Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6138, for John Sorrell, Virginia
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(3 - 1776)
Service
Va.

Sorrell, John

Number 
S. 6138

Carded
Contents
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5437
Virginia
John Souell (Sorrell
of Spotsylv. Co. in the State of Virginia 
who was a private in the 
Company commanded by Captain Buckner of the Regt commanded by Co. Meriwether in the Virginia Militia 15 months [illegible] 

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 50 Dollars --Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of July 1833 and Nat Sanford Chanallor presents

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 75.00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 March 1831 25.00
$110.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Henry H Sylvester, Clerk
Book D Vol. 7 Page 127
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Paid at Treasury, under
 act 6 April, 1838, from,
4th Sept. 1842 to 26 Dec. 1843.
Agent notified 15 April, 1846.
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State of Virginia. County of Spotsylvania to wit:
On this the 7th day of July 1833 personally appeared in open Court before the 
Justices of Spotsylvania County now in open Court sitting, John Sorrell, a 
resident of the County of Spotsylvania in the State of Virginia aged seventy 
two 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 Act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832.  That he entered the service of 
the United States under the following named officers  and served as herein 
stated viz under Capt Philip Buckner, Capt Robt Ware, Capt John Legg 
and Capt Coleman, at one time he was attached to the Brigade under the 
command of Genl. Stevens of Culpeper, and also at one time under the 
command of General Weedon - the names of the subaltern company 
officers not recollected, except the name of Reuben Samuel who was a Lt in Capt Ware's company- He further states that whilst at York Town as herein 
after stated, he was under the command of Genl. Geo. Washington, Marquis  
La. Fayette and Colo. Meriweather.  He also states that about the 4th day 
of Septr in the year 1775 he first entered the service of the United States 
as a private and volunteer in the company of Capt Philip Buckner, that 
at that time he was but fifteen years of age and resided in the County of 
Caroline in the State of Virginia, shortly after enrolling himself, about the 
5th day of Septr in the same year, he marched from Caroline to the 
border of the river Potomac where he remained until about the 10th day 
of Decr of same year a period of rather more than three months from the 
time of his enrollment as well as he now recollects; he was then ordered 
back to Caroline and there discharged.  In the following year, to wit, 
on or about the first day of April 1776, he again volunteered as a private 
under Capt Robt Ware & Lieutenant Reuben Samuel and 
marched from the County of Caroline where he at that time resided, to Williamsburg, where he remained until the latter part of September in 
that year, or early in the month of October of same year a period of about six 
months.  [several words crossed out]  On the first day of May in 
the year 1781 he was drafted as a private from the County of Spotsylvania
whither he had removed, and marched as a guard with eleven other others (all taken from the company of Capt Legg,  whose subatlion  officers 
he did not know, & whose names he does not recollect) to which he also belonged) over several prisoners taken somewhere at the South and guarded them
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to Winchester and Staunton where the prisoners were confined in jail, this 
service was performed immediately under Sergeant Benjamin Robertson. 
Having performed that duty he was ordered back to Fredericksburg in the County 
of Spotsylvania:  on his return or shortly thereafter which was in the month 
of August in that year, he was employed by the orders of the Genl Weedon 
rolling back into the Ware Houses, the tobacco that had been previously 
rolled out and concealed from the British;  immediately after this he was 
transferred from the company of Capt Legg, to that under the command of 
Capt Coleman and was marched to York Town where he remained until 
after the siege of York and the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, very soon 
however after reaching York Town, he was taken sick and continued so for 
some time - He states that whilst sick the redoubts were stormed, and on 
the following morning he asked permission of Dr. Tankard the Physician 
to report himself fit for duty - Dr T. gave him a small piece 
of paper upon which he was afterwards told (for he declared that he 
can neither read or write) were written these words "unfit for service"
this paper he took to Colo. Meriweather who directed him to take it to 
his company officers, but Capt Colemen and [illegible] 
had returned home on account of sickness and consequent 
inability to do duty, he therefore handed the paper to his orderly Sergeant 
Reuben Plunkett:  the next day Genl Washington directed that all able 
bodied men should be reported to him, and at his earnest entreaty, he (this 
Petitioner) was reported fit for service.  He  remained in the works about 
five days and witnessed the surrender of Lord Cornwallis. He states that 
at this time of the surrender the British troops stacked their arms in 
front of the American Army and marched by them (the Americans) into 
York Town.  After the siege of York, Colo Meriweather left there having under his charge some of the prisoners, and he was told come towards 
Fredricksburg , but before Colo. Meriweather left York Town he gave him 
your petitioner his discharge, which was about the 29th day of October 1781, as 
well as the memory of your petitioner serves him, making a period of 
service of service in the year 1781 of six months [illegibe] a few days
only.  He further states that he continued sick, and so much indisposed 
after his discharge as to prevent his return for some time.  
Having omitted giving the names of the company officers under 
whom he was placed after Capt Coleman & his subalterns before
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York Town he states that the omission to do, is because of his inability 
give them.  

