Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8614, Obadiah Griffin, Va.
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Service Number
VA Griffin, Obadiah S.8614
CONTENTS carded
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Virginia 16,073
Obadiah Griffin
of Henrico in the State of Virginia
who was a pri: & sergt. in the Company commanded by Captain Proper of the Regt. commanded by Col. Southal in the Virginia
line for 24 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 85 Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 28th day of June '33 and sent Hon: A. Steven=
=son Richmond Va.

Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 170
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept " - 42.50
$212.50
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6. Page 9
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State of Virginia,
Henrico County} S.S.
On this third day of September 1832, personally appeared in open court, before John S. Ellis Samuel Pleasants Jesse Snead & John L Bowles, justices of the Court of Henrico County, now sitting, Obadiah Griffin, a resident of said County, and State aforesaid, aged seventy eight 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 the 7th, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States, either in the year 1775 or 1776, in the Militia, being a volunteer he cannot say which year 1775 or 1776 nor can he name the month, much less the day, he was about the first that went into the service, from his neighborhood in the said County of Henrico where he then lived & where he has ever since resided; under Captn Thos. Draper he thinks he first served, he recollects the following officers during his frequent services afterwards being drafted as a Militia Man, Capts, Brooks, Proper, Wm. Mosby, Wm. Price, Lieut Wm. Duval, Cols. Selden, Southall, Pleasants and Irvis, under the command of the most & or all of them, he served at different times, & others whose names has escaped him, and he continued to serve from time to time, until the close of the war, making altogether much more than two whole years service, he thinks he was not at home one third of the time, from his entering the Army to the end of the war, - in the latter part of his time, he acted for 3 months as a Sergeant & had the command of a guard at the Magazine at Westham above Richmond, he cannot state the different times he was called into & discharged from the service, he was in several Skirmishes, and in one which deserved the name of a battle on James River at Case's below Richmond, under the command of Col: Southall & others, where the enemy took several vessels where we to prevent it being taken blew up a Magazine vessel, in which rencontse he - received a severe injury on his head and has been deaf ever since in consequence of it; He marched principally in the lower part of Virginia, from above Richmond to Williamsburg, York, Hampton, about the sea shore, up and down James River - He was at the siege of York, & left there two days before the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, he thinks under a furlough, he was sick, and shortly after was again in service at the magazine above mentioned & elsewhere - He served one whole tour of duty in Gloucester & its vicinity. and was in Richmond when the enemy burnt warehouses &c. he never had a discharge in writing - they were all by the word of mouth.
He submits the accompanying affidavits in support of his statements.
He Declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state whatever -
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Obediah Griffin x his mark
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Mosby Pulliam, being duly known, states that he has been long aquainted with Obadiah Griffin, whose declaration is on the other side of this paper, and that he personally knows the fact, that the said Griffin was a soldier in the revolutionary war that they were frequintly together during some part of their [illegible] in the same and that he believes that said Griffin did serve as in his declaration is declared - known to in afor court the day aforesaid - Mosby Pulliam

He John Mosby & Benjamin Sheppard residing in the County of Henrico and State of Virginia do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Obadiah Griffin, who has [illegible] and sworn to the above declaration; that he is [illegible] and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
John Mosby
Ben Sheppard sheriff of the said County of Henrico
Sworn, and subscribed to the day and year aforesaid

