Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39881, John Wells, Continental (Va.)
Page 1

Service
Continental (Va.)

Wells, John

Number 
S. 39881

BL Wt. 796-100
Page 2

18.759
R
Virginia

John Wells

of Fairfax Cy by in the State of Virg'a
who was a Private in the Regiment commanded by
Colonel Armand of the Continental
line, for the term of 83 to end of War

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 20 of August 1822

Certificate of Pensions issued the 8 of Oct'r 1822
and Sent to Wm Moss Esqr
Fairfax, C.H. Va.

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1822 		4.15
Semi anl. all'ce ending 4 Mar 1823	48
12/31 4/30 				$52.15
3.9
1.6
4.15

{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.}

May 1 1823
on final Sett Cont
wt 1 page 17

Dead.

See letters to P Agt & W.
Alli?? Jan. 9. 1837
Page 3

P. Wells
To S? Jones? of
Harrison Attorney
Page 4

Know all men by these Presents that I John Wells of the
County of Fairfax and State of Virginia But Formerly
a Soldier in Colo Armands Regiment of Legion of hers
in the Revolutionary war do Constitute and Appoint
William B. Harrison my true and Lawful Attorney to
ask Demand sue for and Recover all Lands that may
be due me by Virtue of my Serving in the Regiment
or Legion and Army Aforesaid and Revolutionary War
and Discharges to make and Receipts to give in as full
and ample a manner as Should do if I were personally
present and Two hereby Ratify and Confirm any and
or Meets my said Attorney may do in any manners Rel
ating the same signed sealed and delivered this 22 of
August 1811

Acknowledged to be his acct and deed
Before us Justices of the peace For
the County of Fairfax and State of
Virginia

Justc Wm Gu[image cut off]n 2d

his mark X John Wells
{Seal}
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Fairfax County
Commonwealth of Va
ToWit:
On this 20th day of August 1822, personally appeared in open court being a Court of Record for the County aforesaid, John Wells, resident in said County aged 65 years who being first duly sworn according to the law doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the act of Congress of the 18th March 1818, and the 1st May 1820 that he said John Wells enlisted for the term of during the War in March or April 1783 in the State of Virginia in the Company of light Dragoons commanded by Capt John Betkins in the regiment commanded by Col Armong in the line of the State of Virginia Continental Establishment, that he continued to serve in the said Corps until October 1784 when he was discharged from the said service at the Town of Little York in the State of Pennsylvania, that he was in no battle or battles while he was in the Continental Establishment and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services Except the evidence of Nathaniel Wells the brother of this Declarant who now receives a pension and in [illegible] of the act of the 1st May 1820, I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the
18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled "An Act to Provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service if the United States in the revolutionary war passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed.  I also declare that I have no trade except that of a farmer the pursuit of which I have long since resigned in consequence of age, infirmity or other causes that declarant will now remark that he is nearly in his 66th year in relative indigence, that he is severely afflicted with the rheumatism and in bad health that he has spent the morning of his days and the best part of his life in the cause of his country and is now bowing under the [illegible] [illegible] of indigence bodily diseases of which render it necessary that government should do something for his support in alleviating his wretched condition.  His wife is dead by whom he has 9 children 4 of which are living with him to [illegible] George aged 20, John 17, Eleanor 13, William 10 part of whom considerably accelerate his wretched condition and add weight to his labours in supporting them, from the oldest he receives little or no benefit, his children who do not live with him are as
Page 6

follows:
Nancy Matilda, Peggy, James and Polly the 3 first named of whom are married this applicant will also state that he are a severe wound about the year 1782 in fighting against the Indians but not on the Continental Establishment,

John Wells
his X mark

Sworn to & declared on the 20th day of August 1822 before Wm Moss

Schedule
The Property of Jn Wells a revolutionary pensioner To Wit:
One bed of little value        2.00
one pot and oven               0.75
some tea cups and saucers 0.30
 A spinning wheel                1.50
[illegible] Acres                     2.00
Drawing knife                       0.50
some shoemakers tools        1.25
my hickory cane that i have had 
     for 2 or 3 years                 0.18 3/4
3 small hoes                          0.75
old knives and forks              0.37
                                            _________
                                             9.80 3/4
                                                

John Wells
his X mark

Sworn to in Court the 20th day of August 1822, before me Clerk of the County Court of Fairfax in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Wm Moss Cl
Page 7

