Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16034, Joel Arthur, Va.
Page 1

(3-1776)
           SERVICE                                NUMBER


       Va.                  Arthur, Joel          S.16034

_______________________________________carded____
Page 2

                  Ohio        19755
____________________________________________________
                    Joel Arthur

of Jackson Co., in the State of Ohio--
who was a private in the Comp. commanded
by Captain Trigg- of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Maryweathers in the Virginia
live for 7 1/2 mos:

               $ 23.33                 $50--
                    166                    12.50
                $25--                    $62.50
___________________________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio
the rate of 25 Dollars-----Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
__________________________________________
                 [faintly written-Agency book 17th]
Certificate of Pension issued the 16 day of Sep:
1833--- ___________-and  Surtto D. Hoffman
                                      Clk. Jackson Co.
____________________________________________________
Arrears to the 4th of Sep. '33                $ 62.50
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Ma.'36       12.50
                                                               $75.00
                                      {Revolutionary Claim}
                                      {Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by    Go. C. Stiles           Clerk,
Book   E.     Vol.   8.     Page   1.
Page 3

     Declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832
State of Ohio}
Jackson County}  on this 19th day of 
Sept. 1832, personally appeared in Open 
Court, before the Judges of the Court of Common
 Pleas now setting, Joel Arthur a
resident of Jefferson Township in Jackson 
County, Ohio. Aged about seventy one years
 of age 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 7, 1832.
           That he entered the service of the 
United States under the following named officers
and served as herein stated-that some
time in the year 1780 when he resided 
in Bedford County Virginia he was drafted
in a Militia Company Commanded 
by Captain John Trigg, Lieut. John Davis,
Ensign Willliam Hancock, under the Command
 of Genl. Muhlenburg, Col. Maryweather,
Major McClure.  That they
marched from Bedford County to Portsmouth
Va,, where he thinking he served 
four months, when he was discharged
which discharge has since been lost
by time or accident.  That sometime
in the [year-crossed out] month of June 1781 at 
Bedford County aforesaid where he still
resided, he was drafted in the company
of Militia commanded by Capt
Thomas Leftridge & under the Command
of Major Overstreet, that he marched
through Richmond thence stationed
between Little York & Norfolk, until
sometime in the month of September,
following he thinks he served 3 1/2
 months at which time he was disch
Page 4

-arged which discharge [was-crossed out] has also been
lost by time and accident that during all
these period he was in no considerate
battle.  That he has no documentary
evidence of his said services and that
he knows of no person living whose testimony
he can procure, who can testify to his
services.
      He hereby relinquished every 
claim whatever to a Pension or
annuity accept the present, and
declares that his name is not on the
Pension roll of the agency of any State
That he was born in Bedford County
Va   He has no record of his age, that
he resided in Bedford Co., Va. until
about thirty years since when he
moved to Greenbriar County Va where 
he resided about ten years, when 
he moved to Jackson County, Ohio 
where he now resides & where he has
resided about twenty years.
                                     his
                                Joel X Arthur
                                     mark
Sworn to & subscribed in
open court this 19th day
of September A. D. 1832
D. Hoffman Clerk
State of Ohio
Jackson County}  on this 19th Day of Sept.
A.D. 1832 personally appeared before the Judges
of the court Amos Jenkins [Theophilius Blake a clergyman- crossed off]
residing in this [county-crossed off] Township of Jefferson in Jackson County and [Joseph Horton-crossed off] Benjamin Arthur residing in the same
place who after being duly sworn & certify that they are well acquainted with Joel Arthur who has
subscribed & sworn to the above declaration 
that they believe him to be seventy one 
years of age & that he is reputed and
Page 5

          believed in the neighborhood where he resides
          to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and
          that we concur in that opinion.
                                               his
                                      Amos  X Jenkins
                                               mark
                                               his
                                       Benj. X Arthur
                                               mark
Sworn & subscribed in
open Court this 19th Sept.
A. D. 1832
   Daniel Hoffman  Clerk

