg Township, Indiana, made affidavit in the soldier's claim for pension, but did not state relationship.
****

WILLIAM SMITHER, S. 14487
The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 14487, based upon the Revolutionary war service of William Smither. The date of his birth and names of his parents are not shown in the claim.
While residing in Orange County, Virginia, he enlisted early in the Revolution and served six months as a private in Captain Joseph Spencer's company, Colonel Edward Stevens' Virginia regiment, was in the battle at the Long Bridge near Norfolk. He then moved to Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and about two years afterward enlisted and served a tour of three months in Captain Bartlett's Virginia company, and was discharged a short time before the surrender of Cornwallis; exact dates of service not given.
After the Revolutionary War, the soldier moved to Kentucky where he performed service against the Indians on the frontiers of that state.
He was allowed pension on his application executed February 25, 1833, at which time he was residing in Boone County, Kentucky, aged seventy-eight years.
William Smither died May 1, 1835.
There are no data in the claim relative to soldier's family,
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator

-2-
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Richmond, Virginia,
3320 North Avenue,
February 23, 1934.

Veterans Adm'r, Bureau,
Washington, D. C.

Sir:

Kindly favor with the pension records of the following two men, in order that I may endeavor to identify the one in whom I am interested.
Pensions, Vol 3.
Boone Co. Ky., Wm. Smither, Priv. Apr 25, 1833, age 79.
Woodford Co. Ky., Wm. Smithey. Sept 6, 1833, age 85.
Very truly yours,
F. W. Sydnor,
F. W. Sydnor

3320 North Ave.,
Richmond, Va.
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Richmond, Virginia,
3320 North Avenue,
February 23, 1934.

Veterans Administration Bureau.
Washington, D. C.

Sir:

The Virginia Muster Rolls, War 1812, (published ) page 469, we find that one EDMUND SMITHER served in the company of Capt. Wm. Hutcheson, 9th Regt., Lt. Col. Wm. Boyd, 7th to 17th April,1813, 2nd to 10th Dec. 1814.

Not to be confused with EDMOND SMITHEY, Sergeant, in Capt. Thomas Hoskin's Company, 9th Regt., who served under the same Lt. Col. and for the same period. ( p 448 )

The writer desires to know if the heirs of the aforesaid Edmund Smither received a pension. This man was a resident of Essex County, Va., and resided on property that adjoined the county line between Essex and King & Queen counties which probably accounts for his serving in a Regt. from the latte county.

25 November, 1813 Edmund Smither gave bond in Essex county for his marriage with Margery Mahon, surety Robert Hill. In 1821 he moved to the City of Richmond, and in December 1832 Blair Bolling was appointed guardian to the two orphan children of the aforesaid Edmund Smither.

The two orphans (and only children) were Robert G. Smither and Arena H. Smither.

The name of Edmund Smither is also found as Edmund P. Smither in some of the records.

While I am of the opinion that he did not serve long enough to justify a claim for pension for the orphans, I shall greatly appreciate your prompt advice on what your files avail on the subject.
Very truly yours,
F. W. Sydnor
F. W. Sydnor

3320 North Ave.,
Richmond, Va.

Ga
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Free
Rh. W Johnson

Col. J. L. Edwards
Pension office
War Dept
City of Washington


[?]
Mar 29, 1833
Page 19

Col Edwards I now enclose you the papers in 2 cases I am personally acquainted with the applicants and you may rely with confidence upon their statements & that of the witnesses they are all in my district. I shall leave home for Boon [sic] County where they reside on the 4th Monday in April.
I should be entirely obliged if you could let me have an ans'r in each case by that time to carry with me.
I have to day red the Certificate in the case of Edmond Moris. I wish to hear from [?} Gilpins & other cases left with you as soon as possible.
your friend
Rh M Johnson
28th March

[in margin:  Mills Wilkes one of these cases is that of an Invalid and has been handed to me]