796

John Wells
Priv:
Armands Legion
Warrant issued April 27th
1819
Wm B. Harrison - Attorney
Page 8

(copy)
John Wells
July 16, 1819

Recorded in
Vol. 3 Page 296  (315 crossed out)
Page 9

War Department
Section of bounty Lands
July 16. 1819

Mr John Wells
Centreville Fairfax County Va

Sir-

Your letter of 14th curet just now came to hand. On recurring to the Register of Military Land Warrant issued at this office for Revolutionary services, it is found that the Warrant number 796 was issued in your name on the 27 of April 1819-and delivered to W.B. Harrison.- Pray had you a Brother in the service of the United States during the Revolutionary War? - What was his first name?- and what Corps was he attached to.

Respectfully your obt Servant
(signed)
Nat Cutting
Page 10

James L. Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

[written at 90 degree angle:]
Jno Wells Jan 3d
Va ??

18 Mar??

[Post Office stamps]
FREE

[cancellation; date illegible]
RIC.... Va
Page 11

Richmond December 31st 1836

Jas L Edwards Esqr

Dear Sir-

I enclose you the Original pension Certificate issued to Jno Wells, with a power of Attorney from the hears of the Said Wells, who is dead - authorizing me to draw the arrears of pension due to them; which power of attorney the Agent for paying pensions in this City says We cannot pay in consequence of some informality in wording the power or Certificate - the power of attorney has been forwarded to me once or twice before, and in consequence of some slight deviation from the established form, has been returned to the parties waking it for correction. The heirs who are entitled to this small Sum, are very poor, and really need the Small pittance, and My Object in forwarding the papers to you, is to request that you will direct the Agent here to overlook the informality & pay the amt due. As in addition to the Necessities of the Claimants, the difficulty of getting a Magistrate to attest the papers is at all times great, and the inclemency of the weather at this Season of the year, will prevent poor persons from traveling about,[crossed out: without causing] unless in doing so, they suffer severely. On looking over the power of attorney, you will see that the error or informality is very trifling, and by directing the payment you will serve the cause of humanity

Yours Very Respectfully
Wm Allison
Page 12

Fairfax County State of Virginia to wit
Nathaniel Wells came before me a Justice of the
peace for the County af'd and made oath that
John Wells entered into the service of the United 
States during the Revolutionary war in Colo
Armands Legion to serve during the war
in the Fall of the year 1781 soon after
the Siege of York - That the said John
served till the end of the war & was
then discharged. Given under my
and seal this 18th day of Nov. 1816
Jno. C. Hunter {Seal}
Page 13

War - See Register of
paid Settlement Certificates
issued.
Dep. of War
Add. Acc. Officer
Feb 7 1817
Peter Hagner

pd. No 1440

I am well assured that
Nath'l Wells rec'd his
land from the State
of Virginia

W:Elbzer???
Feby 7th 1827
Page 14

On final Sett Certif'c
page 17. Oct. 1.
Page 15

Fairfax County
Commonwealth of Virginia

I William Moss Clerk of the County
of Fairfax in the Commonwealth of Virginia
do hereby Certify that the foregoing Declaration Schedule
and affidavits are true Copies from the record of proceedings
and files of the said Court. And I do further Certify
that it was the opinion of the said Court at the time
the Declaration and Schedule aforesaid were made
subscribed and sworn to, that the said John Wells was
possessed of no other property except cloathing that what
is contained in the said Schedule and that the value
of the said property is fairly estimated and does not exceed
Nine Dollars 86 3/4 Cents
In Testimony whereof I have hereto
set my hand and affixed the
Seal of the said Court this 4th day of
September 1822 and in the 47th
year of the Commonwealth

Wm Moss Cl
Page 16

The Commonwealth of Virginia
[Paper Seal Affixed]

I William Moss Clerk of Fairfax County
Court in the Commonwealth aforesaid do hereby
Certify that William Gunnell Jun and John
Coleman Gentlemen before whom the annexed power of attorney
from John Wells to William B Harrison appears to have been acknowledged, and the Deposition of Nathaniel Wells proved and whose
names are thereto subscribed, and also that Richard Ratcliffe Gentleman before whom an affidavit of Nathaniel Wells on the back of
the said power of attorney appears to have been sworn to and whose
name is thereto subscribed were severally at the time of performing
the duties aforesaid Justices of the Peace in and for the County of
Fairfax aforesaid duly nominated Commissioned and Sworn and
to all whose actings and doings as such full faith and credit is &
Ought to be given as well in Courts of Justice as thereout or elsewhere
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and caused
the Seal of the said County of Fairfax to be hereto affixed this 8
day of April in the year of Our Lord 1813 and in the 37th year
of the Commonwealth
Wm Moss Clerk
Page 17

John Coleman
Fairfax County [?]

