Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5781, for John Mohon, North Carolina
Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
N. C.

Mohon, John

NUMBER
S.5781

Carded
CONTENTS
Page 2

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Virginia 16.398 

John Mohon 
of Chesterfield in the State of Va [Virginia] 
who was a Pri. [Private] in the – [blank] commanded by Captain [blank] of the Regt. [Regiment] commanded by Col. [Colonel] Cocke in the No. Car: [North Carolina] line for 13 mo. [months] 12 days. 

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia 
at the rate of 44 Dollars [and] 66 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 5 day August ‘33 and sent to applicant Brydie’s Store Lunenburg Co: Va. 

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 89.32 
Semi-anl. [annual] allowance ending 4th September 
22. 33 
$111.65 

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

Recorded by N. Rice Cler[k] 
Book E Vol. 6 Page 18
Page 3

22934
John Mohon Va.

Rev.
Admit as private
13 mo. 12 days
$44.66

l. not authent.d [authenticated]

Applicant
[crossed out - Wm. H Taylor CC]
Brydie’s Store
Lunenburg Co.
Va.
Page 4

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

WAR DEPARTMENT
PENSION OFFICE

May 9, 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 these points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (these:}). 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 John Mohon Lunenburg Co. Va.

[column headings: Period when the service rendered. Duration of the claimant’s service. Years. Months. 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.]  
[1.] Enlisted Mach 78} 5 Va. Regt.} 1 [year] pr [rank] Capt. Fowler Genl. Muhlenberg no Col. - [Battle] Monmouth Va. [Place & age] 72 Chesterfield Va. [Evidence] Trady [traditionary]: & witnesses who swear to his first term &c
[2.] Vol. winter ’87 1 [month] 12 [days] “ [private] Col. Cocke [battle] Guilford Va. NC

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 in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service. 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, or District of} ss.
County of}
On this     day of     personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of     in the county of     and State, Territory or District of aged (c) 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)    , with    and served in the      (e) regiment of the      line, under the following named officers: 
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and 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 
Sworn to 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 (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. 
1               of the Court of              do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of                for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of       &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             and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with              , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be               years of age; that he is reputed 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 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. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the            and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the            and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit. 
I,        Clerk of the Court of            do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of              for a pension. 
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this     day of     &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 bis 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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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

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.} {To an Officer.} Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? 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 trans nit 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. ln a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words : "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    . For     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. In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers in 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. 
[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found in 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. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signatures of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office. 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 to [illegible] note (j) applies to continental troops only. 
[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. 

not on rolls – applicant must prove his service
W L Williams Ex Clk [Clerk]
Page 7

State of Virginia Lunenburg (to wit) 
On this 8th day of July 1833 personally appeared in Open Court being a Court of Record for the County of Lunenburg and now sitting John Mohon Resident of said County aged 72 years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 that he Enlisted in the service of the United States for twelve months on the first day of March 1778 at Chesterfield Courthouse State of Virginia under Sargiant [Sergeant] James Hodges and marched under him from that place to Valley Forge where he joined Head Quarters and was attached to a Company commanded by Capt. William Fowler of the 5th Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. Burgess Ball and the Brigade Commanded by Genl [General] Muhlenberg but was soon after transferred to a Company commanded by Capt. William Bentley; and was soon after his Arival [Arrival] at Valley Forge Enoculated [inoculated] for the smallpox under the Direction of Doctr [Doctor] Duff and after the troops recovering from the smallpox we were march[ed] to Monmouth and on the 28th day of June 1778 he was in the battle at that place and after the battle we were marched to a place called the White Plains and afterwards we were marched and stationed at a place called Middlebrook he believes in Jersey where we remained in huts as we had done at Valley Forge and on the 1st March 1779 he was discharged at a place called steets gap [Steele’s Gap?] he believes in Jersey but has since lost his discharge and it has been so long that he has forgot by whom it was signed and that he does not know of any person living that he can prove anything as to his Services or discharge only by Ezekiel Perkinson [W5506] whose certificate is hereunto subjoined (Capt. William Fendley [W7258] who signed the certificate presented last Winter having since deceased), in the winter of 1780 he moved to the County of Lunenburg And in the winter of 1781 in order to keep Cornwallis out of Virginia
Page 8

