Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5763, for John Mitchell, Virginia
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(3-1776)

SERVICE                               NUMBER

Va.     Mitchell, John             S.5763

CONTENTS                           carded
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Virginia 12.573 see letters to C.M.Mitchell P.Agt.
John Mitchell 23 Dec. 1836
Montgomery in the State of Virginia
who was a pvt. fifer in the company commanded
by Captain Ward of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Richardson in the Virginia
ne for 7 months & 24 days

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 26 Dollars 33 - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of May '33 and sent R.D. Mont  
gave Montgomery, C. Hire (clr)
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 52.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4th Sept. 13.161/2
$65.821/2
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7,1832
Recorded by William Miller Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6 Page 17
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Admit as a partial for 
6 mo. and 12 days
as fifer 1 mo. 1 day Vh. 33
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BRIEF in the case of John Mitchell
County of Montgomery in the State of Virginia 
(Act 7th Jine, 1832.)
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open le curia
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 72 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period   Duration of Service.  Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
        Years Months Days
In 1776         1         12 Fife Inaf. Capt. Ward
Fall of 1777   1         12  Capt. Cranock Maj. Clarkson Col. Richardson Col. Franklin
1781              5 1 1 1 Some time after the last service I was employed again he was comiyed.
5. In what battles was he engaged?
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Amelia County Virginia
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8969
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State of Virginia, Montgomery County 
On this 3rd day of September 1832, personally appeared in open court, before the Justices of the count of said county now sitting John Mitchell a resident of the said county & state aged almost 72 years, who being first sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832: That he entered into the service of the United States, under the following named officers and served as herein after stated, in the County of Amelia in the State of Virginia in the year 1776 (as well as he can remember), he was drafted into service with other militia for no definite term. He entered upon service however as a Fife Major, and continued therein six weeks, under the following officers to wit Ensign Roberts (Lieutenant not [illegible], Captain Rowland Ward; He does not remember that there was any officers present above the grade of Captain. There were but two companies together in this particular service. The other company than that to which he belonged was commanded by Capt Wilson. He with the companies aforesaid was marched to Hampton in Virginia and there stationed to watch the British and prevent if possible their landing a British fleet [illegible] at that time in the Chesapeake bay in view of Hampton. Here he continued until having served six weeks he was discharged. In the fall of 1777 (as well as he can remember)  in the said county of Amelia, he was again drafted into the service and entered therein under the following Richard Craddock Lieutenant, William Craddock Captain, Dr. Cluman Major a Frenchman, and who had command of the forces to which the applicant belonged performing this tour of service, he was first marched to Cabbin point in Virginia, from which after remaining the same time, he was marched to Williamsburg where he continued discharged having been in service
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in this first tour six weeks. Again in the year 1781 (according to recollection which as to dates is very imperfect) in the same place Amelia county, he was drafted into the service and entered under the following officers to wit William Craddock Capt. (Majors name forgotten) Richinson or Richardson Colo. He & the forces to which he belonged having assembled at Hillsborough in North Carolina, were from thence marched under command of Genl. Stevens to a point in S. Carolina (name not recollected) where he and the whole of the command of Genl. Stevens joined the forces of Genl. Gates, and on the succeeding night the Battle of Camden was commenced by the advanced[?] guards; The action became general on the following morning, we were defeated and as well as we could, each man for himself retreated back to Hillsborough, where we remained about two weeks until the straglers [stragglers] had pretty well come in Then the forces to which the applicant belonged were reduced[?] to a Colonels command, and assigned to Colo. Faulkner; Capt Price now commanded the company to which the applicant belonged.  The forces being there organised [organized] they with the applicant were marched to a place called New Garden[?] in North Carolina where they remained some time to protect the whigs from the tories after marching to and from various places in this country he was finally marched to Guilford Court house where having remained there about a month he was discharged.  This tour of service embraced a term of five months.  Some time after this last tour, this applicant again entered the service in the county of Amelia, and was employed one month in collecting Beeves[?] for the support of the army.  This service was in lieu of services in the ranks.  Again he was employed one other month in lieu of services in the ranks in taking care of Horses lately pressed for the light Horse service.  He has no evidence further of any kind of his said services.  He relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
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present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll
of the agency of any State. Sworn to and subscribed the day
and year aforesaid
John Mitchell
We Henry H Chapman Resident of Botetourt about one mile from the ┃
of the applicant, and Joseph Duckwiler resident of the
ty of Montgomery about one mile and a quarter distant
from
the residence of the applicant) hereby certify that we are
acquainted with John Fritchell, who has subscribed and
Son
to the above declaration, that we believe him to be
nearly of the age of 72 years that he is reputed and believed
in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a
soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Henry H Chapman
Joseph Buckler
and the said court do herby declare their opinion after their
investigation of the matter, and after pulling 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
Honey H Chapman and Joseph Buckler who have signed
the preceding certificate are resident citizens of the County of ┃
┃ Bolament and Montgomery and persons of credit, and that
their statement is entitled to credit
Rice D. Montague Clerk of the court of Montgomery, do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings in the matter of the application of John Mitchell ┃
for a pension
W
In Testimony whereof, I have
hereunto set my hand and seal
of Office this 11th day of September
1832 in the 57th year of the common
wealth
R.D. Montague
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February 18, 1938 
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX 

