Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 1754-400, James Witherspoon, New Jersey
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
New
J
rsey
CONTENTS
Witherspoon, James
NUMBER
B.L. Wt. 1754-400 Bregade Mayor
Issued May 7, 1789, to
Rev. Dr. John Witherspoon, legal
representative, and recorded
as afore under
B. Wt. 2283
No papers
Gen. Land Office has no record of W.2253,
but has location of 1754. (e. Mrs Hathaway)
Page 2

January 21, 1940

BA-J/AWFM
Venerable Michael J. Kirwan
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.

My dear Mr. Kirwan:
Reference is made to your letter of January 29, in behalf
of Mr. W. L. Sharkey, of Campbell, Ohio, whose letter you enclosed.
Mr. Sharkey states that he is interested in completing his family
line and desires the record of his grandfather, John Witherspoon,
probably of Beaver County, or Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, who
served in the war of 1812, whose father, he believes was John
too, a son of James who settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,
in 1830 and was accidentally killed in 1960, the brother of
Dr. John Witherspoon, of New Jersey, Signer of the Declaration of
Independence.
The record has been found of a James Witherspoon whose legal
representative in 1780 was Dr. John Witherspoon, that James, served
however, in the Revolutionary War, therefore not the James who was
killed in 1760. His record is furnished herewith, with those of
John Witherspoon (S. 32301) who was born in Pennsylvania, and
served in the Revolutionary War, and a John Witherspoon who served
in the War of 1812 which, it is hoped, will aid Mr. Sharkey in his
research. His letter is returned herewith.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 3

Venerable Michael J. Kirwan
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.

January 31, 1940
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXED
JAMES WITHERSPOON
B. L. Wt. 1734400
BA-J/ALE
My dear Mr. Kirwan:
Revolutionary War records of this office show that
No. 1734, for four hundred acres of bounty land was
May, 1830, to Reverend Dr. John Witherspoon, Legal
representative, on account of the services of James Witherspoon,
of Jersey, as Brigade Major War of the Revolution.
this office has no record of statements made in the application
for bounty land, breast of the destruction of papers in
early applications when the War Office was burned in 1800,
therefore, no further data relative to James Witherspoon
if they desire information relative to the location
the bounty land created on account of the services of James
Witherwoon, he shall apply to the Commissioner of the General
Lorrice, Interior Department, this city, and furnish that
official the number of the warrant, the acreage and date of
issuance.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 4

MICHAEL J. KIRWAN
The Harvey Cook
SENTAG. MESSERLY
Secretary
June
Navy
Plag
1857
Congress of the United States
House of Representatives
Washington, D. C.
January Twenty ninth
1940
Veterans' Administration
Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen: --
The enclosed letter has been received from
Mr. W. L. Sharkey, of Campbell Ohio -- also am
enclosing copy of letter from the War Department.
I will be deeply grateful for any information
you might be able to give me that will be of
assistance to Mr. Sharkey,
With kindest regards and thanking you for
your many courtesies, believe me to be
Sincerely yours,
Michael & Kewan
Member of Congress
Name Annuges:
YOUNESTOW, 000
COMMITTEES.
RIVERS AND Hansas
savisee
PUBLIC Buelowess Ann Cassie
Louis
A
ET ALL
Page 5

A. G. 201
Witherspoon, John
(COPY )
WAR DEPARTMENT
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL' S OFFICE
Honorable Michael J. Kirwan,
WASHINGTON
House of Representatives.
My dear Mr. Kirwan:
January 29, 1940.
This is in reply to your letter of January 24, 1940, with
which you inclosed one from Mr. W. L. Sharkey of Campbell, Ohio, relative
to the service of James and John Witherspoon of Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania, in the War of 1812.
The name James Witherspoon has not been found on the rolls
on file of any Pennsylvania volunteer organisation that was in the
military service of the United States during the period of the War of
1812.
1813.
The records show that one John
in Witherspoon served as a private
of Captain Mathew Johnson's
5th Battalion Pennsylvania
Militia. His service comme
need October 2, 1812 and ended April 14,
The records of this office covering the period of the War
of 1812 are of a purely military nature and contain no information
relative to the personal or family history of John Witherspoon.
However, if a pension was granted on account of the military
service rendered the United States, it is possible that some personal
information relative to this soldier may be obtained from the Veterans'
Administration, Washington, D.C.
1 Inclosure:
Letter 1-22-40
-
Very respectfully,
18
E. S. ADAMS
Major General,
The Adjutant General.
Page 6

Mrs. W. T. Rooks
30 Grange Avenue
Natchez, Mississippi

August 17, 1929
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/ALE

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information
as to whether James Witherspoon who was born in 1745 and died
in 1790, was the same James Witherspoon who served as Brigade
Major in the Revolutionary War. You request, also, the record of
Colonel William Smith who was born in 1796 in Maryland.
A careful search of the Revolutionary War records of this office
has been made and no claim for pension found based upon service in
that war of any James Witherspoon, under any spelling of his name.
The Revolutionary War records of this office show, however, that a
warrant for bounty land was issued on account of the services of
James Witherspoon as Brigade Major in the War of the Revolution. His
record, which is that of the only James Witherspoon found in the
Revolutionary War records of this office is furnished you herewith.
No charge is made for that report. It is suggested that for further
information in regard to officers named James Witherspoon of the
Revolutionary War, you consult Heitman's Historical Register of
Officers of the Continental Army.
In order to identify the record of the particular officer named
William Smith in when you are interested, should it be on file, please
furnish the name of the state from which he served, the approximate
date of death, also place of death, and given name of wife or widow.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 7

Mrs. W. L. Locks
30 Orange Avenue
Natchez, Mississippi

August 19, 1989
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
JAMES WINTO
B. L. Wt. 1780 400
BA-J/AD
Dear Madam:
The Revolutionary War records of this office show that
Warrant No. 1784, for four hundred acres of bounty land, was
issued May 7, 1889, to Reverend Dr. John Witherspoon, legal
presentative, on account of the services of James Witherspoon,
of New Jersey, as Brigade Major, War of the Revolution.
This office has no record of statements made in the application
for bounty land, because of the destruction of papers in
such early applications when the War Office was burned in 1800.
therefore, no further data relative to James Witherspoon.
If you desire information in regard to the location of the
land granted on account of the services of James Witherspoon, you
should apply to the Commissioner of the General Land Office,
Interior Department, this city, and furnish that official the
number of the warrant, the acreage and date of issuance.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 8



Veterans Administration
Washington D.C.
Red
July 14 -1939
Gentlemen
Please
advise
James Witherspoon born 1743
and died 1790 was the same
James
Witherspoon
who
served
as Brigade
Major
in
Revolutionary War
an
under date of
Sept 29, 1777
was paid 303.8172 Dollars by
W. Palfrey Esq.
Also have
of
record
any
in your files of
a Colonel William
Smith
who was born in
Maryland
Page 9

in
1796.
If a
discharge for this
Please
information.
plaese advise.
thanks

Mrs. W.D. Hooks
30 Orange are
Natchez Miss