Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7271, for Richard Nichols, Pennsylvania
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Penn               Nichols, Richard            S 7271


                                                                 Carded
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12.0.88       
Virginia               
Richard Nichols   
of Wood Co. in the State of Virg’a who was a Private in the Comp’y commanded by Captain Ricketts of the Reg’t commanded by Col. Campbell in the Penn’a line for 19 months.
63.33
DVN
Inscribed on the roll of Virginia at the rate of 63 Dollars and 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 20 day of May 1833 and sent to H. L. Prentiss Parkersburgh Va.  
Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833   126.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Septr 1833    31.67
$ 158.33
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm. R. Palmer Clerk
Book   L   Vol Six  page Nineteen
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Let 20 March 35  Pen Agents 
Let 20 March 35 J. M. Steed }  Drop?
Hon L. Cass Apl 18 1836
H. L. Prentiss Dec’r 5 1836
Letter Hon. J. M. H. Beal 21 Jan 7 1850
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Commonwealth of Virginia Wood County SS

On this 21st day of November 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of Wood County now setting Richard Nickols a resident of Wood County and State of Virginia aged Seventy three years and upwards 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 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States  under the following named Officers and Served as herein stated - 
That in the year 1775 he resided about nine miles from Pittsburg Pennsylvania, I was drafter in the militia of said State, that I went into actual service under Capt Josiah Rickets of said State his Lieut. was Alex McDone the Col. of our regiment was George Vanlangsham I was stationed on Race on Creek - Washington County in said State of Pennsylvania at a Mill said to belong to our Captain where I remained three months and was then discharged and came home, that in 1776 my Brother older than myself was drafted, I took his place and served one month on Grants Hill near Pittsburg Pa under one Col. Robt. Campbel who resided in Pittsburg the Capts name I do not remember, I think Crooks was his name. - In the year 1777 I again entered the service as a Volunteer under Capt Joseph Cissna of the Pennsylvania Militia or spies and was a part of the time stationary and a greater part of the time was scouting with different parties. When stationed I was generally 12 miles below Pittsburg on the Ohio River at the mouth of Moncures Run I was eight months in this service under said Capt Cissna. In the same year I served one month more under the same Capt stationed at the same place as above stated - In the year 1778 I was hired as a substitute and served one month at the same station under on Capt James Wright-
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my next service was instead of my Brother who was drafted in the year 1778. I marched from Pittsburgh to somewhere on the head water of the Muskingum River above the mouth of Whitewoman of Tuskarowra Creek the place was then called Fort Lawrence. My Col. was William Crawford and my Capt James Wright under who I had before served and I was in the service three months -- in 1780 I again hired myself as a substitute for another man, whose name I do not recollect, and served better than two months Col. Broadhead was our Commander, my Capt name was James Ross.   I marched from Pittsburgh up the Allegheny River, to an Indian town then called Black Mingo and afterwards returned to Pittsburgh and received my discharge - in all the times I have enumerated I received my discharge from the proper officers, but not appreciating there value I took no care of them and they are lost --- I was born in Dumfries Prince William County Virginia in the year 1759 -- I have no record of my age, and have to speak as I was informed by my parents -- I have no recollection of any regular officers unless Col Broadhead was one as I understood he had been -- And while I was out under Col. Crawfford as above stated General McIntosh was our General -- I think he might have been a regular officer as I understood he came from another state -- I was never in any regular battle but on one occasion volunteered under Capt Joseph Cissna and went to Smoke Island and had a brush with some Indians, of which we killed seven and some few escaped I do not know of any person now living that actually knew of my service having resided in Wood County Va. for the last thirty two years, I am known to the most of the citizens in the upper end of this county vizt -- John A. Kennaird, James Henderson Burr Triplett &c -- with Reece Woolf, D.B. Spencer and Abraham Samuels -- there is no regular clergyman living in my neighborhood or in the county that I know of -- Thereby relinquish every claim what ever to a pension or annuity
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except the present and declaire that my name is not on the Pension Roll of any state whatever -
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Richard Nichols

I Reece Woolf of Wood County do certify that I have been clothed with authority to solmnize matrimony in the county aforesaid for last Twenty five years that I have known 'Rich' Nichols who makes the above declaration, during that time and from my knowledge of the man I have full faith in his statement
Reece Woolf

The Abm Samuels and D.B. Spencer residing in Wood County do certify that we have been acquainted with Rich Nicols the person applying for a pension as set out above for a number of years (to wit, Samuels 21 years and Spencer 25 years) and from our knowledge of the man we believe that his statement is entitled to full credit, as he has to us always appeared to be a man of regular habits and good moral character - Given under our hands this 21st Nov 1832-
A. Samuels
D.B. Spencer

Virginia Ss
Wood County Court November Term 1832 At a Quarterly Court continued and held for the County of Wood aforesaid at the Court House thereof before the Commonwealth's Justices of the peace in and for said County on Wednesday the 21st day of November in the year 1832.
Richard Nichols this day came into court and subscribed and made oath to his declaration agreeable to an act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832 in order to obtain a pension for his services as a soldier in the Revolutionary War - and after the court having fully
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examines the applicant and the forgoing statement 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 Reece Woolf, Abraham Samuels and David B Spencer who has signed the same, are residents of this County and are creditable persons, and that their statements are intitled to credit -

Virgnia SS
I John Stephenson Jr Clerk of the County Court of Woods County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Richard Nichols for a pension - In Testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said county Court of Office at Parkerburgh this 26th day of November 1839 and in the 57th year of the Commonwealth -
Stephenson Jr