                                       Interogations by the Court
Question   Where and in what year were you born
Answer     I was born in the County of Bedford Va
                 in the year of our Lord 1761 as I am   
                  informed                                                                            
Question  have you any record of your age if so when 
                 is it
Answ         I have no written record of my age
Question    Where were you living when called into
                 service and where have you lived since the 
                  revolutionary war and where do you now live                            
Answ        At the time I entered the service I lived in                 
                 the County of Bedford Va, and resided there
                  sometime after the Revolutionary War and
                  then moved to the County of Greenbriar Va
                  from which place I moved to the County of 
                   Jackson Ohio were I now live                                     
 Question    How were you called into service, were
                    you drafted, did you volunteer or were                            
                    you a substitute and for who
Ans              when I entered the service I was Drafted
Question      did you ever receive a discharge from
                   the service if so by whom was it given and
                    what has become of it
Answ.          I had a discharge [at the end of-crossed
                   off] for each tour of service performed by 
                    me one by Co. Maryweather & one by                                                        
                     Maj Overstreet, both of which have bee
                    lost by time or accident
Page 6

Jackson Coun. Pleas    September Term 1832
 This day came into Court Joel Arthur
an applicant for the benefit of the Act for 
the relief of Certain surviving Officers and
soldiers of the Revolution and filed his
Declaration to obtain the benefit of the
Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832
                      And the said Court
do hereby declare this opinion after the 
investigation of the matter and after putting
interogatories prescribed by the War 
Department that the above named applicant 
was a revolutionary soldier and
served as he states.
                         And the Court further
Certifies that it appears to them that
Amos Jenkins and Benjamin Arthur
who have signed the preceding certificate
are residents in neighborhood of the
applicant and are creditable persons
and that their statement is 
entitled to credit.                 [written sideways- Joel Arthur
                                                   Pension Declarations]

The State of Ohio Jackson County   SS
                            I Daniel Hoffman Clerk 
of the Court of Common Pleas of the County
of Jackson said state aforesaid, do certify
that the foregoing containing the original
Proceeding of the said Court in the matter
of the application of Joel Arthur for a
pension.
                     In testimony whereof I have hereunto
                   set my hand and seal of Office this
                   22nd Day of September  A,D. 1832            
                                          Daniel Hoffman Clerk
Page 7

   No. 25795


Joel Arthur Jackson County Ohio


Adm   7. months  &
15 days.







Danl Hoffman Clk Jackson
County Ohio
Page 8

                                                                 WAR DEPARTMENT,
                                                    
                                                                                  Pension Office,

                                                                                                                                       183
Sir:

                       The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.     The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form.       On comparing these papers with the following rules and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed.         The notes and the regulations will show what is
necessary to be done.  these points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace,     (thus: } ).            You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them: and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of  your claim.      
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
               A Statement, shewing the Service of Joel Arthur      Jackson County Ohio             
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Period when      Duration of the           Rank of         Names and rank of         Age             Proof by which                    
the service            claimant's                    the              the Field officers    at present,          the declaration
was rendered.        service.                   claimant.         under whom he       and place          is supported.
                        Years.  Months. Days.                                 served.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                Genl Muhlenburg
Drafted 1780       -         4          -           Privt          Cap Trigg. Colonel        71 years            Traditionary 
                                                                                Maryweather, Major     Bedford               evidence, papers
                                                                                 McClure,                      County                 correct
                                                                                                                      Virginia

Draft June 1781  -          3         15           "               Cap Leftridge, 
                                                                               Major Overstreet





                                                              I am, respectfully,
                                                                    Your obedient servant,
                                                                          J. L. EDWARDS,
                                                                              Commissioner of Pensions.
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                                                                      2
                                         REGULATIONS UNDER THE THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