Mrs. Rachel W. Cox 
58 Anderson Place 
Morgantown, West Virginia 
[handwriting illegible]
JOHN MITCHELL 
S. 5763 
BA-J/MLB 
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Mitchell, of Virginia, whose claim was numbered S. 5763. 
The record of John Mitchell follows as found in pension claim, S. 3765, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. 
The date and place of birth and names of the parents of John Mitchell are not shown. 
John Mitchell enlisted in Amelia County, Virginia, sometime in 1776, and served six weeks as fife major in Captain Rowland Ward's Virginia company. He enlisted in the fall of 1777 and served six weeks as private in Captain William Craddock's company, under Major Cluman in the Virginia troops. He enlisted the third time, start date not stated, served as private in Captain William Craddock's company, Colonel Richardson's Virginia regiment, and in Captain Price's company, Colonel Faulkner's Virginia regiment, and was in the battle of Camden in which General Gates was defeated; length of this service five months. He later served one month in purchasing beeves for the arm and one month in taking care of horses for the light horse service. 
The soldier was allowed pension on his application executed September 3, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-two years and living in Montgomery County, Virginia. 
No reference was made in the claim to wife or children of John Mitchell. 
In 1836, one Charles M. Mitchell was a resident of Richmond, Virginia, his relationship to the soldier not shown. In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name and
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address of the person paid and possibly the date of death of the soldier, John Mitchell, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:
John Mitchell 
Certificate #12515 
Issued May 6, 1833 
Rate $26.33 per annum 
Commenced March 4, 1831 
Act June 7, 1832 
Virginia Agency. 
Very truly yours 
A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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1914 Mch. C. Clarence A. Cannon adv date & pl. of sol. birth not shown, no family data referred to and for date of death etc 1
931 - Dec. 21. Hist to Mrs. D A Lehman- M.L. B. 1938, Feb 18 - Hist to Mrs. Rachel W. Cox MLB
Revlnary
5463 
INVALID. File No. 2763 
John Mitchell 
Priv Rev War - 
Act: June 7th /32 
Index:-- Vol. M , Page 257 [Arrangement of 1870.]
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WALLACE BASSFORD, SECRETARY
CLARENCE A. CANNON, CLERK 
BENNET C. CLARK
PARLIAMENTARIAN
THE SPEAKER'S ROOM 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, D. C.
March 4, 1914.  
Honorable G. M. Saltzgaber, Commissioner of Pensions, Washington, D. C. 
My dear Mr. Commissioner: 
On September 3, 1832, John Mitchell made a declaration for a pension for services in the Revolutionary War. He was residing at the time in Montgomery County, Virginia, and had been drafted from Amelia County, Virginia. 
Will you please advise me as to what statements he made as to the place of his birth and the names of any relatives. 
I am not interested in the details of his service. 
Most respectfully, 
Clarence A Bannon 
Clerk to the Speaker.
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[SEAL]
VETERANS ADMINISTRATION 
WASHINGTON
November 17, 1931
IN REPLY REFER TO: 
BA-J/MLB 
[stamp: RECEIVED DEC 18 1931 [illegible]]
Mrs. D. A. Lehman 
105 North Granger Street 
Harrisburg, Illinois 
Dear Madam: 
Reference [handwritten note: only [illegible] is made to your letter requesting information relative to John or Mark Mitchell, soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
The data given by you are not sufficient to enable this office to make a proper search of the records. 
As a means of identifying the particular John and Mark Mitchell in whom you are interested, should their records be on file, as much as possible of the following data in regard to each should be furnished: approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service and given name of widow. 
Very truly yours 
A.D. Hiller 
A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator 
[stamp: RECEIVED DEC 14 1938 RECEIPT SECTION PENSION FILES SUB-DIVISION]
[handwritten] They were probably born in Montgomery Co. Va. as they enlisted there. Their misses names may have been Susan, Sarah or Eliza. Probably born around 1755 or 60 (over )
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[handwritten: Can't Ident. 
2/7/38 CR
T.J
Morgantown, W. Va. 
Feb. 4, 1938. 
[handwritten: Pers cant identify 2/8 
WL 
Old War]
Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.
Dear sir:
I would like to have a copy of the Pension Record of John Mitchell, of Virginia. His claim is S. 5763.
[handwritten: wrong S]
Thanking you very kindly in advance, I am, 
Very truly yours, 
Rachel W. Cox 
Mrs. Rachel W. Cox, 
58 Anderson Place, 
Morgantown, W. Va. 
[stamp RECEIVED FEB 5 1938 [illegible]]