He further states, that he has 
no hesitation in saying that his military services as a private (and in that 
capacity only, he rendered service during the Revolutionary war amounted to fifteen months -

The following questions propounded by the Court 
viz. Where and in what year were you born?  Ans. I was born in the County 
of Caroline State of Va. and in or about the year 1760- 

Ques. Have you any record of your age? if so, where is it?  Ans - no I have none 
I was registered in Caroline Church, but it is now used as an Academy, 
and I do not know what has become of the register.  Ques. Where 
were you living when you were called into service? where have you lived  
since the Revolutionary war and where do you reside now?  Ans. I was 
residing in the County of Caroline, State of Va. when I first entered the service, 
afterwards removed to this County (Spotsylvania where I have 
resided ever since.  Ques. How were you called into service? were 
you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? and if a substitute 
for whom?  Ans. In the year 1775 and afterwards in 1776 I 
volunteered my services and they were accepted; in the year 1775 under 
Capt Philip Buckner and in 1776 under Capt Robt Ware.  In 1781 I 
was drafted from Spotsylvania and was first under the command 
of Capt John Legg, and afterwards under Capt Coleman under whom I 
marched to York Town.  State the names of some of the regular 
officers who were with the troops where you served; such continentals 
& Militia regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances 
of your service.  General Geo. Washington, Marquis La. Fayette, 
General Mulinberg from Maryland, Genl. Wayne, General Weedon.
There were many French officers at York Town, but I do not recollect 
their names.  Having already stated such circumstances touching my 
services as I recollect, I beg leave to refer to them in this place.  I 
very well know that I was in Genl Stewart's Brigade.  Ques. Did 
you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so by whom was 
it given, and what has become of it?  Ans. I was discharged at York 
Town but do not know what has become of it.  State the names 
of the 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 service as a soldier of the Revolution.  Ans. I know of no 
Clergyman, (there being none in my neighborhood) who can testify either as
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my services, or my character nor do I know of any one person in my neighborhood who is acquainted with my services during the war. I am very infirm, and have been confined to my house and yard for the last eleven years, and in consequence of my very great deafness have been cut off almost entirely from society, so mush so, that I do not know whether any of my old comrades are now living-

I can neither read or write- As to my character for veracity, I would refer to any one who knows me- say Major Sanford Chancellor - Mr George Chancellor  Mr Thomas Perm & 
J. Haydon 
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year afsd ].
John Sorrell [his mark] X

We George Chancellor, Sanford  Chancellor & J. Haydon residing in the County of Spotsylvania in the State of Va. do hereby certify that we are well acquainted 
with John Sorrell who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he, and we reside to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion, and we do further certify that there is no clergyman residing in the neighborhood of the said John Sorrell who is acquainted with him.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year afsd in open Court.
Sanford Chancellor 
George Chancellor 
John Haydon

$50 per annum
Sanford Chancellor, Esq. present

And the said John Sorrell in open court 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. Sworn to and subscribed in open Court on the day & year afsd
John Sorrell  [his mark] X

And the said court do hereby declares their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above applicant John Sorrell  was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states - And the court further certifies that there is no Clergyman residing in the neighborhood of the said John Sorrell, and that it appears to them that George Chancellor-Sanford Chancellor & Jno Haydon who have signed the preceding certificate are residents of the County of Spotsylvania and are credible, persons and that their statement is entitled to full credit-

I Richard L. Stevenson Clerk of the County Court of Spotsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
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the original proceedings in the said Court in the matter of John Sorrell in his application for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this the seventh day of January in the year One thousand eight hundred and thirty three - 
R. L. Stevenson cc

Erasure and interlineation of the words "rather more than" in the 14th line from bottom in first page also erasure, in second line on fourth page, before signing sealing &c Erasure also in 6th line from the bottom of first page, and erasure by Scratching and as such thus erasure 18 & 16th lines of second page before signing sealing &c

[illegible round seal with ribbon attached]

State of Virginia
County of Spotsylvania to wit

Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Spotsylvania in the State of Virginia, John Sorrell ,
who being duly sworn, deposeth and said, that by reason of old age great infirmity and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively to the precise length of time of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below & in the following grades: 

For one year and three months I served as a private in the Virginian Militia in the service of the United States, and for such service I claim a pension.
Given under my hand & seal this 7th day of January 1833.
R. Crutchfield [hand drawn seal]

I Richard L. Stevenson clerk of the County Court of Spotsylvania do hereby certify that John Crutchfield who has signed the foregoing certificate is a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Spotsylvania in the State of Va and is duly commissioned as such, and that due faith and credit should be given to all his acts as such.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of my office this 7th of Jany 1833.
R. L. Stevenson cc

[illegible round seal attached with ribbon]
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January 3, 1931.

