Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,568, James Bryant, Va.
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SERVICE NUMBER
Va. Bryant, James. S. 31,568
Ruth. B.L. Wt. 24,505-160-55
CONTENTS
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2611
Indiana

James Bryant
Monroe Co in the State of Indiana
who was a private in the com commanded
Captain Shaw of the regt commanded by Col Washington in the Virginia
line for 9 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana
at the rate of 30 Dollars - Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7 day of April
1834 and Hon J.  D. Kinward H R

Arrears to the 4th of March                 $90.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept       15.00
                                                           _________
                                                             $105.00

{  Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act June 7, 1832. }

Recorded by Ian Boyd  Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 7  Page 106

Let. to Wm C. Hilles 17 May 51
W. E. Dittemore Jany 15 / 58
Hon. John G. Davis Jan 28 / 58.




205752
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30. 255

James Bryant

Ind

for Feb 1781 to
surrender of Cornwallis Oct
1781 9 months
$30


can only allow above


Hon. G A. Kinner
H R
Page 4

( 1 )

1753

State of Indiana }
Morris County } On this tenth day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open Court being a  Court of record before Amory Kinney President Judge of Seventh Judicial Circuit of said State and Abraham P. Buskirk and Stephen P. Seall Associate Judges of the Circuit Court of said County (said court being composed by law of said President & two Associate Judges) now sitting James Bryant a resident of said County on said state aged seventy nine 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 entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein after stated to wit:  And he was born in Amherst County Virginia in the year seventeen hundred and fifty three.
In the Winter of the year seventeen hundred and eighty and seventeen hundred and eighty one or thereabout he was drafted in the Company of Infantry commanded by Captain Shaw his first name forgotten, in the Militia of the State of Virginia.  He was living in Henry County when then called into service.  He was marched under said Captain in the said Service toured the Southern States destined to join General Greene at Guilford Court House in North Carolina.  He was not in any Regiment untill (sic) he arrived at Guilford Court House.  When he with said Company arrived the day after the Battle.  He was a t Guilford ordered with said Company to be attached to Colonel William Washingtons Cavalry and was marched to Brushy Mountain intending to attack a body of Tories.  Being a stranger in the Country he does not retain the names of the Rivers & places except Deep River and Yadkin.  The Tories having gone to Cambden (sic) in S. Carolina we marched thither.  The Tories there have placed themselves under the protection of Lord Rawdon who was entrenched and well fortified.  He was enrolled for three months in the commencement of said tour but he served five months by the orders and request of his Officers.  While in the service he was in & with said Company ordered down on the Wateree against the British Light Horse.  Colonel Washington Commanding.  British he thinks were under Tarlton.  He was discharged near Camden & had 500 miles to tract home.   At Cambden he had the pleasure of coming in individual contact with
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12
a Tory and of having to save his own life by shooting him.  Having wandered into a cane brake to hunt some reeds he suddenly perceived to his left a Tory behind a stump about to shoot at him.  he took a small [illegible] & the Tory fired & [illegible] him.  In turn whilst the Tory was reloading he shot him through the hips, causing him to drop his gun & flee.  When Ordered down against Tarlton as before mentioned They the Americans met the enemy who fled precipitately & retreated.  He received no written discharge.  The Captain promised one but he never got it.  He served faithfully & to the acceptance of his officrs.
Again in a very short time the same year he was drafted for another tour.  Say a few weeks after returning home and entered the said US Service in said County of Henry in the Virginia Militia for three months in the Company of Foot commanded by Captain Bucklin, Colonels name forgotten.  He was then living in said County.  The Majors name was Holcolm & was killed by accident on our march to James Town Virginia.  After crossing James River he was put under the commanded of General Lopen & they were encamped about two days in fifteen miles of James Town.  with General Morgan encamped in front toward the British camps.  General Morgan Attempted to surprise the enemy at James Town & Marched secretly to the attack without informing General Lopen.  To whom the first news was the firing of Morgans troops.  Lopen pushed his command by a forced march to the scene of action  when he reached it General Morgan was retreating after having fought some rounds near the swamp.  General Morgan had divided his troops into two divisions & the British had got between them.  One of which divisions to return to the other forced its passage through the British lines.  The Division of General Morgan which was in front of the British taking his other division as it appeared pushing through the enemies lines to be a column of British fired on their own division & killed many of them before the mistake was discovered  the noise & snoke hindering the discovery from being made sooner.  This Declarant can not state any other circumstances attending this action worthy of a place.  nor any of the names of the enemies or their other officers except those mentioned.  Our Army encamped the night after the engagement near the Battle ground intending to attack
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(3)
a second time but they the British removed & took shipping & in the morning had disappeared....After this engagement General Lopen was permitted to return home & this applicant with said army of Genl. Morgan under his command marched up James River to Morban Hills there they were stationed some weeks and were discharged having faithfully to the acceptance of his officers served said three months and two other additional months.  I received a written discharge which I kept untill it wore out.  He was disbanded at said Morben Hills.  He was five months to a day going to & returning and in said service, and it least four months and two weeks on duty in ranks with him gun on his shoulder daily.  He served in a tour for which he is entitled to pay marching to for a tour of three months whilst living at and from the scenes of war five months. 
Afterwards, a third time he was drafted in Pittsylvania County Virginia and put under the command of Captain James Williams and marched in said company not being in any regement in the service of the United States in the Virginia militia.  He was marched in said company to York Town in Virginia.  When in forty miles, heard the firing of the Battle at that place  He was with other infantry employed.  a captain and sixteen ordered to dislodge some British soldiers from and upon the enemy works.  They shot several rounds.  He was in the seige of York Town he thinks about twenty days  He was within three days or some short time after the close of the seige with his Company sent to guard the prisoners to the Potomac River where they were detained over his time untill men could be raised in Maryland to take charge of said prisoners.  The Dutch prisoners were taken to Fredericktown in Maryland and the English prisoners to Albemarle County the Barrack in Virginia.  
He served said three months fully and all of said tours faithfully and to the acceptance of his officers in the whole time he served including marching [illegible] from & back to his residence fifteen months.  He recived a written discharge near Potomac River from his said Captain Williams which he kept for many years and untill it was worn out.  He has never received one cent of pay for his services.  He has no documentary evidence of any part of his services nor does he know of any person or persons whose testimony of his services he would procure
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(4)
others of his neighbours who could also testify to his reputation in all respects except that of Thomas Livingston and Esther Clendenon and He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
James Bryant  x his mark
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid in open Court of record.