Genl Green [General Nathanael Greene] issued a general Order saying all such troops as would Voluntarily turn out for six weeks that it should go for a tower [tour] when it came to their turn he then Volunteered under Capt. Tho.s [Thomas] Moore of Prince Edward County on the 15th of February and marched under him into North Carolina and was attached to a Regiment commanded by Col. Nathanael Cocke and on the 15th day of March 1781 he was in the battle at Gilford [Guilford] Courthouse State of North Carolina and after the battle he had marched into North Carolina as far as a place called Ramsey's Mill where Col. Cocke's Regiment was discharged on the 30th March 1781 having served his full tour of six weeks but living near Capt. he did not stay to receive any written discharge neither did he ever receive one cent of pay for this tower nor does he know of any person living that he can prove anything as to his services or Discharge in this tower and – And that he never served in any other Capacity than that of a common Soldier -- And in Answer to the different Interrogatories prescribed by the War Department he Answers their Questions 1 & 2 Where and in what year were you born[?]
Ansr: [Answer] -- I have no Record of my age but from what I have always understood I was born in the County of Chesterfield State of Virginia and shall be 73 years of age next October
Quesn [Question] 3 Where were you living when called into Service Where have you lived since the Revolutionary War and where do you now live 
Ansr: [Answer] I lived in the County of Chesterfield when I enlisted in my first tower and in the year 1780 I moved to the County of Lunenburg and in the Winter of 1781 I married in the County of Prince Edward and volunteered under Capt. Tho.s [Thomas] Moore of that County when I went to Gilford [Guilford] and after returning from the Army I moved again to the County of Lunenburg where I now live
Page 9

Question 4 How were you called into Service were you drafted did you Volunteer or Were you a Substitute 
Ansr: [Answer] I Enlisted for twelve months in my first tower [tour] and Volunteered for six weeks in my second tower 
Ques. 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 Service. 
Ansr: I was attached to a Regiment commanded by Col. Ball & General Muhlenberg and was commanded by Genl Lee [General Charles Lee] when the Battle took place at Monmouth & Lee ordered the Retreat and were present when Washington advanced with the Main Army and at Gilford [Guilford] we were commanded by Genls [Generals[ Greene & Lawson [Robert Lawson]. 
Quest. 6 did you ever Received a discharge from the service if so by whom was it given and what has become of it 
Ansr: I Received a discharge from service in my first tower which has since been lost, but from old age and Consequent loss of memory I do not Recollect by whom it was signed and in my second tower I received no Discharge 
Quest. 7 State the names of persons to whom you are Known in your present neighbourhood and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution 
Ansr: I am known in my neighbourhood by the Rev.d [Reverend] Pleasant Barnes Capt. Wm Stokes & Col. Levi Clay

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. 

John [his X mark] Mohon

any communication respecting the above declaration Please direct to John Wilson at the post office Brydies Store Lunenburg County Va.
Page 10

We Pleasant Barnes Clergiman [Clergyman] residing in the County of Lunenburg and William Stokes & Levi Clay 
Residing in said County do hereby certify that we are acquainted with John Mohan who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 72 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
[Signed] Pleasant Barnes 
[Signed] Wm Stokes 
[Signed] Levi Clay 

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 John Mahon Was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he States and the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Pleasant Barnes - who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergiman [Clergyman] residing in the County of Lunenburg and that Wm Stokes and Levi Clay who has also signed the same are residents in the same County and are credible persons and that their statement is Entitled to credit
Test Wm H. Taylor &c

I William H. Taylor Clerk of the County Court of Lunenburg do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the same said Court in the matter of the application of John Mahon for a pension, 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this day 8th day of July 1833 In the 58th year of the Commonwealth, 
Wm H. Taylor &c
Page 11

State of Virginia} 
Chesterfield County} SS 
I Ezekiel Purkinson of the County of Chesterfield and State of Virginia do hereby Certify that John Mohon of the County of Lunenburg & State of Virginia (now applicant) Enlisted in the United States service for twelve months on the first day of March 1778 under Sargiant [Sgt.] James Hodges and marched from Chesterfield Court house under Sargiant [Sgt.] James Hodges in Company with me to Valley Forge where we joined Head Quarters and were attached to a Company commanded by Capt. Wm Fowler of the 5th Virginia Regiment commanded by Col. Burgess Ball of the Brigade commanded by Genl Muhlenberg and on the 28th day of June 1778 John Mohon and myself were in the Battle of Monmouth and after the battle we were marched and stationed at a place called the White Plains and after that we were stationed at a place called Middlebrook and on the first of March 1779 John Mohon with the rest of the Company were discharged
Page 12

Having served his full tower of twelve months. 
Given under my hand this 26th day of June 1833
[Signed] Ezekiel Perkinson

State of Virginia} 
Chesterfield County} SS 
This day Ezekiel Perkinson a Credible witness whose statement is entitled to Credit came before me one of the Commonwealths Justices of the peace for the County aforesaid and made Oath to the above certificate Given under my hand this 26th day of June 1833 
William Elliss J.P. 

Virginia Chesterfield County Court Clerk's Office 
I Parke Poindexter clerk of Chesterfield county court in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that William Elliss whose name is affixed to the above certificate is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified as such, and that his signature thereto is genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 26th day of June Anno Dom: one thousand eight hundred and thirty three and in the 57th year of our Independence 
Parke Poindexter Clk
Page 13

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

5781

Rev War [check mark] INVALID

File No. 5781

John Mohon

Pri Rev War

Act: June 7th, 1832
Index: - Vol. M, Page 263

[Arrangement of 1870.]