Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6796, Elijah Dickenson, Va.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE: Va.
Dickenson, Elijah
NUMBER: S. 6796
carded
CONTENTS
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[Page 1]
Date of death not in A. B.

[Page 2]
12.703
12705
Virginia
_________
Elijah Dickenson of Floyd Co in the State of Va who was a Private in the Compy commanded by Captain Crockett of the Rgt. commanded by Col. Christie in the Va line for six months.
_______________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 20. Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
_______________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of May 1833 and sent to Wm Goodson, Floyd. CH, Va.
_______________________
Floyd Co
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833.-        40.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 73.  10.00
                                                              $50.00
Recorded by Wm R Palmer Clerk,
Book E. Vol. Six. Page 6.
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Virginia State
County of Floyd} S.S.
On this 15th day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the County Court of Floyd now Sitting Elijah Dickenson a resident of the County and State aforesaid aged 77 years, 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 June 7th 1832.
that he entered the service of the United States under the following named Officers, and Served as herein stated. That he entered the said Service as a private soldier in a Regiment of Militia raised in the part of Virginia in which he now resides for the purpose of marching against the Cherokee Indians then settled on the Tennessee River, this Regiment was Commanded by Colo Christie, who resided in what was then Botetant, afterwards Montgomery, and now Floyd County the Company to which the Claimant belonged was Commanded by Capt Hugh Crocket, and was called Christies life guards, Samuel Eason was its Lieutenant, and Joshua Mastin its Ensign, The Claimant cannot remember, the day or the year when this his first Term of Service Commenced, he is wholly uneducated and consequently could never have the assistance of any written memoranda, The month however is better impressed on his memory which he feels quite sure was August. Colo Christies force was augmented by another Compy. commanded by a Colo Lewis, of Botetant, whose Bablismal name he has forgotten but not Colo Andrew Lewis. This united force was further augmented, on its march by a Regiment from North Carolina, which was Commanded by a Colo Wilson at least the claimant is strongly impressed with the belief that that was his name, This Corps, joined us at
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Horse Creek a Stream which was two days March below Long Island in the Holstein River, The expedition then continued its march to the place of its destination on on the Tennessee River, The hostile Indians abandoned their Town on our approach which we destroyed to the number of Seven, This was our only achievement. the swiftness of the Enemy having rendered it impossible to perform any other, after remaining in the Theatre of our ravages, about 20 days we returned and arrived at our homes, The claimant well recollects after the cold weather had set in with much severity but he is sure before Christmas The claimant believes the whole expedition occupied something less than Five months. The claimants second term of service was performed under the Command of Ensign William Hungett. who had orders to lead a Company of Militia to guard two small Forts. on sinking creek a water of New River, this service was effectually performed without any Bloodshed, This company was drafted for a Month and the claimant thinks it was discharged when that period expired. Besides these regular Terms of Service in the Militia the claimant was one of the band of volunteers commanded by Capt. Joseph Rentfro who marched to the relief of one of our Forts. situated on a stream of the Holstein River, and which was then called Westogen, This Company was raised on the borders of Little River, and marched so far as the neighbourhood of the place where Abingdon now stands, when they received information that the Fort to whose relief they were hastening had already received Soldiers, which placed them out of danger. The whole term of their/this Companys actual service did not much exceed a fortnight: The claimant therefore does not claim to have served as a Militia man & Volunteer together in the War of the Revolution more than six months. The claimant ought to have
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stated and now states that his second Term of service was performed as the substitute of One Obadiah Dickenson. In none of these expeditions aforesaid did the Claimant serve with any Regular or Continental Troops, he has no documentary evidence of Service, and knows no one whose Testimony to his services he can procure except Capt Daniel Howell. 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, Sworn to and Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Elijah Dickenson
x his mark

We Benjamin Jowel and Jacob Holms hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with Elijah Dickinson who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 77 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 & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Benjamin Howel
Jacob Helms.
And the Court do 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 Benjamin Howel and Jacob Helms who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents of the County of Floyd, are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I William Goodson Clerk of the County Court of Floyd do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the Said Court in the matter of
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the application of Elijah Dickenson for a pension 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for the County of Floyd. (there being no seal as yet provided for the County Court) this 19th day of December 1832
W Goodson

A true Copy from the Original filed in my Office
Teste
W Goodson F.C.

