Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 1254, for William Smithy, Virginia
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(3-1776)

SERVICE

Va.  |

Smithy, William  |

NUMBER
S.1254  |

Carded
===============

Contents
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[stamp]

Nov. 15

The Honorable

Lewis Cass
Secretary of War
Washington City
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State of Kentucky
Woodford County   s.s.

On the 8th day of November 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the county Court of Woodford County now sitting, William Smithy, a resident of the County and the state aforesaid, aged nearly eighty three years who being first duly sworn according to law saith on his oath make the following declarations in order to claim the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.  That he was born in Caroline County and State of Virginia.  That the first year of the War of the Revolution he became a volunteer in the Militia of that State that he was in the regiment commanded by Col. Matthews (the names of the company officer not recollected) when he was marched to Williamsburg.  In a few days the regiment was marched to meet General Wayne after the meeting took place, the regiment was again marched to Williamsburg where they remained until he was discharged. This tour he believes he served three months. that the next tour that he has a distinct recollection of he served under Capt. Daniel Coleman. Benjamin Carter was the Ensign, Col. Matthews in command of the regiment he was marched below Williamsburg from thence to Richmond where he was discharged. He served this tour three months, the next tour he served under Capt. Weir in the regiment commanded by Col. Matthews. This tour he was marched to the neighborhood of Williamsburg from thence to the neighborhood of Richmond.
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where he was discharged. This tour he thinks he served three months. The last tour he served was just before the closure of the war at the time Cornwallis was taken he was marched from home (the names of his officers has escaped his memory) and his way to the siege he faced the French troops and marched several days with them. he was on the Gloucester side of the river where Cornwallis surrendered and under the command of a French officer whose name he does not recollect, he was one of the guards over the British after the surrender until he was taken sick where he was discharged. this tour he served five or six weeks.  Besides the tours before he stated, he served several others which he is not able to designate either the time or the officers under whom he served. all his service was rendered in the militia either as a volunteer or draft. none of the tours he believes was of longer duration that three months and some of them a shorter time he verily believes he served in all between two and three years as he was generally from home in the service, always two and sometimes three tours in the year for the greater part of the duration of the war.  Some years past all his papers were stolen among which he believes there was several discharges that he has no documentary evidence.
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of his services that he know of but one man living who served with him and he lives at a distance.  And that he is much afflicted with disease so much so as to render it impracticable to see that men  he will send with this declaration the evidence of a woman who was quite young at the time the service was [illegible].
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 of Territory.
William Smithy  x his mark

We Ahmed Rucker Clergyman residing in the County of Woodford and T.W. Sellers residing in the same county do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Smithy who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration   that we believe him to be eighty three years of age   that he is reported 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 to the day and year aforesaid
Ahmed Rusker
T.W. Sellers

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
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affiant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Ahmed Rucker who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the County of Woodford and that Thomas W. Sellers who has signed the same is a resident in said County and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I John McKinney Senr. Clerk of the County Court for the County of Woodford, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of application of William Smithy for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the affixed the seal of my office at Versailles this 8th day of November 1832 and in the 41d year of the Commonwealth.
John McKinney Senr.  C.W.C.C.

[SEAL]

Commonwealth of Kentucky
Woodford County Sct
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace for the county aforesaid William Smithy who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he can not swear positively as to the precise length of time he served in all but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the whole time mentioned in his declaration say between two and three years   the whole of his services were rendered as a private in the Militia  he cannot recollect the names of any officers under whom he served in addition to those already mentioned except Major Armstead under whom he recollects to having served one tour   he further states that his health is [illegible] bad and his condition a helpless one  he thinks it entirely impossible and is so [illegible] him to state more precisely after a lapse of more than fifty years  the exact length of time of such services
William Smithy  x his mark

The above affidavit was duly sworn to and said Smith affixed his mark thereto before me this 22nd day of August 1833  
Given under my hand and seal
T.W. Sellers J.P.W.C.  [handwritten seal]


Smithy, Wm.
Va   S 1254
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Commonwealth of Kentucky  Woodford County Sct

This day personally appeared before the undersigned one of the Commonwealth Justices of the peace in and for the county aforesaid Phebe Smithy who after being first duly sworn made the following statement Viz
That she was born in Carolina County in the State of Virginia   that she is the daughter of William Smithy who is now an applicant for a pension under the Act of Congress of June 7th 1832 that she is now near fifty eight years old   That she has a distinct recollection of the war of the revolution   that she has a perfect remembrance of her father leaving home to go to the war some two or three times   that he was absent some time but how long she cannot now say as she was quite small   she has lived with her father all her life  has heard him often talking of his services in the war   that he had served in it two or three years.  And I do
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hereby certify that the before mentioned Phebe Smithy is a person of credible character and standing.  Given under my hand and seal this      day of             1832
T.W. Sellers  J.P.W.C.  [handwritten seal]


State of Kentucky  Woodford County Sct
I John McKinney Junr. Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Thomas W. Sellers Esqr. whose name is affixed to the foregoing certificate is one of the Justices of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit either in or out of this state.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at Versailles this 8th day of November 1832 and in the 45. year of the Commonwealth.
John McKinney Junr. C.W.C.C.
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19,431  [or possibly 79,431?]