We Jacob B Lowe Michael Buskirk and Banner Brummel residing in the neighborhood of James Bryant who is now an applicant for a pension hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Bryant who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration and that we believe him to be seventy three 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.
JB Lowe
M Buskirk
Banner Brummel
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open Court of record.

Also appeared in open Court Thomas Livingston aged sixty nine years who being first duly sworn according to law states that he was well acquainted with James Bryant now an applicant for a Pension in Pitsylvania County Virginia  that they were raised together  that he has a perfect recollection and knowledge of his said James Bryant entering the service of the United States and departing from home under the officers and being absent during and as he understood and believed and yet believes in said service and tours and his returning therefrom at the times & for the periods as he has stated in his foregoing declaration which he has heard read.
He was not himself in the Army but saw him said James Bryant mustering in the Army.  And further says not.
Thomas Livingston x his mark
Sworn to in open Court of record and subscribed

Also appeared in open Court Esther Clendenon aged about sixty three years who being first duly sworn according to law upon her oath states that she was acquainted with said James Bryant he being her half brother during the revolutionary war.  that she recollects & knows that he was absent from home during the three several tours of service described in this declaration which she has had read to her   She distinctly remembers his entering the service  his departure and returns from said tours.  and believes having so understood from those who knew as well as from the universal belief of the neighborhood when he resided in Pitsylvania County Virginia that
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he was in the service of the United States for and during said tours or period. And further saith not.

Esther Clendenon
Her X Mark

Sworn to in open court of record & then subscribed.

Also 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 said above applicant James Bryant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states. Another court further certifies that it appears to them that Jacob B Lowe, Michale Buskirk and Banner Brummet and Thomas Livingston and Esther Clendenon who have signed the preceding certificates and affidavits or depositions are residents in the neighborhood of said James Bryant and are credible persons and that their statements are entitled to credit.

The court is also of the opinion that said applicant could not procure the certificate of a clergyman (none living in the immediate vicinity) without too much expense and trouble.

Done in Open Court

A Kinney -Pres. Judge 
Abram Buskirk - Associate Judge
S. P. Seall - Associate Judge

 State of Indiana
Monroe County

I Jacob B Lowe clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County in the state of Indiana aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing five pages contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of James Bryant for a pension. Said court being a court of record.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this eleventh day of October 1832.