Virginia
At a monthly Court held for Henrico County at the Courthouse on the 3d day of September 1832-
This[?] foregoing declaration of Obadiah Griffin was this day [illegible] and sworn to an open Court by the said Griffin, 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 the said Mosby Pulliam John Mosby and Benjamin Sheppard who signed the above certificates are residents of the County of Henrico and are credible persons, and that their statements are entitled to credit and that the latter Benjamin Sheppard is Sheriff of said County -
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had supposed was dead - which affidavit made before Joseph Tate Esq. Mayor of the city of Richmond, was before the department with his original declaration, but not mentioned in it; the Certificate of the clerk of the Court of Hastings under seal has been subsequently appended to it, and the said Certificate is again sent accompanying the amended declaration - He has no other evidence documentary or otherwise, known to him, in relation to his services than that which accompanies this his said amended Declaration -
And the said Obadiah Griffin, deposeth and saith, that by reason of the length of time, of his 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 two months under Capt. Proper & Lieut. Duval as a volunteer, For three months under Capt. Agee whose name is not in his origl. declaration, For three months under Capt. Wm.
No. 8041
Burton of lower end of Henrico, name not in declaration, For six months under Capt. Proper in the Militia - For three months under Capt. Brooks - For three months under Capt. Wmm. Price, For six Months under Capt. Wm. Mosby, For three months under Capt. Jack or Jno. Williamson, the whole of which time he served as a private: he was appointed a sergeant, by Colo. Southall, & sent to the magazine at Westham, above Richmond & had the command of a parcel of men - where he served 3 months guarding the Magazine - and at the meadow Bridges he served 2 months under Capt. Wm. Burton of the upper end of Henrico; where he labored very hard taking the bridges up to prevent the enemy Crossing - and he served various other shorter tours, being continually almost harrassed with the approach of the enemy about Richmond & on various parts of the river below, in fact he considered himself almost always on duty - and for which services he claims a pension-
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and declares his name is not on the pension roll of any state whatever -
Obadiah Griffin x his mark
Sworn & subscribed to, in open Court, by the said Obadiah Griffin, the day and year aforesaid.
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I Loftin N Ellett Clerk of the County Court for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Obadiah Griffin for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal of
Office this 5th day of September
1832 on the 57th year of the Com=
=monwealth.
Loftin N. Ellett C.H.C.

Henrico County, Sct.
On this 3d day of June 1833, personally appeared before John Shepperd, Sydl. Bowels, Richard Adams & Jno. L. Bowles - justices of the Court of Henrico County, now sitting, Obadiah Griffin, of said County, and made the following amended declaration on oath, being first duly sworn - in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.
That he was born in Henrico County, & has always resided in that County - He has no record of his age - he further states that there is no minister of the Gospel, now living Known to him, who can testify as to his revolutionary services, or who knows any thing at all, about them, either from heresay or otherwise - that there had been some  years since in the neighborhood where he was raised a minister who could have certified facts in relation to his services but he is now dead - that during his various tours of duty, he was for short periods in Company with Continental soldiers, but that he knew very few if any of them, and cannot now state with certainty any continental officers who he may have seen, or then merely knew by sight. he must have seen & at least known by sight at the siege of York many - Messrs. Mosby Pulliam, Jno. Mosby and Benjamin Shepperd, residents of said County; have testified already as to his services & the belief of the neighborhood in relation to them-
Since his original declaration now made he has found a furlough amongst his old papers, dated Jany. 25th 1781, signed Geo Lee Turbervile Major for Colo. Nicholas under he then served & a recommendation preceding the furlough for it, signed J M Galt Surgeon - which paper accompanies this amended declaration - After his said declaration was prepared & sworn to in Court, he was enabled to procure the affidavit of Wm. Grimstead of Goochland, whom he had no then for a long time seen and
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Virginia,
At a Quarterly Court held for Henrico County at the Courthouse on the 3d day of June 1835
This amended declaration
of Obadiah Griffin was subscribed and sworn to in open Court by the said Griffin, and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the first second fifth and seventh interrogatories prescribed by the War department that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states -
I Loftin N. Ellett Clerk of the County Court
for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Obadiah Griffin for a pension
In Testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and
seal of Office this 15th day of June 1833
in the 57th year of the Commonwealth
Loftin N. Ellett CHC
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Obediah Griffin
Rev Pensioner
under Act 1832
Virginia

