Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,442, Moses Woosley, Va.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE
[Handwritten] Va. Woosley, Moses
NUMBER
[Handwritten] S. 6442
[Handwritten] carded
CONTENTS
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[All handwritten]
Letter to Lewis Webb. 31 Oct 1837. Order to pay 31 Oct 1837 lots to (illegible) Webb Booker & Hamilton, & Peter (illegible) 3.00 amount May 11, 1840. Paid at this Treasury under the Act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 March 1838 to 4 Sept 1839. Agt notified 6th June 1840.
Paid as above from March 4th to April 4th 1841. Agent notified June 1, 1842.
Virginia 16,370
Moses Woosley of Halifax in the State of Va. who was a Pr. in the command by Captain of the Regt commanded by Col. Mason in the (illegible) line for 2 years. 
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 80. Dollars no Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of Aug 1837 and (illegible) Thos. Williams Williams Store, Va.
Arrears to the 4th of March 03 160
Semi-anl. allowance ending (illegible) 40
$200.00
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Nath. Rice Clerk Book 6 Vol. 6 Page 31.
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Moses Woosley
22901
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State of Virginia, To Wit: On this Third day of September 1832 Personally appeared before me John L Jennings a Justice of the Peace in Halifax County.  Moses Woosley, a resident of said County and State aforesaid, aged seventy four 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 7th, 1832, that he enlisted in the Army of the United States to the best of his recollection in the month of December 1776 or in the month of January 1777 for three years with Ensign Samuel Jones in the County of Amelia in the State of Virginia and was attached to Captain James Foster's Company and marched to Dumphries where we found the 15th Virginia Regiment under Col. Mason, at that place we were enoculated with the Small Pox and remained there until we became well, and then marched through Alexandria Georgetown to Baltimore and from thence to Philadelphia and from there to the best of my recollection to the White Plains in the State of New York where we joined the main Army under Gen. Washington.  I was transferred to Capt. Gray's Company and was under the command of Col. Ennid in Genl. Woodford's Brigade and I was with them in the battle of Germantown and at Stoney Point on the north River and I was in many skirmishes during of the three years that I served under this enlistment.  I was discharged on the first day of January 1780 at Philadelphia and came home with Richardson Booker who was discharged with me at the same time after which I served three tours of duty in the Militia Service.  I was at the Siege at qb in the battle near Camden when Genl. Gates
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was defeated, and was present when Lord Cornwallis surrendered himself and his Army to Genl. Washington.  My discharged are lost and cannot be found.  I have no documentary evidence, and know of no living person that was in Service with me that I can prove it by.
I was born in the County of Buckingham in the State of Virginia in the year 1758-the record of which is yet in my possession.  I lived in Amelia County Va. when I entered the Service of the United States.  After I was discharged from the Service, I came to the County of Halifax and have lived in that County ever since. 
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and I declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any state.
His mark
Moses Woosley
Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid John S. Jennings, J. P.
I John S. Jennings a Justice of the Peace in the County of Halifax and State of Virginia do hereby declare from my acquaintance with the above named applicant, that it is my opinion & belief that he was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he stated.  I further declare my opinion that from bodily infirmity he is not able to appear before the Court of the County in which he resides. Given under my hand this 3rd day of September 1832.
John S. Jennings, J. P. 
I Samuel Williams Clerk of the Court of the County of Halifax in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that John L Jennings before whom the foregoing declaration of Moses Woosley was made, was at the time an acting Justice of the Peace of said county and that his signature is genuine. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name with the official seal of said county at my office this 31st day of January 1833.
Samuel Williams
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Know all Men by these Presents that, I, Moses Woosley of the County of Halifax and State of Virginia, do hereby constitute and appoint Thomas Williams of Pittsylvania County, my true and Lawful Attorney, with a power of substitution for me and in my name, to receive from the United States, the amount of pay now due to me, under the Act of Congress, passed June 7, 1832, entitled an Act Supplementary to an Act for the relieve of the Surviving Officers and Soldiers of the Revolution as a Private in the Army of the Revolution. As Witness, my hand and seal this Third day of September 1832
His mark
Moses Woosley
Sealed and delivered in the presence of Holman H. Woosley
Charles Rokes 
Before me John L. Jennings a Justice of the Peace, in the County of Halifax and State of Virginia. Personally appeared this day Moses Woosley whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Power of Attorney, and acknowledged the same to be his Act and Deed Given under my hand this Third day of September 1832 John L. Jennings
Before me John L. Jennings a Justice of the Peace, in the county of Halifax and State of Virginia. Personally appeared this day Thomas Williams and Attorney named in the foregoing Power of Attorney, and made Oath that the same was not given to him by reason of any transfer, or of any attachment, levy, or seizure, by any legal process whatever, of the pay therein authorized to be received, but that the said pay is intended to enure wholly to the personal benefit of the person by whom the said power was executed. Witness, my hand this Third day of September 1832. John L. Jennings
I Samuel Williams Clerk of the Court, of the County of Halifax in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that John L. Jennings before whom the forgoing Power of Attorney was acknowledged, and Affidavit was Sworn, and was at the time a Justice of the Peace, duly empowered to Administer Oaths of said county. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the Seal of said County at my office this 31st day of January 1833. Samuel Williams
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22961
Moses Woosley 
VA
Admit as private
2 y. $80.00
Thos Williams
Williams Store
Pittsylvania Co Va
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WAR DEPARTMENT, 
Pension Office,
[Handwritten] 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 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, (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.