J B Lowe - Clerk

SEAL
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205752 Act Mar 3 aug 27 55
Ruth Bryant/ wid 
Ruth wid: James Bryant.
James Bryant 
Pri

 No 34505 [illegible] July 14/56
Revolutionary War

Revolutionary Pensioner
Inda June 13 26611

Ad: 160 ac. July 11/56
Boynton

Livingston & Mileur
Milam
Bloomfield
Ind

 Vol. B2-75
Page 10

Bounty Land claim of Ruth Bryant widow of James Bryant
205752
Revolutionary War
Act of 3rd March 1855
Simpton Milam
Atty for applicant
Bloomfield Ind
Page 11

State of Indiana
Owen County

This day personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace within and for the county, Ruth Bryant, a resident of the county of Owen and state of Indiana now about forty-seven years of age as she believes, and being duly sworn according to law on her oath declares she is the widow of James Bryant late of said county deceased who was a revolutionary solder and who died in the receipt of a pension at the rate of thirty dollars per annum & payable on the 4th day of March & September in each and every years during the time of his natural life. That she is wholly ignorant of the nature of his service in said revolutionary war, nor does she know under whom he served or the names of his officers or the length of time he served in said war. She further states that her said husband died in the county of Owen in the state of Indiana on the 3rd day of November 1853. That he was inscribed on the roll of the pension list agency of the state of Indiana and made his last draw of pension on the 4th of Sept 1853 at Madison Indiana. That ever since the death of her said husband she has been a widow and still is a widow. That she was married to the said James Bryant on the 20th day of January 1836 by one Moses Secrest a Justice of the Peace in & for said county and that previous to her said marriage her name was Ruth Dyer.

That she makes this application for the
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purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled to under the provisions of the act of congress of the 3d of March 1855. That she has never made any other application for bounty land under the said act of congress or any other act of congress and refers to the pension papers of her deceased husband now on file in the department in support of her claim.

Ruth Bryant
Her X Mark

Sworn to & subscribed on this 25th day of July 1855.

Christian Yockey - JP SEAL

State of Indiana
Owen County

This day personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for said county James M Barns and Thompson McGuire residents of said & being duly sworn say that they are well acquainted with the said Ruth Bryant & that she is the identical Ruth Bryant mentioned int he preceding application made & subscribed to by her that we were present & saw her sign & swear to the same & that she is the widow of the identical James Bryant mentioned in her said application, who was a revolutionary soldier as stated by her in her said application and that she was a widow on the 3rd day of March 1855 & is still a widow and from her own statements and appearance we know her to be identical person she represents herself to be and also that we are disinterested witnesses and have no interest in this application.

James M Barns
Thomas McGuire
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State of Indiana
Owen County

I Christian Yockey a Justice of the Peace in and said certify the above affidavits of James M Barns & Thomas McGuire were duly sworn to & subscribed by them before me on the 25th day of July 1855. And I also certify that the said Barns and McGuire are personally known to me to be persons of general good character and that their statements are entitled to credit under oath & that I have no interest in this claim.

Given under my hand and seal July 25th, 1855

Christian Yockey - JP SEAL

State of Indiana
Owen County

I Basil Meek Clerk of the Circuit Court of said county certify that Christian Yockey is a Justice of the Peace in and for said county duly commissioned and qualified according to law and by law authorized to administer oaths that his commission was dated January 10th, 1853, and will expire January 10th, 1857, and that his signature above is genuine.

In witness whereof I hereto subscribed my name and affix the seal of said court at office in Spencer August 2nd, 1855.

Basil Meek - Clk

SEAL
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I do certify that I executed the within unit on the 20th day of January AD 1836 Messer Secrest Justice of the Peace
State of Indiana Owen County
I Basil Meek clerk of the Circuit Court of said County Certify that the above is a true copy of the Certificate endorsed on the Marriage License issued to James Bryant & Ruth Dyer, as appears from the Records of Marriage in this office. Witness my hand and the seal of said Court at Spencer July 31st 1855
Basil Meek clerk
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Rev. and 1812 Wars Section MCS/eel
February 7, 1929
Mrs. Ona Bryant Talbot
916 Hume-Mansur Building 
Indianapolis, Indiana
Madam
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary war pension claim, S.31568, it appears that James Bryant was born in 1753 in Amherst County, Virginia. While a resident of Henry County, Virginia, he enlisted in the winter of 1780 and 1781, served five months and was in Captain Shaw's Company in Colonel William Washington's Virginia Regiment; he enlisted in 1781 and served five months in Captain Bucklin's Virginia Company. While a resident of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, her enlisted and served three months in Captain James Williams' Virginia Company and was in the siege of Yorktown. He was allowed pension on his application executed October 9, 1832, while a resident of Monroe County, Indiana. The soldier married, January 20, 1836, in Owen County, Indiana, Ruth Dyer. In July, 1855, she was about forty-
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seven years of age and was living in Owen County, Indiana. There are not further data on file relative to family.
Respectfully,
Winifield Scott Commissioner
Page 17

Left Side Page

31568
Revy INVALID

File No 31568
James Bryant
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7ty '32
Index Vol 2 Page 54
[Arrangement of 1870.]

