Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,675, James Ferguson, Va.
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Service.   Va.
Ferguson, James
Number  S.31.675
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Arkansas Ty.  22.463.

James Ferguson
of Batesville in the Ty of Arkansas
who was a private in the Co. Commanded
by Captain Robinson of the Rgt. commanded
by Colo. Campbell in the Virginia 
line for two years.

Inscribed on the Roll of Arkansas Ty.
at the rate of 80. Dollars 00 Cents per annum,
to commence on 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of Novr.
1833 and sent to T. Dickinson Batesville Arkansas Ty.

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833         200.-
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Mar 34   40.
                                                          $240.00

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer Clerk,
Book E vol. 8 Page 137.
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Territory of Arkansas
County of Lawrence Ss
In the Circuit Court in and for said County of May Term 1833 Thos. P Eskridge Judge

On this twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty three personally appeared in open Court before the Judge thereof of the Circuit Court of Lawrence County & Territory of Arkansas now sitting James Ferguson a resident of said County and Territory aged eighty one 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 the seventh A.D 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated to wit, That in the latter part of the year 1778 or early part of the year 1779 in Orange County State of Virginia, he enlisted under Captain James Burton in the Regiment of Virginia State guards, of which a Mr. Roberts was Major, and Francis Taylor was colonel  That he was mustered immediately in service and entered immediately on the duty of guarding Genel. Burgoine & other prisoners whom he escorted from Albemarle through Culpeper County to the Town of Winchester on the Shanandoah River, and remained and was engaged with his regiment in actual service for the term of two years in guarding the prisoners which were taken by the United States Troops.  That at the expiration of two years as aforesaid during which time he had as aforesaid been engaged the whole time in actual duty in the army of the United States he was discharged.  that his discharge was signed by Col Francis Taylor which he afterwards lost by leaving the same in the pocket of his clothes which were in washing and which afterwards fell into the hands of her husband from whom this deponent never recovered it.  And further says that immediately after being so discharged he volunteered under one Captain Robinson in the light infantry of Virginia and was commanded by Col Campbell.  that after the death of Col Campbell he was commanded by Genl. Wayne who took the command of the troops and this deponent with the troops marched in pursuit of the British forces commanded by Lord Cornwallis in Virginia.  That he this Deponent marched from Albemarle to Richmond from thence to Williamsburgh thence to Little York and that he was present and engaged in the taking of Lord Cornwallis and assisted in and was one of the troops engaged in guarding the British to Frederick town where he was again discharged
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he received a written discharge but dont recollect who signed it nor what became of it.  That during the whole of said two terms he served as a private & one month as a sergeant at the seige of Little York.  That when he entered the service he lived in Orange County Virginia where he was born.  And that there is a record of his age among his relative in Virginia but that he has none   That the last term of service herein mentioned he was three months in service - that he also served one month as a substitute for a Mr. Carr.  That while in service he was engaged in the Battle of Hot Water in Virginia about 30 miles from James Town.  Also at James Town on the seventh of June AD 1781 and at the little York at the taking of Lord Cornwallis.  That he was acquainted with Col Francis Taylor - Major Roberts from Culpepper - Captain James Burton and Captain Parlin Burlin, that he cannot prove his services by the evidence of any person in this County and that he has no documentary evidence.

The following Interrogatories were propounded by the Court to the applicant James Ferguson
1st  Where in what year was you born?
Answer I was born in Orange County in the State of Virginia on the 30th of May 1752
2nd  Have you any record of your age and if so where is it
Ans. There is a family record among my relatives in Virginia
3rd  Where were you living when called into service & where have you lived since the Revolutionary War?  If a substitute for whom?
Ans.  I lived in Orange County in Virginia until I entered the service as above mentioned immediately or within a short period after peace was restored I removed to North Carolina where I lived five years [illegible] to South Carolina where I lived 18 years from thence to Tennessee where I lived 28 years thence to Arkansas where I have lived one year, I was a substitute one month for a Mr. Carr.
4th  How were you called into service
Ans. The first time I enlisted.  The second time I volunteered and served one months as a substitute besides.
5th State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops when you served such Continental & Militia Regiments as you can recollect and the General circumstances of your service.
Ans.  I recollect Genl Washington Col Francis Taylor Major Roberts Captain James Burton Captain Parkin Burlin Genl Wayne Genl La Fayette Col Richardson.  I was made a serjeant (2nd Sergeant) by the commanding officer.
6  Did you receive any commission and if so by whom was it signed and what has become of it
Ansr I did not receive any
7  Did you ever receive a discharge & if so by whom
Answer I did  it was signed by Col Francis Taylor and lost as above mentioned
8  State the names of persons in your neighbourhood to whom you are known at this time and who can testify as to your character for veracity and good behavior your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
Answ  I cannot state the names of any persons in my present neighbourhood who can prove my services in the Revolution but I would refer to the following to whom I am known in my present neighbourhood for my character for veracity good behavior to wit
Answer  Daniel Williams David Orr Saml D. Gibson David Williams & Benjm Perkins
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I the foregoing named James Ferguson do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or Annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension role of the Agency of any State or Territory
Sworn to and Subscribed
before me in Open Court
D W Lowe Clerk James Ferguson x his mark

