Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,634, Walter Bernard, Va.
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SERVICE: Va.
Bernard, Walter
NUMBER: S. 6634
carded
CONTENTS
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3082
Virginia
Walter Bernard
of Franklin in the State of Virginia
who was a P'of Cav - in the Compy commanded by Captain Mead of the ___ commanded by - in the Virginia line for 3 years 1778-

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 100- Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 13. day of Decr "32
and sent to Hon A. H Claiborn. House of Reps.

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832- 150-
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Mar: 33 50-
$200-
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk,
Book D Vol. 7 Page 124-

Died Feb 5, 1841
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10,756.
Walter Bernard
Decl. for a Pension
=
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State of Virginia Franklin County ToWit
On this 3d. day of September 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the justices of the County Court of Franklin now sitting Walter Bernard a resident of the County aforesaid in the State of Virginia aged seventy four 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 June The 7th 1832. that he was born in the State of Maryland in the county as well as he recollects called Frederick, that he was Christened at Rock Creek Church in the said County where a record of his age he supposes still remains - that he lived in the County of Loudon in the State of Virginia when he first entered the service, that afterwards in 1778 he removed the county of Henry in the State of Virginia and of which the County of Franklin aforesaid was formed & that he has continued to reside in the said County of Franklin ever since - that he is known to the Honble N H Claiborn to Caleb Tate Esq the clerk of the court to Colo Wm B. Williams, to Colo Robt T Woods. to Capt Joseah Woods to the Revd Moses Grier and many others, that he enlisted under one Capt Radkin in 1776 or 1777 he does not now recollect, for the term of twelve months and was engaged part of the time in guarding prisoners called the Jersey Blues & the High Sander at Lees burg in the said County of Loudon, & afterwards was marched on the frontiers to Red Stone and served during the term aforesaid - After his discharge he removed to the County of Henry aforesaid in the State of Virginia, a joined a company of Cavalry, commanded by Capt Jesse Heard-
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in the county of Henry aforesaid. that he cannot now say whether he volunteered or enlisted - but states that he signed his name to a paper containing a list of said Company by which he bound himself to serve in & during the war. that this was in the summer of 1778. that he was engaged from that time until the fall of 1780 in suppressing tories, that in 1780 he marched in the said Company through North Carolina into South Carolina attached to the Regiment under the Command of Colo Davis or David, in General Davidson's Brigade - that on his return to Virginia he continued in the service in the said Company engaged in suppressing tories until the spring of 1781-
After this troops being wanted he volunteered to march against Cornwallis, and was attached to Colo Lyon's Regiment which marched to Sandy River, where the said Colo Lyon abandoned the Regiment & the same being composed of volunteers, all with the exception of the affiant & eight others returned to their homes the affiant with the eight others marched into North Carolina to within nine miles of Guilford Court House, but were never attached to the line - 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 whatever or if any only on the agency of that of the State of Virginia, he further states that his discharges have been lost and refers for further evidence to the annexed affidavit of John Law Sr who is too infirm to come to Court
Sworn & Subscribed to the day & year aforesaid.
Walter x his mark Bernard
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We Moses Greer Jr a clergyman residing in the County of Franklin and Joseah Woods residing in the same do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with Walter Bernard who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration: that we believe him to be seventy four years of age; 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 & Subscribed to the day & year aforesaid
Moses Greer Jr
J Woods

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 Moses Greer Jr who signed the preceding Certificate is a clergyman resident in the County of Franklin, and that Joseah Woods who signed the same is a resident in the county of Franklin and is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit - and further that John Law Sr whose affidavit is hereto annexed is also entitled to credit -
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I Caleb Tate Clerk of Franklin County Court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of application of Walter Bernard for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal of Office The 10. day of September 1832 in the 57th year of the Commonwealth
Caleb Tate

Walter Bernard
Decl for a Pension
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BRIEF in the case of Walter Bernard
of Franklin Co in the State of Va.
(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 applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity

3. How old is he?

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

Period.
[1] enlisted in 1776 or 77 
[2] during war 1778. lt. 1781-
Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days.
12 Months
Rank. As a
[1] pr Inf.
[2] Cav"
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.
Capt Mead

5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?

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

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

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

Examining Clerk.
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September 10, 1935
xxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/EEL
Walter Bernard-S. 6634

Mr. E. E. Macy
Warm Springs
Oregon

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of Walter Bernard, a Revolutionary War soldier who received a pension for his services while residing in Franklin County, Virginia.

The data which follow are obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, S.6634, based upon the military service in that war of Walter Bernard.

Walter Bernard was born in Frederick County, Maryland. The date of his birth and the names of his parents are not shown. He stated that he was baptized in Rock Creek Church.