See B.L. 34505/160/55

Right Side Page

1893 Aug 17 - hist to L.A. Bryant, Harrinson

Mch 10-1902
Judson W Jones sib Liberty Mo

1929 Feb 7 - Hist to Ona Bryant Talbot Personal request

1939 Jan 17 - Hist ot Mrs Harold S Bryant See letter in Zachariah Briant S.16326
Page 18

Gosport Ind. 
Jany 1st 1858

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir
I have placed in my hands for attention the claim of Ruth Bryant the present widow of James Bryant a soldier of the Revolution. Who was drawing a pension annually at the time of his death which occured some five years ago. His widow now comes in for her share of what is coming under the pension act of Congress to her. 
The attorney who was doing the business for her recently died and upon examination of his papers it has been found that there is nothing to do in the above premises but to show up legally than Ruth Bryant was the lawful wife of James Bryant and that they lived together in a peaceful and quiet manner up to the time of the old mans death, and that she is still the widow of said Bryant. 
All of which can be done in a very satisfactory manner. Hoping to hear from you in response to the above. 
I remain Yours Respectfully 

W.E. Ditterman
Address Gosport  County Indiana
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N.B. In order to satisfy you of the correctness of what is herein contained I refer you to the bounty Land Claims where this same Ruth Bryant has obtained a Land warrant she [unintelligible] of while I do not know. [unintellible] & Co W E Dillemore
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34505

No
Page 21

State of Indiana Owen County
Be it known that on this twenty third day of April 1851. personally appeared before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said country duly authorized by law to administer oaths James Bryant and made oath in due form of law, that he is the identical James Bryant who is a Revolutionary pensioner of the United States, that he is now a pensioner on the roll of the Indiana, Madison Agency at the rate of Thirty Dollars per annum, that he believes himself entitled to an increase of pension, an to arrears of pension, and asks for whatever may be found due him under any of the acts or resoltions of Congress, which may be, or are applicable to his code
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Bloomfield Ind
Augt 18th 1855

Comr of Pensions
Dear Sir
Enclosed we
transmit you the claim of Ruth
Bryant widow of James Bryant
decd for bounty Land under act
of 3rd March 1855. Please acknowledge 
the receipt thereof and give
the subject your earliest attention,
Respectfully yours &c
Livingston Milam
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Madison May 9th 1851

JE Heath Esqr
Commissioner of Pension.

Enclosed please find the application of James Bryant for an increase of pension & arears of pension if it is found he is entitled to the same.  Please acknowledge the reciept of this application;  and if any further proof is necessary please inform me in what particular.  Please direct all communications upon the subject to me at Madison Indiana.  Some time ago I forwarded John Shaddy's application for an increase & arears of pension, & have not heard whether it has been recieved or not.  Please write me upon the subject of Shaddy's pension and if other or additional proof in necessary please give me the necessary instructions.  All communications, or applications, forwarded to the department by me I wish the answers & all papers connected therewith sent to me at this place, as it will prevent delays in recieveing the answers.  I directed an application for Nimrod B Grace for bounty land to the department some time last winter since which time I have heard nothing from it.  I recieved his cirtificate granting an increase of pension, but it only granted the increase from the time of his application
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he has been disabled on account of his wounds & disease
for some years, and it is deserving of a full
Pension for several years back if any of the laws of
Congress will authorize it being granted to him
Very Respectfully

Wm C Willis
P.S. Should it be decided that Bryant and Shaddy
are not entitled to an increase & arrears of Pension
Please return their certificate to me at this place
Respectfully
Wm C. Hillis
Page 25

Ho. of Representatives
Washington Jany 26 /58

Hon. Geo. C. Whiting
Commr of Pensions,
Sir
Mrs.  Ruth Bryant, of Owen County
Indiana, Widow of James Bryant deceased filed an
application for a Pension, or arrears of Pension for
the Revolutionary services of her deceased husband.
Her papers were prepared, but her attorney having
died she does not know what has become of them.
Your early attention will oblige
your obt. Servant
Jno. G. Davis
Page 26

Ona Bryant Talbot
916 Hume -Mansur Bldg
Indianapolis, Ind.

