Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6822, Moses Epps, Va.
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Service: Va
Epps, Moses
Number: S. 6822
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Virginia 12.945
Moses Epps
of Halifax in the State of Virginia who was a pri: in the company commanded by Captain Powell of the Regt commanded by Col Flemming in the Virginia line for 6 months.
Inscribed on the roll of Virginia at the rate of 20 Dollars _ Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of June  '33 and sent Wooson Hughes, Halifax C. H. Va.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33  - 40
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept '33 - 10
$50
[Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk Book E Vol. 6 - Page 7
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Virginia Halifax County towit:
On this 27th day of May 1833 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the County Court
of Halifax now sitting Moses Epps a resident of the county aforesaid aged seventy six 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 7th 1832. That he was drafted and entered the service of the
State of Virginia as a private on the first day of January in the year 1781 in the County of Halifax and
State of Virginia, in a Company under the Command of Captain Joshua Powell, and Leutenant Charles
Womack which said Company belonged to a Regiment under the command of Colonel Fleming, he
marched from the County of Halifax through Charlotte Prince Edward &c to a place called Cabin point, thence to Smithfield in the County of Isle of Wight where he was attached to a Corps under the command of General Muhlenburg. He remained at
Smithfield in service untill the 10th
 of the ensuing April. He then received a written discharge from Capt.
Rich’d Gaines and returned home. The length of time which he was on this tour was three months and ten days.
He was drafted again in the first of July of the same year aforesaid, and marched from the said County as a private in a company under the command of Capt. John Faulkner, and which belonged to a Regiment commanded by Colo. Peter Rogers; to Cabin Point aforesaid through the same country as aforesaid. He marched from Cabin Point to Newsomes Old Field, where he remained a short time, thence
directly to Little York, and when he arrived there he was placed under the command of Colo Maryweathers (or Meriwether), and joined the troops commanded by General George Washington, and served untill the 28th
 of October 1781, soon after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. He was at
York
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in service at the surrender of Cornwallis. He rec’d a discharge from this tour from Capt. Jno
Faulkner This tour of service was three months and twenty eight days.
Questions by the Court. Where and in what year were you born?
I was born in Halifax Virginia in the year 1757.
Have you any record of your age?
I have none that I can now find but kept one for many years.
Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and
where do you now live?
I have lived in the County of Halifax Virginia my whole like [sic].
How were you called into service?
I was drafted both times.
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 service?
I recollect now no officers or companies with whom I served except one Commanded by Capt Charles
Wall of Halifax County Virginia. For the circumstances &c the most important are detailed in my
declaration.
Did you receive discharges from the service if so by whom were they given and what have become of
them?
I rec’d a discharge from my first tour of duty from Capt Rich’d Gaines and my second from Capt John
Faulkner and not knowing that they could ever be of any service to me I did not preserve them.
State the names of some of the persons to whom you are known in your neighbourhood and who can
testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a
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soldier of the revolution.
Thomas Clardy, Lewis Haley, and John Dunkley are well acquainted with me and served with me in the Revolutionary war, and who will testify to my service.
and the said Moses Epps hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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.
Moses Epps [signature]
 Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states.
I Samuel Williams clerk of the county court of Halifax do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Moses Eggs for a pension.
In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 28th day of May 1833. 
Samuel Williams
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No 21990
Moses Epps Va

Return j-(january)
Admit as private
Amt. $20

Woodson Hughes
Halifax C.H

[[crossed out]] Samuel Williams Clerk [[/crossed out]]

Halifax County Court Va.
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
11. May - 1833

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 Moses Epps. Halifax Co Va

[11-COLUMNED TABLE]

| Period when the service was rendered. | Duration of the claimant's service. Years. | Duration of the claimant's service. Months. | Duration of the claimant's service. Days. | Rank of the claimant. | Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. | Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. | Battles in which the applicant was engaged. | Country through which he marched. | Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. | Evidence by which the declaration is supported. | 

| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |  --- | --- | --- | --- | 

| Draft 1780 Jan 1st | Discharged about 10th April 1780 | Prv | Capt Powell | Col -. Flemming | None | Va. | Aged 76 Halifax Co Va | Traditionary Living [?] | (Writing?)

| Draft July 1781 | Discharged last Oct. | Prv | Capt Faulkner | Col -. Rogers | - | Va |   |    |

Each term of Service was tally three months

111 .10
. 111
[/11-COLUMNED TABLE]

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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3

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 of 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 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 a 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 precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words: (HANDWRITTEN BRACKET AROUND THIS PARAGRAPH)
      "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 _______; 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 in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, 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 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.
(HANDWRITTEN BRACKETS) 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.
(HANDWRITTEN BRACKETS) [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. (NEXT PART UNDERLINED) The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, (END UNDERLINE) and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
(SYMBOL OF POINTING FINGER) The notes from [a] to [i] 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. (HANDWRITTEN BRACKET)
       [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. (HANDWRITTEN BRACKET)
(SIGNATURE)        Dyer Custor   (ILLEGIBLE) Clerk
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Rev War

6822
INVALID

File No. 6822
Moses Epps
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th 32
Index:--Vol 1st, Page 115

[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Halifax County towit:
This day John Dunkley a person of credibility and truth personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the county of Halifax and made oath that Moses Epps of said county was a revolutionary soldier and served a tour of duty with him at Little York in a company under the command of Capt. John Faulkner, that he was present at that place when Lord Cornwallis surrendered himself and his army to General Washington and that the said Moses Epps was honourably discharged from the service at that place about the last of October 1781. Given under my hand this 17th day August 1832.
W. Bailey

Virginia Halifax county to wit:  Thomas Clardy one of my neighbours and I believe a very respectable person this day came before me one of the commonwealths Justices of the peace for the county aforesaid and made oath that Moses Epps & himself in the year 1781 was drafted in the militia of this state and served a tour of duty for three months under the command of Captain Joshua Powell of this county and Captain Richard Gaines of Charlotte county (Capt Powell having died) and was attached to the Brigade commanded by General Muhlenburg that they were together at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at the seize of Little York and was discharged at Portsmouth in this state. Given under my hand and seal this 10th August 1832.
Willliam Faulkner seal
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Halifax County Act:  This day Lewis Haley a person of credibility and truth, of the County Halifax and state of Virginia personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the said county and state aforesaid and made oath that Moses Epps was a revolutionary soldier and served a tour of duty with me in a company of militia from the said county under the command of Capt. Joshua Powell and that the said Moses Epps was honourably discharged at the Burst Mills in Isle of Wight County in the month of 
Apl 1781. Given under my hand this 27th day of August 1832. 
W. Bailey J.P.

I Samuel Williams Clerk of the county court of Halifax do hereby certify that the forgoing is a correct copy of the affidavits filed in my office, and I do also certify that William Bailey and William Faulkner before whom the above affidavits of John Dunkley Lewis Haley and Thomas Clardy were taken are Justices of the peace for the said county and that the signatures to the originals are their genuine signatures.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of our said county at my office this 28th day of May 1832.
Samuel Williams
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Name Epton, Benjamin  Grade Private 
Lives New York

Warrant Number 7095 and Wt. 7901
Acreage 100 
Issued Dec. 10, 1789 to C.F. Weissenfels, assignee