Rich Nichols 
19126
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No 19126   
12688    
Rich’d Nichols      
Wood Co Virg’a   
Adm for 19 months from 1775           
H L Prentiss agt 
Parkersburg
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WAR DEPARTMENT,              
Pension Office,              
13th May 1833              
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 
A Statement shewing the Service of Rich’d Nichols Wood Co. Virg’a
Period when the service was rendered.  Draft. 1775   Duration of the claimant’s service. 3 Months.   Rank of the Claimant.  Private   Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.  Cap. Isaiah Rickets  Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers.   Col. Geo. Vanlanghan    Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  Smoky Island   Country through which he marched.  Raccoon Creek Washington Co.  below Pittsburg   Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.   Pittsburg Pa  73    Evidence by which the declaration is supported.  Traditionary
Period when the service was rendered.  Sub. for Brother  1776   Duration of the claimant’s service.  1 mo.   Rank of the Claimant.  Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.  Captain Alex McDermott   Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers.  Col. Robt Campbell  Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  Country through which he marched.   Below Pittsburg
Period when the service was rendered.   Vol  1777   Duration of the claimant’s service.   8 months   Rank of the Claimant.   Spy    Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.  Cap. Jo’s Cissna  Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers.  Col. Crawford   Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  Country through which he marched.  Brushing Run Ft. Lawson   
Period when the service was rendered.  Sub 1778 for whom he doesn’t state    Duration of the claimant’s service.  1 month   Rank of the Claimant.  Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.   Cap. Jas. Wright   Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers.  Col. Broadhead   Battles in which the applicant was engaged.  Country through which he marched.   From Pittsburg to the Allegany River
Period when the service was rendered.   Sub for his brother 778   Duration of the claimant’s service.  3 months   Rank of the Claimant.  Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.  Captain Ross   Names and Rank of the General and Field Officers.  Gen’l  McIntosh  
Period when the service was rendered.   Sub for 1780 a man whose name is forgotten   Duration of the claimant’s service. 2 months better than   
I am, respectfully, Your obedient servant J. L. EDWARDS, Commissioner of Pensions.
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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 in stance, 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 
County of } ss.
On this day of A.B. a resident (b) of personally appeared (a) before in the county of and State, Territory or District years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make the in 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) 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 that of Agency in the State of    
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. A. B. 
[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. 
I of the Court of hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter 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 hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be and C.D. residing in (the same) who has 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 contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of for a pension. 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 his 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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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. { Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? 
To an Officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what Town officer 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. 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 Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed 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 declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can cure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the person 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. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the 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---yearmonths , anddays , I served as amonths and --- days, I served as 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 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 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 is 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 on 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 wife nesses, and the official character and signature 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 in 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.
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I James Henderson of Wood County Virginia do hereby certify that I have known Rich’d Nickles who make his Application to the Pension office for a pension under the Act of 7th June 1832 for the last 15 years that I have heard him speak of his revolutionary Services long before the passage of the act afforesaid and that he believes his statement and that no person who knows Rich’d Nickols would doubt his statement he being an old man of unblemished Character               
James Henderson         
Subscribed & sworn to before me the subsiber Justice of the peace for said County Virgina this 26th Nov. 1832 
H. L. Prentiss 
JP
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Rev War
7271        
INVALID. 
File No. 7271         
Richard Nichols    
Pri Rev War       
Act: June 7th 1832       
Index:--Vol. 1A, Page 274 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Adam Dunn Papers
Not present
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Browns Hotel    6th Jany 1850            
James L. Edwards 
Com. Pensions }   
Sir     Please answer to me the enquiries contained in the enclosed communication of D. R. Neal in relation to the Certificate and as paid to  John Brookover, Rich’d Nichols and Adam Dunn Respectfully     
Jno H. Beall
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Rich'd Nicholas Pen
Wood County
Tran
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Richard Nicholas Serv’d 19 Mo  draw $126.66   
I the undersigned Richard Nicholas, in pursuance of the inquisition of the secretary of war give naration following of my age and Revolutionary Services to wit.                  
On the 5th day of July 1776. I attended a festival at Pittsburg in honor of the Declaration of Independance, and immediately thereafter I was drafted in the neighbourhood of Pittsburg for one month and served under Capt Rooks at Pittsburg, Genl Hand commanded the Station -  my company was stationed at Grants Hill near Pittsburg 
1         
In the year 1778 I substituted in my brother Colanhews place for three months. John McIntosh campaign at Pittsburg Right was my captain Genl McIntosh Marched his army across the County to the mouth [unreadable] & then onto a garrison or fort from there the army was marched to Tuscarawas and at that place build Fort Lawrence [Fort Laurens], and then returned to Fort McIntosh at which place my tour was expired and I was discharged -  
3     
In the year 1779 I served one month at Moncures Bottoms 12 miles above Pittsburg. under Capt Right. There was about 25 or 30 men at the station and four or five families who had farms in the neighborhood and in the Fort, - in this time I was a substitute. but cant recollect for whom 
1    
In the year 1780 I substituted to the place of __ Campbell and marched from Pittsburg under Capt. Ross up the Allegany to the Mantha town.  Genl Broadhead commanded the expedition the Indian town we burnt their corn destroyed and seven Indians were killed, I was in this service forty days, that being the time for which I hired as a substitute-
6 weeks
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the foregoing comprises all the service I done except some [unreadable] Scouting in that time - 
in one of these tours I was out [unreadable] all the service I done was as a substitute. except one month. I cant tell why it was that I was not drafted as others were.  I did [unreadable] from my Times. I know of no living Witness by whom I could have proved them. H. L. Prentice with my declaration that been the same in substance [unreadable]. In Witness that the pregoing statement contains his truth I hereto Subscribe my name   Dec’r 12. 1834   Richard Nicholas          
Witness W. G. Singleton ---
 A true copy from original [unreadable]   
W. G. Singleton Decr. 14, 1834 -