Kentucky

William Smithy 
of Woodford Co. in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Coleman of the regt. commanded
by Col. Matthews in the Virga. mia
line for 2 yrs for 1776

Inscribed on the roll of Kentucky 
at the rate of 80 Dollars - cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of September 1833 and sent to Ho. R.M. Johnson Great xings

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833          $200
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Mch 34  40
                                                            $240

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Wm. Allison Clerk.
Book E  Vol. 7  Page 28
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e 10 18404
William Smithy
Woodford County
Kentucky

From 1776  private
2 yrs  $80

Hon. R.M. Johnson
[struck through Jno McKinney Esqr]
Clk Court of
[struck through  Woodford County]
Kentucky
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BRIEF in the case of William Smith
County of Woodford in the State of Kentucky
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  83 years

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
Vol in 17--
Duration of service.
- Years, 3 months, - days
Rank.  
As a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Genl. Wayne
Colo. Matthews

Period.
--
Duration of service.
- Years, 3 months, - days
Rank.  
As a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Genl. Wayne


Period.
--
Duration of service.
- Years, 3 months, - days
Rank.  
As a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Genl. Wayne
Capt. Coleman


Period.
--
Duration of service.
about 5 or 6 weeks (other terms not stated)
Rank.  
As a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Genl. Wayne
Capt. Wire Colo. Matthews

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  Siege of York

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Caroline County State of Virginia

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  1 living witness

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?  Correct

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

M. Clagett  Examining Clerk.
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March 24, 1934

BA-J/ady
S. 1254
William Smithy

Mr. F.W. Sydnor
3329 North Avenue
Richmond, Virginia

Dear Sir:

The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S. 1254, based upon the military service of William Smithy in that war.

William Smithy was born about 1749 in Caroline County, Virginia, and no reference is made to his parents.

He enlisted, place not stated, the first year of the Revolution and served three months as private in Colonel Mathews' Virginia Regiment.  He enlisted, date not given, and served three months as private in Captain Daniel Coleman's Company, Colonel Mathews' Virginia Regiment.  He enlisted, date not stated, and served three months as private in Captain Weir's Company, Colonel Mathews' Virginia Regiment.  He enlisted and served five or six weeks as private, names of officers not stated, and was in the siege of Yorktown.

He was allowed pension on his application executed November 8, 1832 while a resident of Woodford County, Kentucky.

In 1832 Soldier's daughter Phebe Smithy, was nearly fifty-eight years old.  She was born in Caroline County, Virginia, and had always lived with her father.  The name of soldier's wife is not stated and there are no further family data.

[handwritten in right margin   Date of death  not on A.B.]

Very truly yours,
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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March 24, 1934

BA-J/ady

Mr. F.W. Sydnor
3320 North Avenue
Richmond, Virginia

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War records of William Smither and William Smithey, also the War of 1812 record of Edmund Smither who gave bond on November 25, 1812 in Essex County, for his marriage with Margery Mahon, in 1821 moved to Richmond, and for whose two orphan children, Robert G. and Arena H. Smither, one Blair Bolling was appointed guardian in December 1832.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon service of the above named Edmund Smither.  Such claims are the source of War of 1812 date furnished by this office.

The records of the two Revolutionary War pensioners William Smither and William Smithy are furnished you herewith as found in the respect claims for pension based upon their service in the Revolutionary War.

Very truly yours,
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator.
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Rev War

INVALID

File No. 1254
William Smithy
Priv. Va. Mil.

Act:  June 7, 1832

Index:-Vol. a, page 345

Arrangement of 1870

1934 Mar. 24 Hist to F.W. Sydnor  see his letter in Wm. Smither, S.14487  AWY
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[STAMP]
Georgetown
Aug 29

Free

Rh. W. Johnson

Col. J.L. Edwards
Pension Office
City of Washington

Ky 
Recd. Sept 3
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Do my dear friend act on the within case.  I send the additional proof;  the only bounty the west gets is from these Pensions.

Your friend
Rh. W. Johnson

24th Augt. 1833