While residing in Loudoun County, Virginia, Walter Bernard enlisted in 1776 or 1777, served in Captain Radikin's Virginia Company, was engaged in guarding British prisoners at Leesburg, Virginia, a part of the time, then went to Red Stone on the frontier; length of service, one year; i 1778, he removed to Henry County, Virginia, enlisted therein the summer of 1778, in Captain Jesse Heard's Virginia Company of Cavalry and was engaged in suppressing Tories until the fall of 1780, when he went with his company into North and South Carolina, was attached to Colonel Davie's Regiment, under General Davidson; he returned to Virginia, and continued to serve against the Tories until the spring of 1781, when he volunteered to go against Cornwallis, served in Colonel Lyon's Regiment, and marched to Guilford Court House, North Carolina; length of this last service, not shown.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 3, 1832, while residing in Franklin(that part which was formerly Henry) County, Virginia.

He died February 5, 1841, place not shown. There are no data as to family.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator.
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Rev War 6634
INVALID.
File No. 6,634
Walter Bernard
Pvt & Cav Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index:-Vol. A, Page 27
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1923 Nov. 12. Copies mailed to Miss Allie M. Millard Box 82, Tazewell. Va. AW
1935 - Sept 10 - Hist to E. E. Macy. EL
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Admit
this claim
Hon N H Claiborne
admd
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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 Walter Bernard 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? yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for him 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 amount 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
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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 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? a witness

XIV. [notation sign 1]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? No
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? No

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? yes

XVI. [notation sign 2]Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No

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, &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 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 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.
[notation sign 1]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 witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
[notation sign 2]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 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.
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Franklin County to wit
This day came before me John M Holland a Justice of the peace for the said County of Franklin, John Law Sr of lawful age, and after being first sworn on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God, Sayeth, that in the year 1778, as well as he recollects that Walter Barnet of the said County; at that the County of Terry, enlisted under Captain Jesse Hard as a volunteer in a company of Cavalry in the County of Terry, state of Virginia, for the purpose of guarding against, and quelling the tories, and to be held in readiness, to march to any other place, or on any other service when calld on, that they marched through the Counties of Henry and Bedford, different times dispensing the tories, and disaffected that they marchd, into the state of North Carolina, at the call of Colonel Armstrong, he thinks in the County of Surry, for the purpose of surprising the tories -- that they Joind General Davidson of that state, and was commonly sent out on reconnecting parties, and marched into South Carolina - From thence they Returned to North Carolina, where the Captain and lieutenant of our company was discharged from the service in that quarter, and we marched home, and continued to be held in readiness for further service - That he the said John Law Sr served in the same company at the same time, and that they were in actual service twelve months perhaps more --- and further the affiant sayeth not.
John Law Sr. 
Sworn to, and subscribed, this 18th of July 1832.
John M Holland JP

City of Washington Sct
I certify that John M Holland is a justice of the peace for Franklin County Va, that I have seen him with that I know his writing & that I believe the above signature his That I know the witness John Law Senr well - that he is esteemed a man of strict truth - and that I consider him such - 
That I know Walter Bernard well and that he is reputed to have been a soldier of the revolution and I concur in that opinion
Nathl H Claiborne member of Congress
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THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS
Veterans Administration.
Washington,
D. C.

[stamp]
RECEIVED SEP 5 1935
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS. ADM.
READER #
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Warm Springs, Oregon.
Aug. 30, 1935.

Old Records Division.
Attention attendant in charge:
Please send me an abstract of the records on file in regard to the pension application, etc. of Walter Bernard who served in the Revolutionary War and who was living in Franklin county, Virginia at the time of the listing of the pensioners in the report of the Secretary of War in 1835.
Yours truly,
[signed] E. E. Macy,
E. E. Macy
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Oct. 31. 1923-
Miss Allie M. Millard
Box 82. Tazewell, Va-
wants photostat copies of
5 pages from Rev. War pens. Walter Bernard S6634
9 " " " " " Robt. Hill S38833
4 " " " " " Thos. Hill B.L. Wt. 1429-100
7 " " " " " Laban Hawkins W7659
25"
not certified
received $3.75/100 in payment
A E Wilson
$3.75/100

REV. WAR SECTION

[stamp]
FINANCE DIVISION
NOV 1 1923
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
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M 233
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division
NOV 1 - 1923 192
Chief Rev. War Section
Sir:
I have this day received from Miss Allie M Millard 
Cash $3.75/100, requesting copies as per letter herewith.
Copies mailed & Finance Div. notif
AW
Nov. 12, 23-
REV. WAR SECTION
Respectfully,
O. J. RANDALL
JJE
Chief Finance Div.

Request for Photostating M 6 Ex. AW
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERK
Job No. 273
Date: Nov 12, 1923
Subject: Walter Bernard, S6634, Rev.
(No.) 1 copies of (No.) 2 pieces consisting of (No.) 5 pages to be forwarded when completed to the REV. WAR SECTION Division.
Remarks:
Approved:
[signed] A E Wilson
Chief Div.

Chief Clerk.