The depposition of Nathaniel Wells formerly
a soldier in Colo Armands Regiment or Legion of Hors
Capt Bethenys Company in the Revolutionary War
Deposeth and saith that he was Well acquainted with
John Wells whilst he was a soldier in Colo Armands
Regiment of Hors that was present when this said
John Wells enlisted and knows he did enlist for during the
War and did serve with Fidelity to the Expiration of the same
and was discharged with this deponant at little
York by Colo Armand himself
Nathaniel Wells
his X mark

Sworn and subscribed to before us the Subscribers Justices of the peace for the County aforesaid this 22 of August 1811

John Coleman

John Coleman
Wm Gunnell 2nd

We do further certify that the above deponent is a man of good Carkactor

Wm Gunnell 2nd
John Coleman
Page 18

Fairfax County [T?]

the within deponet Nathaniel Wells made oath before me, one of the Commonwealths Justice of the peace for the aforesaid County that he wore  his discharge out in his pocket. Certified under my hand this 22d day
of Augt. 1811

R'd Ratcliffe
Page 19

John Wells
Cert & Seal
$2..50
Page 20

1440
we do Certify that due credit & faith ought to be given to the testimony of the within deponant
N. Armistead

After signing we have seen his discharge which conceive an Honorable one also accompanied by a recommendation with a number of witnesses from the State of Tenessee Sullivan County Clerk Certificate and County Seal

Chas Lewis
Rob't Armstead

Virginia Loudoun County Towit,
[paper seal]

I Charles Binns Clerk of the Court of the County aforesaid do hereby Certify that Robert Armistead & Charles Lewis Gent who Signed the above Certificates and the other side also signed by Charles Lewis & Robert Armistead as to Robert Henwoods deposition are two of the Justices of the peace in and for the said County duly Commissioned & Sworn and that to all certificates by them so signed due faith and credit is & ought to be given as well in Courts of Justice as thereout
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said County Court this 16th day of January 1818 in the 42d Year of the Commonwealth
C. Binns

&c Loudoun County Ss.

I Benjamin Grayson Presiding Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Loudoun do hereby certify that the above attestation of Chas. Binns Clerk of the Court of said County of Loudoun is in due form of Law. Given under my hand & Seal this 10 day of Feby 1818 in the 42d Year of the Commonwealth
Ben Grayson {Seal}
42.
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Loudoun County Ss

the deposition of Robert Hinwood in his 68th year Deposeth & sayeth that he was well acquainted with John Wells whilst he this deponent was a privet in the com or Legion of Colo Armand in the Revolutionary War & that the said John Wells Inlisted for during the war did serve with fidelity & Hereunto the Expiration of the of the S'd War & was Honorably discharged from the above named Inslisted army when this deponent was (Some time in the month of Nov 1785 well as this deponant Recolects) at York Town in pennsylvania
Sworn and subscribed to this 6th day of Dec'r 1817 before us Justices of the peace for the County of Loudoun & State of Virginia
Robert Henwood
his X mark

Chas Lewis
[more writing is below the signature of Chas Lewis but another paper is obscuring it]
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V
No. 
Ex'd
g'd

John Wells
Private
Armand's Corps. Revol'y War

Lodged by Mr. Alzey
Feb'y 8th 1817
Page 23

W't iss'd to John Wells priv of Armands Corps & to be deliv'd to Major W B Harrison of Loudoun County Virginia when he shall call for it
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39881
INVALID. 
Revy
File No. 39,881
John Wells
Pvt Rev War
Act: 18th March 18th
Index: Vol. 3, Page 551
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 25

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME: Wells, John (dec'd.) 
GRADE: Private
LINE:  Maryland
WARRANT NUMBER 11843
ACREAGE  100
ISSUED January 12, 1792 to John Blair, Adm 12-
                                                                        "
*The Information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants 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 surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.