Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3823, James Townsend, Va.
Page 1

(6-1776)

SERVICE     Va.

Townsend, James

NUMBER     S. 3823

Born in Md.

Carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

5155   (5755 on Agency Bk
Ohio

James Townsend
of Athens in the State of Ohio.
who was a Private in the Company commanded
by Captain McCleary of the Regt. commanded by ---- in the Virginia line for 12 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio
at the rate of 40 -- Dollars -- Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 4th day of Feb.  1833 and Sent Hon. S.F. Vinton  House of Reps

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832                   $60.00
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33     20.00
$80.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D D. Addison  Clerk
Book  D.  Vol. 10   Page 49



Date of death not on A.B.
Page 3

James Townsend __ Declaration
filed Oct 13th  1832
H. Bartlett  Clerk
Page 4

State of Ohio. } 
Athens County ss. }
On this thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two, personally appeared in open court, before the President and associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in the County of the Athens aforesaid, now sitting, James Townsend, a resident of Lee Township in the County of Athens and State of Ohio, aforesaid, aged seventy three 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 7, 1832. 
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and service as herein stated.  He served under Captain Andrew Lorick (or Lorage) one tour of three months as a substitute for his brother.  He served a second tour under Captain Robert McCleary of three months as a substitute for [crossed out 'his brother'] a man who was drafted.  He served under Capt Thomas Hicklin a third tour of three months. He served under Captain William Kincade, a fourth tour of three months as a substitute for a man who was drafted, in all one year.   He was born in Somerset County in Maryland, and removed from thence into the adjoining County in Delaware and from thence to the waters of James River and from thence to Elk Creek, near Clarksburg Virginia where he lived near thirty years and thence removed into the State of Ohio.  He served his first tour of three months in the year 1776, he left home he thinks in August, and was discharged in November his Lieutenant's name was Andrew Kincade, he was then residing, at the Cow Pasture on the waters of James River, and was marched to clover Lick Fort near Greenbrier, against the Indians,   His second tour was in the Spring, of 1778, he thinks he left home in April or May; and marched to a fort on Knapp's Creek, a branch of Greenbrier against the Indians,  His third tour was in the same year; not having returned home after the second term expired.  His last tour was in the year 1779 commencing about the middle of April and he marched seven days to Nutter's fort on the waters of the Monongahela, 11 miles from his home on James River waters.  He was never in any battle but was often engaged in the hot pursuit of Indians and endured much hardship & fatigue.   He has no documentary evidence, and knows no persons whose testimony he can procure, except Joel Lowther, a Revolutionary pensioner, who was with him at one of the Forts, whose testimony he can procure. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State. 
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Henry Bartlett Clerk 
James  X  Townsend. his mark
attest A. G. Brown
Page 5

We Asa Stearns a clergyman residing in Alexander Township Athens County Ohio. and William Howell [crossed out 'Owen Batman'] a resident of Lee [crossed out 'Athens'] in said County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Townsend who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three years of age; and that he is reputed & believed, [crossed out 'to be'] in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. 
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid Henry Bartlett Clerk 
Asa Stearns 
William  X  Howell his mark 
Attest A.G. Brown

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 Asa Stearns is a clergyman resident in the County of Athens and State of Ohio, and that William Howell who has also signed the same is a resident of the County aforesaid is a credible person, and their statement is entitled to credit. 

I Henry Bartlett, Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of James Townsend for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of Office, this thirteenth day of October AD 1832 
Henry Bartlett Clerk
Page 6

James Townsend

Private

1 year
admd



Hon: S. F. Vinton
Page 7

BRIEF in the case of James Townsend of the County of Athens in the State of Ohio 
(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? 73 years 

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

[Table column headings to outline service]
Period. 
Duration of Service. 
Rank.
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. 

Period.  In 1776 Augt.
Duration of Service. substitute 3 months for his brother
Rank.   Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Capt. Lorick or Lorage

Period.   78 Apl.
Duration of Service.   substitute for a 3 months drafted man
Rank.   Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Capt. W. Cleary

Period.   78
Duration of Service.   3 months
Rank.   Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.    Capt.  Hickman

Period.    In 79 Apl.
Duration of Service.    3 months
Rank.   Private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.    Capt. Kinkade

5.   In what battles was he engaged ?  none

6.   Where did he reside when he entered the service? Clarksburgh, Va 

7.   Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Nothing 

8.   Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Regular 

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Levin Bell 
Examining Clerk.
Page 8

March 22, 1934

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

JAMES TOWNSEND
S. 3823
BA-J/MLB  Am

Mrs. J. G. Callaway 
Clinton, Missouri 

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter of March 11, in which you request the Revolutionary War records of William Townsend (Shenandoah, Virginia, and of James Townsend, Pennsylvania- Ohio. 