see papers

Ex
by Jno S Neely
May 1852
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Claim of Obediah Griffin
Act of 7th June 1832-
STATE OF Virginia
Cty of Richmond} SS:
Be it known, that on the seventh day of February A.D. eighteen hundred and fifty two,before the undersigned, an Alderman & as such a Justice of the Peace in and for the city and State aforesaid, personally appeared Fendall Griffin, a resident of Henrico County, and made oat according to law, that he is a son & Executor of Obadiah Griffin who was a revolutionary pensioner as Private & Sergeant at the rate of $85 per Annum & paid to the 4th of March 1834
that he is directly interested, as aforesaid, as a claimant, and makes this affidavit for the purpose of obtaining such increase of Pension as may be due under any of the Laws, Regulations, or decisions that have been or may hereafter be adopted. The said Affiant further declares that he hereby constitutes and appoints
to be Attorney and Agent to prosecute said claim, with power of substitution, to examine all papers and documents in relation to it, and to do all things necessary and lawfl in the premises; except drawing the money, which will be hereafter provided for.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and
year aforesaid, before me,} Fendall Griffin
John J London J. Peace.
I, John J London Alderman & as such a Justice of the Peace in and for the City and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that the said Fendall Griffin, above named, is a respectable resident of the County of Henrico and is, as I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth, and acknowledges the above Power of Attorney to be his act and deed.
John J London J. Peace.
City of Richmond, towit:
In testimony that the above-named John J. London, was a Justice of the Peace in and for said City, at the date of the same, I hereby subscribe my name and affix the Seal of the Hastings Court of said City, this 7th day of February 1852.
Chs: Howard, Clerk.
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7041
Obadiah Griffin

Admit as
Sergeant 3 mos 15.00
Private 21 - 70
85.00
5, 11, 12, 14, 16
Int 1, 2, 5, 7.
Decr. 4th
Pensioner
Richmond
Va
Andw. Stevenson
Richd. 132.
Va
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8041
BRIEF in the case of Obadiah Griffin
County of Henrico in the State of Virginia
(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? 78

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

Period.
In 1775 or '76
again & again Cannot state the different times
Duration of Service.
Years, Months, Days.
from time to time much more than 2 years
Rank. As a
private & sergt.
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.
Cap. Thos. Drosser
Capt. Brooks, Prosser
Wm. Mosby Wm. Price
Cols. Selden Southal Pleasant Ennis

5. In what battles was he engaged? York

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Henrico Cty Va.

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

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The official Character of the Mayor is not Certified

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

T. Waugh Examining Clerk.
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Obadiah Griffin
S.F.8614
Va.
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Obadiah Griffin on Examination appears
unfit for Immediate Duty - he is therefore
recommended for a Furlough.
J. M. Gall Surgeon
Jany 25th 1781-
The above named Obadiah Griffin has leave of Absence for twenty days.
Jabez Tubervile Major
Jay. 25th 1780- for Colo. Nicholas-
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City of Richmond to wit-
Personally appeared before me a justice of the peace of the city of Richmond in the State of Virginia, William Grinstead of the County of Goochland in the said state and made oath that he was personally acquainted with Obadiah Griffin during the revolutionary War and that he served three tours with him during that war under the command of Captains Thomas Proper and Jack Williamson - and that he believes he served frequently after that in the service of his Country - Given under my hand this 6th day of September in the year 1832
William Grinstead x his mark
Sworn to and Subscribed, by
Wm. Grinstead, before me, this
sixth of September 1832,
in the City of Richmond
Joseph Tate Mgr
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Virginia, City of Richmond, Towit,
I Thomas C Howard Clerk of the Court of Hastings, for the said City, do hereby certify that Joseph Tate, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate, is Mayor of the said City, and presiding magistrate of the Court of Hastings thereof
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and affixed the seal of the said
Court of Hastings, this 5th day of June
1833.
Th: C. Howard
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8614
INVALID
File No. 8614
Obadiah Griffin
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index:--Vol. [illegible], Page 151
[Arrangement of 1870.]