We David Orr a clergyman residing in the county of Lawrence aforesaid and Benjamin Perkins Daniel Williams and Samuel G. Gibson residing in the Same county hereby Certify that we are well acquainted with James Ferguson who has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration and that we believe him to be eighty one years of age, and that he is reputed and believed to be in his neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we Concur in that opinion and that he is a man of truth and veracity and respectability and good behavior in the neighborhood where he resides
Samuel D. gibson
Benjamin Purkins
Daniel Williams
David Orr

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter And After putting the questions And Interrogatories as prescribed by the war department, that the Above named Applicant James Ferguson was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states - And the Court further Certifies that it appears to them that David Orr who has signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman residing in the County of Lawrence and that Samuel D. Gibson Benjamin Purkins and Daniel Williams who have signed the same are residents in the same County and that their statements are entitled to credit
Tho: P: Eskridge
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Territory of Arkansas
County of Lawrence
I David W Lowe clerk of the
Circuit Court in and for Said County do hereby Certify that the foregoing Contains the Original proceedings in the matter of the Application of James Ferguson for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand as
clerk and affixed the sesal of
Office this 21 day of May AD 1833
D W Lowe Clerk
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The Pension Certificate of the within Applicant
or other Communication will be directed to
col. T. Dickinson Register of Land Office
Batesville Ark Ty

27.336
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From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 31675, it appears that James Ferguson was born May 30, 1752, in Orange County, Virginia.

While a resident of that county, he enlisted late in 1778 or early in 1779 as a private in Captain James Burton's Company, in Colonel Francis Taylor's Virginia Regiment and served two years. He enlisted in 1781 and served three months as a private in Captain Robinson's Company in Colonel Campbell's Virginia Regiment and was in the battles of Hot Water, Virginia, and Jamestown. He also served one month as second sergeant and was in the siege of Yorktown.

Shortly after peace was declared he moved to North Carolina, from there to South Carolina and from there to Arkansas.

He was allowed pension on his application executed May 21, 1833, at which time he was a resident of Lawrence County, Arkansas.

There are no data relative to his family.

This is the history of the only James Ferguson who served with the Virginia troops that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.

The Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Jacob Froman who served with the Virginia troops, and none in regard to an Elijah Froman.
Very truly yours,

EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner
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31675 1930, Jan. 13 hist to
Revy INVALID. Hon. Hugo L. Black
File No. 31,675 See letter in Moses
James Ferguson Ferguson, S8461
Pri Rev War M.C.S.

Act: June 7" 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 135
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Batesville Ark} Free
May 28th
Joseph L. Edwards Esq.
Pension Office
War department
Washington City

June 18
Arkansas Terry
27,334
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Batesville Arks. Territory
May 21 1833

Joseph L. Edwards Esq
Sir
Inclosed I send the papers relating
to the Application of James Ferguson (a Revolutionary soldier) for a pension - the old man is very poor and would be gratified to hear soon the result of his application 
Any Communication upon the subject will be directed to me as he lives at a distance from any post office in his own County -
Respectfully
yours &c
Townsend Dickinson
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22463
27,333.
James Ferguson
Arkansas
page 137.

Adm 2 years $80

T. Dickenson
Batesville
Arkansas Tery.
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WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,

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 shew 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.

Period when the
rendered.

A Statement, showing the Service of
claimant's service

Years

Months

Days

Duration of the
claimant's service.

Rank of
the
claimant.

Names and rank of the Field
officers under whom he served.

Age at present,
and place of abode
when he entered 
the service.

Proof by which the declaration is supported.

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
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[See original Doc. 14]
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[See original Doc. 15]
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The National Archives
Form 
VAM-51
12-5-41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
Bounty Land Warrant Record Card*

Name  Ferguson, John
Grade  Private
Line      Massachusetts
Warrant Number 4032
Acreage 100
Issued March 3, 1792 to Jane Ferguson, Adm.

Nt. book shows this saem warrant number for John Dutch, Sept. 26, 1791

*  The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which ae registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates.  Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800.  Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in the National Archives.