I George Shelor presiding Justice of the peace for the County of Floyd do hereby Certify that William Goodson whose signature is to the preceding Certificate is Clerk of the County Court aforesaid, duly appointed and qualified according to law. Given under my hand and seal this 1st day of January 1833
George Shelor {Seal}

Elijah Dickenson
declaration for a 
pension
21419
22002
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No 22002
Elijah Dickenson
Va
12.705.
Adm for 6 Months

Goodson
William Goodson Clerk
Floyd County Court
Floyd C.H. - Va.
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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. Those 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, showing the Service of Elijah Dickenson Floyd Co Va
Period when the service was rendered.
Aug
Draft
Subst
Duration of the claimant's service.
Years. 
Months. 1
Days.
less than 5 months
Rank of the claimant.
Pr
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
Capt Crockett
Ens: Hungett
Capt Rentfro
Name and Rank of the General and Field officers.
Col Christie
Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
Country through which he marched.
Va
NC
Place of abode where he entered the service, and age at the present period.
Aged 77.
Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
Traditionary

Served as a Militia & vol not more than 6 months

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER 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
[entire line missing]

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 officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of 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,
County of or District of

On this day of [blank] day of [blank]
personally appeared (a) before [blank]
A.B. a resident (b) of [blank] in the county of
[blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] 
aged (c)  [blank] 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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank] with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following names officers:

Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and the rank and names of his officers) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, 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 [blank]
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 [blank] of the Court of [blank]
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank].
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] & 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 by 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 [blank]  and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank] who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
[blank] years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day 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. [blank]  who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank] and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] 
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank]  Clerk of the Court of [blank]
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank] day of [blank] & 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 alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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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.
Where and nature and 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.
To a Soldier, Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, 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 he 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 whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
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 that 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, or 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 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 services, 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 whom 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
"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 [blank] year [blank] months [blank] days, I served as a [blank]; 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 years
us the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under a
officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; there was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the hold 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 [text missing].
Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper must 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 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 meaner officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from to are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops, The proof required by rule in
(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 &
Dyer Castor
Examr [Examiner] & Clerk
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For beginning of this letter see Wm. Hall, S6944
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 6796, based upon the military service of Elijah
Dickenson. The name Elijah Dickerson, does not appear in the Revolutionary War records of this office.
Elijah Dickenson enlisted in August, the year not given, and served "something less than five months" as private in Captain Hugh
Crockett's company in Colonel Christie's regiment of Virginia militia raised in that part of Virginia which was later Floyd County, and was engaged against the Cherokee Indians. He next served one month as substitute for Obadiah Dickenson (relation not given) in a company of Virginia militia under Ensign William Hungate and was engaged in guarding two small forts on Sinking Creek. He also served about two weeks in Captain Joseph Rentfro's company of Virginia militia and was engaged in aiding a fort on the Holston River.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 15, 1832, at which time he was living in Floyd County, Virginia, and was
seventy-seven years of age.
The papers in this claim contain no data relative to wife and children of the soldier,
Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

[handwritten]

death not on D. B. [arrow points to the word "children"]

See Heilman [arrow points to name Hungate]
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Rev War 
6796
INVALID
File No. 6796
Elijah Dickenson
Prv [Private Rev. War]

Act: June 7th 1832
Index: --Vol. 1st, Page 96

[Arrangement of 1870.]

[handwritten]

1935 Jan. 17 hist. to Hon. John Kee See Wm. Hall
S. 6944 for letter of inquiry  [illegible]