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December 24, 1931 
BA-J/MLB
Mrs. D. A. Lehman 
105 North Granger Street 
Harrisburg, Illinois 
Dear Madam:  
Reference is made to your request of recent date, for the record of John Mitchell, a soldier of the Revolutionary War. 
The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 5765, based upon his military service in that war. 
John Mitchell enlisted in 1776 in Amelia County, Virginia, and served six weeks as fife major in Captain Rowland Ward's Virginia company. He enlisted in the fall of 1777 and served six weeks as private in Captain William Craddock's company, under Major Cluman in the Virginia troops. He enlisted the third time, served as private in Captain William Craddock's company, Colonel Richardson's Virginia regiment, and in Captain Price's company, Colonel Faulkner's Virginia regiment, and was in the battle of Camden in which General Gates was defeated; length of this service five months. He later served one month in purchasing beeves for the army and one month in taking care of horses for the light horse service.
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 3, 1832, at which time he was seventy-two years of age and living in Montgomery County, Virginia. 
There is no reference to wife or children. 
In 1836, one Charles (or Thomas, not clearly written) M. Mitchell was a resident of Richmond, Virginia; no relationship shown. 
Very truly yours 
A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator
[handwritten: 1781 not used as year of enlistment Gates' Defeat was in 1780]
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War Section.
March 6, 1914. 
Mr. Clarence A. Cannon, 
The Speaker's Room, 
House of Representatives. 
Sir: 
In response to your letter dated the fourth instant, you are advised that the papers in the pension claim of John Mitchell of Montgomery County, Virginia, Sur. File No. 5763. Rev. War, fail to show the date and place of his birth, or to give any information whatever in regard to his family. 
In order to obtain the date of his death and name of the person to whom the arrears of his pension were paid, application should be made to the Auditor for the Interior Department U. S. Treasury Department, giving him all of the following data: John Mitchell Certificate No. 12,513, issued May 6. 1833. for $26.33 per annum from March 4, 1831, under the Act of June 7, 1832, at the Virginia Agency. 
Very respectfully, 
G M Saltzgaber 
Commissioner.
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John Mitchell
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Mitchell, Montgomery C' Virginia which require 
further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? no

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No

V. Has he mentioned 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 amout of pension
he is entitled? No

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? No

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes

X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal? yes
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary 
services?  no

XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not 
obtaining it?  no

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? no

XIV. +If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
regulations direct?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations require?

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?
----------------------------
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. 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
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of members
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.
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3
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 they served two years 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 shewn 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.

+QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.

+QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
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FREE
FREE

(Stamp)
illegilbe

J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

12573
J Mitchell
Va War
Dec 16

(stamp)
Richmond VA
Dec 14
Page 22

Richmond Decr 14. 1836

Dear Sir:
I send you the enclosed Pension paper
at the request of the Agent here for paying pensions.
The pensioner, (illegilbe), claims from Sept
1833 to Sept 1836. Please to return the paper as
soon as convenient with instructions to the agent
to pay the same.
your very respectfully
Thos. M. Mitchell
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C.M. Mitchell
23. Dec. 1836
G. C.

Record  of 36 page 2102
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War Dept
Pension office
Dec. 23, 1836

Sir,
The vouchers of John Mitchell are herewith
returned.  I have instructed the Agent to pay
the amount due in this case.

Charles M. Mitchell Esqr
Richmond
Va