James Bryant of Va.

personal request
Page 27

[STAMP]
O.W.& N 
Dec 7 1901
Received.

J.R.W.
Old War and Navy Division.

3-523.

Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C., Nov. 18, 1901

Sir:
In reply to your communication of a recent date, you are informed that this Bureau is unable to furnish a history of the service of any soldier of the Revolutionary war or of the war of 1812 unless he or his widow was a pensioner or an applicant for pension or bounty land;  and that under the rules such a history is furnished only to the soldier's descendants, and to them only when it is desired for historical or genealogical purposes.
The large number of inquiries made on this subject, and the length of time required to make a proper search of the records in each case, will not permit of information being given to any applicant concerning more than two soldiers.
In order that the soldier concerning whom you desire information may be identified, you are request to furnish as much as possible of the data called for below.
Very Respectfully
W. Jay Evans [illegible]
Commissioner.

Mr. Judson W. Jones
Liberty Mo.

Full name of soldier,  Jas Bryant Jr.
Where did he enter service?  Virginia
Under what officers did he serve?
Place of residence after service,
Approximate date of death,
Given name of widow, Jane
Did either the soldier or his widow receive a pension?
Additional information  He was son of Jas Bryant Sr, who lived for a while in Manakintown Va. & father of John Bryant.  I am one of his descendants & am making a family history.
Signature,  Judson W. Jones
Liberty - Clay Co
Mo.

(see over)

[STAMP]
U.S. Pension Office.
C
Dec 4 1901
Page 28

Please give me record of Isaac Bryant
who was wounded in head (or hand) at Guilford
Court House.

I think he served under Capt. Isaac Porter
& Col. Robt. Goode. He was of son of Jas
Bryant Jr. & brother of Jno. Bryant. I think he
enlisted in Va. I don't know if he was married
or how old he was or when he died I don't know
whether he recd a
pension or not.

Respt
& oblige
Judson W. Jones
34505-160-55
Page 29

January 17, 1939
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA - J / MCS
James Bryant, S. 31568
Zachariah Briant, S. 16326

Mr. Harold S. Bryant
Watervliet, R.F.D. 2
New York

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your request for information relative to
Revolutionary War soldiers, James and Zachariah Bryant, of Owen and
Spencer Counties, Indiana, respectively.

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the
pension claim, S.31568, based on the military service of James Bryant.

He was born in 1753 in Amherst County, Virginia. The names of his
parents are not shown.

While a resident of Henry County, Virginia, he enlisted in the
winter of 1780 and 1781, served five months and was in Captain Shaw's
company in Colonel William Washington's Virginia regiment. He enlisted
in 1781 and served five months in Captain Bucklin's Virginia company.
While living in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, he enlisted and served
three months in Captain James Williams' Virginia company and was in the
siege of Yorktown.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 9,
1832, while a resident of Monroe County, Indiana.

James Bryant died on November 3, 1853, in Owen County, Indiana.

He married on January 20, 1836, in Owen County, Indiana, 
Ruth Dyer.
In July, 1855, she was about forty-seven years of age and was living in
Owen County, Indiana. There are no further data on file in this claim
relative to the family of James Bryant.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the
pension claim, S. 16326, based on the military service of Zachariah Briant.
Page 30

The date and place of birth of Zachariah Briant and the names
of his parents are not shown.

While residing in Amherst County, Virginia, he enlisted February
17, 1779, and served two years in Captain James Burton's company
in Colonel Francis Taylor's Virginia regiment and was stationed at
Albemarle Barracks to guard the British prisoners. A short time after
the expiration of this service, he enlisted in Captain Meeky's company
for "during the war" and was on furlough at the cessation of hostilities

In 1800 he moved from Amherst County, Virginia, to Kentucky and
lived in Mercer and Washington Counties until sometime in 1818, when he
moved to Davies County, Kentucky, where he was living when he was
allowed pension on his application executed October 11, 1833.  When he
applied for pension he was sixty-seven years of age,

In 1837 he had moved to Spencer County, Indiana, and stated that
most of his family resided there, but did not give any names.

In 1837, James Bryant or Briant was Justice of the Peace in Spencer
County, Indiana, no relationship shown.

It was stated that a John Briant served in the Revolution, two years
beginning in 1779 and was dead in 1832,

There are no further data relative to the family of Zachariah Briant,

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 31

The National Archives

Bounty Land warrant Record Card

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

Name: Bryant, Jesse
Grade: Private
Line: Virginia
Warrant Number: 11950
Acreage: 100
Issued: July 6, 1793
to Francis Graves - assignee