       The following regulations have been adopted:
        This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army-and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers, "all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c.  Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
          Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
                        1.  The Regular Troops.
                         2.  The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
                         3.  Persons employed in the Naval Service.
                         4.  Indian Spies.
          As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officer, musicians, or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record in the County where such applicant resides.  And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
                                                   DECLARATION,
               In order to obtain, the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
                                  State, Territory, or District of}
                                        County of                       }    ss.
                   On this              day of                personally appeared; (a)  before:
      A.B.  a resident (b) of                  in the county of                     and State, Territory or District
of             aged (c)                  years, who being duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832.  That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year
 (d)                , with              and served in the           (e) regiment of the             line under the following named officers:
                  [Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time
                    he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, 
                   he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers; )  the
                   town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the 
                   battles, if an, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched.
                   *This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]  
        He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of    
         Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.                           A. B.                
                         [And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
        And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
          I                                   of the Court of                                      do hereby certify  (h)  that the
foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court in the matter of the application of                         for a pension.
                 In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office (i) this
                                 day of                                                    &c
       If on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
       Every applicant who claims a pension b virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers, or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
      (k)  We, A. B., a Clergyman. residing in the                              and C.D. residing in  (the same) Hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with                     , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be                             years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.    
                            Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
       [and then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
        And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states.  And the Court, further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. and that C. D. who has also signed the same is a resident on the                             and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
       I,                                    Clerk of the Court of                          do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said Court, in the matter of the application of                        for a pension.
                                     In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
                                                of office, this                        day of                            &c.
         Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power.  This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
       If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration, (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 10

                                                                   3

alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and 
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
     The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
     1.  Where and in what year were you born?
     2.  Have you any record or your age, and if so, where is it?
     3.  Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war and where do you now live?
    4.  How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
    5.  State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served;
such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
     6.  To a Soldier.  Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and is so, by who was it given, and    
                                  what has become of it?
                                Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it given and what has
                                 become of it?
           To an Officer.  Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
                                  has become of it?
      7.  State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
     The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
     The applicant will further produce in Court,  if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons-one of who should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, form their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
      The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party.  And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
     Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
     Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.    
      No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in the case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such service, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

                             _________________________________________________________________

        {a}  The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
        {b}   The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides.  If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
        {c}    The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
        {d}   The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
        {e}    Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under who he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must state, 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 amount of pension he is entitled.  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."
     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 that they served two months in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of declaration is highly objectionable.  It must, in every 
case, be clearly shown 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.
        {f}  The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
        {g}  The opinion of the Court is always required.
        {h}  The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
        {i}   The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
                                                         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 papers 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.
                                                          Proof of Service.
        {j}  In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimant's 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.
             *  The notes from {a} to {l} are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.   The proof required by rule in note {j} applies to continental troops only.
          {k}  This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
          {l}    If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
         {m}  The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 11

     In reply to your request of _______________, received_______________
for a statement of the military history of Joel Arthur
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his [words crossed out] application for pension 
on file in this Bureau.                 S. File 16, 034
__________________________________________________________________________________________   
Dates of                                                 OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE        
enlistment or       Length of     Rank.              WAS RENDERED.                                State.
appointment.        service.                       Captain                Colonel

      1780               4 mos.                     John Trigg               Merriwether                     Va
June 1781          3 1/2 "                     Thomas Leftwich     Major Overstreet
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Battles engaged in, ________________________________________________________________________
Residence of soldier at enlistment, __________Bedford Co., Va.______________________________
Date of application for pension, ______Sept. 17, 1832.   His claim was allowed,______________
Residence at date of application,____ Jefferson Twp., Jackson Co. Ohio._____________________
Age at date of application,   ____born in 1761 in Bedford Co., Va.___________________________
     Remarks: ___he resided in Bedford Co. until about 1802 when he removed____________
____to Greenbrier Co., Va. for about 10 years. & thence to Jackson Co., Ohio__________
________________________Ther is no family data on file.______________________________________

                                 Respectfully,

                                            Death not shown.
6-285G                                                                   Commisioner.
Page 12


[left column]

P       16034                                    
     INVALID                                            
___________________________________
[illegible] No.     16034

Joel Arthur

Pri    Rev   War
____________________________________

Act:    June 7" 32

Index:-   Vol. 1   ,   Page   11


[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right column]

1920  Jany. 9, History to Mrs.
  E. S. Moss.  F.
Page 13

                  Rev Sec

M[written over]  Allisters Melcer

Joel Arthur-  p- 622
age 83-  living in 1835
         at
Jackson Ohio-
Pensioner residing out of Va
whose pension was granted 
for services in Virginia.
The place of his residence in
Virginia was either Bedford
County or Franklin Co.
The latter taken from Bedford
County=

Mrs. E. S. Moss
Williamsburg
Whitley Co
Ky.  

   Letter of transmittal 
     Dec. 26, 1919