Statement, showing the Service of Moses Woosley Halifax Co. Va.
Period when the service was rendered.
[Handwritten] Enlisted Dec 76 or Jan 77 15 Va Regt
Years.
[Handwritten] 3
Months.
Days.
Rank of the claimant.
[Handwritten] Pr.
Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.
[Handwritten] Cap Fosterr Cap Gray
Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.
[Handwritten] Col Mason Col Ennis
Battles in which the applicant was engaged.
[Handwritten] Germantown Stony Point Camden Yorktown
Country through which he marched.
[Handwritten] Va. Md. N.J. Pa. N.Y.
Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.
[Handwritten] 74 Amelia Co. Va.
Evidence by which the declaration is supported.
[Handwritten] None if not on Rolls
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, & Teamsters, Boatmen, etc. 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
County of
On this day of personally appeared (a) before A. B. 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 this 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, etc.)
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except for 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 the 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 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 etc. 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 or the 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. 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 proceeding 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 etc.
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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8
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. Howe 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 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 the 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 the 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.
Applicant 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 transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken as 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. 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, etc. 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, etc., 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 has no public seal of office, the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
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 witnesses, 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.
[Handwritten] Must prove his service. W. L. Williams
[Handwritten]  *Look on the Rolls for Moses Woosley instead of Wm. See certificates of Wm Selden Register of the Va. Land Office.
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Second Comptroller's Office,
[Handwritten] May 8, 1840
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," Moses Woosley a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va Agency, at the rate of Eighty Dollars and __Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th of June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1838, to the 4th Sept., 1839.
Respectfully yours,
[Handwritten] Albion K. Parris
Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.
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[Postmarked envelope] May 30
Williams
Williams Store
Pittsylvania, Virginia
Mail
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[Handwritten letter]
Land Office
Richmond May 30, 33
No advices of council allowing Land bounty to
Irby or to McMancy have been filed new.
It does not appear here that Ian Woody has received Land bounty, for his services as Waggon Mailer.
(Illegible)
W. Selden
I certify that a military (illegible) No. 2455 for 100 acres of land was opened by the State of Virginia to Moses Woosley on the 11th day of Dec 1784 for 3 years of service as a Private in the () lines and that no other (illegible) has opened for (illegible) Witness my hand & seal of office this 3 May 1833. Wm. Selden office Va.
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[Handwritten] Rev War 
6442
INVALID.
File No. 6442
Moses Woosley
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index: Vol. A, Page 414
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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[Handwritten] Moses Woosley Virginia $80 7 June 1832 To what (illegible) last paid
Pension office
31 Oct 1837 to the 4 Sep 1835
J. H.
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 [Postmarked envelope] 
Richmond Oct 26 VA
Oct 28 Mr. Evans
J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC

Is in the concern pension claim
Richmond Oct 25th 1833
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[Handwritten]
Richmond Oct 25th 1837
Sir
The enclosed pension claim cannot be paid, I am informed, without instructions from you. 2 years pension being due. You will please give the amount his (illegible) instructions.
Respectfully,
(Illegible) 
Lewis Webb
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
May 19th, 1842
Sir:
Under the date 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," Moses Woosley, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va. Agency, at the rate of Eighty Dollars and __cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, to the 4th Sept. 1841.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS, 
Present.
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME
[Handwritten] Woosley, Thomas
GRADE
[Handwritten] Private
LINE
[Handwritten] Virginia
[Handwritten] 5 entries:
WARRANT NUMBER 
[Handwritten] 12267
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED
[Handwritten] May 8, 1794 to -not shown.
[Handwritten] and 12648 (with note: 12267) issued May 8, 1794 to- not shown.
[Handwritten] and 14091 (with note: also see 12267) issued January 8, 1795 to -not shown.
[Handwritten] and 14091 issued January 8, 1795 to Robert Means, assignee
[Handwritten] and 12671 (with note: 14091) issued Jan. 8, 1795 to Robert Means, assignee
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volum2 to 4 of "Land Warrant Issued Prior to 1800" which are 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 is surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in the National Archives.