Miss Lillie M. Rice
Box 302
Ashland, Virginia.

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section.
MCS:ill [handwritten text]

Dear Madam:

You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S.6138, that John Sorrell was born in 1760 in Caroline County, Virginia.

While a resident of said county, he enlisted September 4, 1775, and served three months as a private in Captain Philip Buckner's Virginia Company. He enlisted April 1, 1776 and served six months in Captain Robert Ware's Virginia Company. He enlisted May 1, 1781, served in Captains John Legg's and Coleman's Companies, Colonel Merriwether's Virginia Regiment, was at the capture of Cornwallis and was discharged October 29, 1781.

He was allowed pension on his application executed January 7, 1833, while a resident of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.

He died December 26, 1843.

There are no data on file relative to his family.

The Revolutionary War records of this bureau fail to show a claim for pension on file on account of the services of John Borden as described by you. [handwritten brace and letters F. L L]

Very truly yours,

E. W. Morgan,
Acting Commissioner.
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[handwritten initial] M.A.S.

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

October 9, 1924

Miss Lillie Rice
Ashland, Box 302
Va.

Madam:

I have to advise you thatvfrom the papers in the Revolution-ary War pension claim, S.6138, it appears that John Sorrell was born in 1760 in Carolina County, Virginia.

While a resident of said county, he enlisted September 4, 1775, and served three months as a private in Captain Philip Buck-ner's Virginia Company.

He enlisted April 1, 1776, and served six months in Captain Robert Ware's Virginia Company.

He enlisted May 1, 1781, served in Captains John Legg's and Coleman's Companies, Colonel Merriwether's Virginia Regiment, was at the capture of Cornwallis and was discharged October 29, 1781.

He was allowed pension on his application executed January 7, 1833, while a resident of Spotsylvania County, Virginia. He died December 26, 1843.

There is no data on file relative to his family.

Respectfully,

Commissioner
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1917 Sept. 6 Hist. to Mrs. P.J. Gantt.
1924 Oct. 9 Hist. to 
Miss Lillie Recenes [Spelling]
_______________________
1931- Jan. 3. - Hist. to Miss Lillie M. Rice. See her lett.
John Rice (Pa) no. papers. Ill

Revhan

6138
Invalid
File No. 6138
John Sorrell
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7th/32
Index:__ M, Page 352
{Arrangement of 1870}
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This addressed to Rev War See

Ashland, Va. Box 302
Sept 16, 1924.

Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D. C. 
Sir:
Please give me date of enlistment, discharge and pension Granted one, John Sorrell or Sorrill of Spot tsylvania county Virginia.
If he left a widow please give name of same.
Thanking you in advance I am 
Respectfully, 
(Miss) Lillie Rice.
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Rec 1 Ag 26.

557 W. 124
New York.
Aug 23- 1917.
Commissioner of Pensions.
Washington. D.C.
Please send me the pension record of Jno Sorrell Va. Militia 1833- 73 yrs Spotsylvania Co. Va.
Sincerely.
Mrs P.J. Gantt

[black ink stamp]
REV. WAR SECTION 
AUG 24 1917
PENSION BUREAU
Page 14

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS

[in pencil] S. F. 6.138 [in pencil]
Washington, D. C., [blank line], 19 [blank line]

In reply to your request of [blank line], received [blank line] for a statement of the military history of [in pencil] John Sorrell [return to typewritten] a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen-sion on  file in this Bureau.
Dates of enlistment or appointment. | Length of service. | Rank. | Officers under whom service was rendered. Captain. Colonel.| State.
[columns filled in pencil]
Sept. 4, 1775 | 3 mos. | Pvt. | Philip Buckner| [check mark] | Va.
Apr. 1, 1776 | 6 mos. | [blank] | Robert Ware | [check mark] | [blank]
May 1, 1781 | Oct. 29, 1781 | [blank] | [in brace] John Legg | Merriwether | [blank]
[blank] | [blank] | [blank] | [in brace] Coleman| [checkmark] | | [blank]

Battles engaged in, [in pencil] Captain of [illegible]
Residence of solider at enlistement, [in pencil] Caroline County Va.
Date of application for pension, [in pencil] Jany 7 1833 His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, [in pencil] Spotsylvania Co. Va.
Age at date of application, [in pencil] [in brace] born in 1760 in Caroline Co. Va.
Remarks: [in pencil] [in brace] died Dec 26 1843
[in pencil] There is no data on file as to his family
Respectfully, Commissioner.
[illegible]-285C
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE

JANUARY 20TH, 1846

Sir:

    Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An Act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The Adm: of John Sorrell, died? a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va. Agency, at the rate of fifty dollars and ----cents per annum, under the law of the 7 June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1843, to the 26th Dec, 1843.
Respectfully, yours,
[Signature Illegible] Parris
Comptroller


To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.