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims for pension and bounty land made to the United States based upon military service of soldiers in that war. 

A careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the Revolutionary War service of William Townsend, as described by you. The record of one James Townsend was found which is given below, as shown in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 3823, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War . 

James Townsend was born in Somerset County, Maryland; the date of his birth and names of his parents are not shown in the claim. He moved from Somerset County, Maryland, to an adjoining county in Delaware; from thence to the waters of James River. 

While residing at the Cow Pastures on the waters of the James River, he served four tours of three months each as a private in the Virginia troops against the Indians, as follows: from August, 1776, as a substitute for his brother whose name was not stated, in Captain Andrew Lorich's (or Lorage's) company; from April or May, 1778, in Captain Robert McCleary's company; immediately after the expiration of this service, another tour in that year in Captain Thomas Hicklin's company; and the fourth tour from about the middle of April, 1779, in Captain William Kincaid's company, was never in a battle but often engaged in hot pursuit of the Indians and endured great hardship and fatigue.
Page 9

The soldier moved from the waters of the James River to Elk Creek near Clarksburg, Virginia, where he lived nearly thirty years, then moved to the State of Ohio. 

James Townsend was allowed pension on his application executed October 13, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-three years and a resident of Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio. 

There are no further family data in the claim. 

Very truly yours  

A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator
Page 10

James Townsend


Hon. S. F. Vinton
Page 11

BRIEF objections to the of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Townsend which require further proof or explanation. 

1.   Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? Yes  

II.   Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes 

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? yes

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? yes 

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations: yes 

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
Page 12

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 service? yes 

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 

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? yes 

XIV. +If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 

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? yes 

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, &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 recolelection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: Foryear -- months and --- days, I served as a For months and --- days, I served as a ; and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 13

3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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. 

+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 be 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 autheniting papers In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated 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 end 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.
Page 14

3823.
INVALID.
Rev War

File No.  3823
James Townsend
Pri.  Va. line

Act :  June 7, '32

Index : --- Voil.  A,  Page. 376

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 15

June 5 -- 1903 - His. to C.D. Hopkins, Athens Ohio
1932, Dec 6 - Hist. to Mr. CR. Cline - MLB
1933 Jan. 30 _ C.R. Cline referred to Comp. Gen. G.A.O. for date of last payment, etc __ MLB
1934, Mar. 22 - Hist. to Mrs. JG. Pellaway  MLB.
Page 16

Clinton, Missouri 
March 11 1934. 

Veterans Administration 
Washington D.C. 

I am so thankful for your information on Joshua Townsend. 
The request you made for me to give you more data on William Townsend - I am sorry [crossed out 'to'] not to be able just at the present to furnish you dates and better information but will give you all I have at the present - this was taken from James City Mo Library (Virginia Militia in the Revolution - Report of State Library Ref -- 973. Vol 3. 81S 
William Townsend (Shenandoah) - Rev Army. V, 1Reg. 51. Rev. Soldiers of Virginia) (James Townsend S. of War, 1835 --- Penn. Ohio 103.) Be pleased to get what you can [crossed out 'do'], otherwise I will get more information some way if possible. Thanking you kindly Cordially 
Mrs  J G Callaway
Page 17

C. R. CLINE 
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW 
NOTARY PUBLIC 
ATHENS, OHIO 

Athens, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1932. 

Veterans Administration, 
Washington, D. C. 

Gentlemen: 

Will you please give me what information you have relative to the military career of James Townsend, a Revolutionary soldier of the state of Virginia, who was buried in Ohio, and who, we think, received a small pension while living in Ohio? 

Also, does your Department have any record of the services of Joseph Cline as a soldier of the War of 1812, from the State of Virginia, who also was buried in Ohio, and who also may have received a pension while living in Ohio? 

Also, does your Department have any record of the services of Evans Rutherford as a soldier of either the Revolution or the War of 1812. He is supposed to have been a soldier of the Revolution; but the inscription on his monument, in Ohio, shows that he was born after the Revolutionary War. Hence it must have been the War of 1812, or his father, perhaps of the same name, who was the Revolutionary soldier.  We are not certain from what state he enlisted, but think it was from Virginia, as his descendants intermarried with the Townsend family, who came from Virginia to Ohio, during the early part of the last century. 
Thanking you in advance for the favor of a reply, I am Yours truly, 
C. R. Cline.

[date-time-received stamp at bottom of page that has a clock face printed around edge with an arrow pointing to about 12, with the following printing inside the stamp:] RECEIVED NOV 26 1932 [illegible printing] PENSION [illegible printing] SUB-DIVISION
Page 18

C. R. CLINE 
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW 
NOTARY PUBLIC 
ATHENS, OHIO    Stamp included

Athens, Ohio, Jan. 2, 1932. 

Veterans Administration, 
Washington, D. C. 

Gentlemen: 

We thank you very much for your interesting record of the life and military service of our ancestor, James Townsend, the Revolutionary soldier of the State of Virginia. The record did not state the amount of pension received by him, on his pension claim, S.3923. 

Do you have the record of the amount of his pension? If so, your report will make our family tradition of Revolutionary ancestors complete, and we shall not have to trouble your Department with further requests for information, 
Thanking you in advance for this information, I am Yours truly, 
C. R. Cline.


[date-time-received stamp next to signature with a clock face printed along the inside edge of the stamp with an attic pointing to about 3:30 and additional printing, as follows:] RECEIVED JAN 4 1933  MAIL SUB-DIV. VETS. ADM. PENSION #3
Page 19

CHARLES D. HOPKINS 
RUFUS CARPENTER 

NOTARY IN OFFICE

[writing on letter, as follows:] own  ect.
CHARLES D. HOPKINS
ATTORNEY AT LAW.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING.
ATHENS, OHIO.

HOME TELEPHONES
OFFICE 109,   RESIDENCE 166.

June 1, 1903.

Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.. 

My Dear Sir: -

Will you please furnish me with Revolutionary Services of James Townsend of Meigs County, Ohio. He enlisted somewhere in Virginia as I understand it, most probably at Clarksburg. He died at Mt. Blanco, Meigs County, Ohio. That is to say this was his Post Office Address for a number of years previous to his death. Whether he ever drew a pension or not I am uncertain, but his oldest and only grandchild living says he did. 
Very Truly Yours, 
C.D. Hopkins
Page 20

January 30, 1933

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/MLB
JAMES TOWNSEND
S.3823

Mr. C. R. Cline 
Athens, Ohio 

Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your letter of recent date, in which you request information relative to the amount of pension received by James Townsend, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, on his pension claim, S. 3823. 

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, amount of pension, name of person paid, and possibly the date of death of the soldier, James Townsend, you should address The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, citing the following data: James Townsend, Certificate 5155, issued February 4, 1833 rate $40 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act June 7, 1832, Ohio Agency. 

Very truly yours 

A.D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator
Page 21

December 6, 1932

BA-J/MLB
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
JAMES TOWNSEND
S.  3823

Mr. C. R. Cline 
Athens, Ohio 

Dear Sir: 

Reference is made to your letter of November 25, in which you request information relative to James Townsend, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, Joseph Cline of the War of 1812, and to Evans Rutherford, who served in either the war of the Revolution or 1812. 

Revolutionary War and War of 1812 data furnished by this office are obtained from claims for pension made to the United States based upon military service of soldiers in those wars. 

A careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of service in the War of 1812 of Joseph Cline (under any spelling of the surname); or to an Evans Rutherford who served in either the Revolutionary War or War of 1812. 

You are furnished herein the record of James Townsend, the only soldier of that name found in the Revolutionary War records of this office; the data therein were obtained from the papers on file in his pension claim, S. 3823, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. 

James Townsend was born in Somerset County, Maryland; the date of his birth and names of his parents are not shown in the claim. He moved from Somerset County, Maryland, to an adjoining county in Delaware; from thence to the waters of James River. 

While residing at the Cow Pastures on the waters of the James River, he served four tours of three months each as a private in the Virginia troops against the Indians, as follows: from August, 1776, as a substitute for his brother whose name was not stated, in Captain Andrew Lorich's (or Lorage's) company; from April or
Page 22

May, 1776, in Captain Robert McCleary's company; immediately after the expiration of this service, another tour in that year in Captain Thomas Hicklin's company; and the fourth tour from about the middle of April, 1779, in Captain William Kincaid's company, was never in a battle but often engaged in hot pursuit of the Indians and endured great hardship and fatigue. 

The soldier moved from the waters of the James River to Elk Creek near Clarksburg, Virginia, where he lived nearly thirty years, then moved to the State of Ohio. 

James Townsend was allowed pension on his application executed October 13, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-three years and a resident of Lee Township, Athens County, Ohio. 

There are no further family date in the claim. 

Very truly yours  

A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator


- 2 -