Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 14, Walter Brooke, Va. Sea Service
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SERVICE: Va. Sea Service
Brooke Walter
NUMBER; R. 14.
Va half pay Act July 5, 1832
CONTENTS:
See Acc. No. 837-Virginia State Navy
Walter Brooke, File 45
Va. Half Pay
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(1)
District of Columbia
Washington County} S.S.
Miss Maria Graeff, being of lawful age, deposeth and says, that some years since, she was on a visit at her Brother's house in Washington City, when a conversation took place relative to the Commission of Commodore Walter Brooke; - that Mrs. Graeff, the daughter of Commodore Brooke, stated that her father was commissioned as a Commadore in the Virginia Navy, during the Revolutionary War - and that a few days after Mrs. Graeff got the above named Commission from her Mother in Virginia, and exhibited to this deponent a Commission in which Walter Brooke was called a Commodore of the Virginia Navy, and authorised to command as such - That this deponent was confident from the reading of the Commission, that Walter Brooke, deceased was a Commodore in the Virginia Navy, during the Revolution.
Sworn to and subscribed before}
me this 16 October 1830.~} Anna Maria Graeff
N. B. Van Zandt.
Justice Peace
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(2)
United States of America
Department of State

To all to whom these presents shall Come Greeting:-

I certify that N. B. Van Zandt whose name is subscribed to the paper hereunto annexed, is now, and was at the time of subscribing the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Washington, in the District of Columbia, duly Commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and confidence are due to his acts as such.
In testimony Whereof, I Martin Van Buren Secretary of state of the United States, have hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the seal of the Department of State to be affixed.
{Seal} Done at the City of Washington, this twenty fourth day of November, A.D. 1830, and of the Independence of the United States of America the fifty-fifth.
M. Van Buren
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3

District of Columbia
Washington City -} S.S.t.

Personally appeared before me the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the City of Washington, District of Columbia, Mary C. Rooker, of lawful age, and deposeth and saith, that she has had in her possession often, and for a considerable length of time her father's (Commodore Brooke's) Commission; and that he was Commissioned soon after the Commencement of the Revolutionary War, as a Commodore and Commander in Chief of the State Navy of Virginia, - and that the Commission was signed by the Governor of the State of Virginia, and opposite to the Governor's name was affixed a large seal of the State, &c.
Sworn to and subscribed this 12th}
day of April 1831.} Mary C. Rooker
C: W: W: Wharton
Justice of the Peace
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4

The Honble Governor & Council will find in Henning Page 375 Vol. 10.
That a provision was made for the general officers of Virginia in the Continental service, allowing a Major General 15000 acres of land, and a Brigadier General 10,000 acres of land - Also, a provision was made for all the officers, Seamen and Marines of the State Navy or their Representatives, Page 162, Vol. 11. - allowing them the same bounty in lands and other embodiments as the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line on continental establishment. - The officers of the Virginia line or Continental establishment, must have held the same rank, as those of the Continental establishment that were embodied from any other state - The Council will find in the laws of the U.S. Vol. 1st. Page 625 of the relative rank of the Navy Officers with the Officers of the land service.
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5

District of Columbia
Washington County} Sst.

On this twenty fourth day of November in the year Eighteen hundred and thirty, personally appeared Commodore James Barron of the United States Navy, before me, the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid, and being duly sworn, says, that he was acquainted with Commodore Walter Brooke, of the State Navy of Virginia, during the Revolutionary War; That he was on board the Vessels of Commodore Brooke's Squadron frequently, and saw his broad pendant flying: - That Commodore Brooke was the senior officer during a part of the Revolution, and of course, Senior to his father Commodore James Barron, who succeeded the command of Commodore Brooke, when he was commissioned as Commodore and Commander in chief of the State Navy of Virginia. And further saith not.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above-mentioned.
James Barron
N. B. Van-Zandt.
Justice of the Peace
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6
United States of America.
Department of State.

To all whom these presents shall come Greeting:-
I certify that N. B. Van Zandt whose name is subscribed to the paper hereunto annexed, is now, and was at the time of subscribing the same, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County of Washington, in the District of Columbia, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and confidence are due to his acts as such.
In testimony Whereof, I Martin Van Buren secretary of state of the United States, have hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the seal of the Department of state to be affixed.
{Seal} Done at the City of Washington, this twenty fourth day of November, A.D. 1830, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the fifty fifth.

M. Van Buren
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7
To the Honble. Governor & Council of Virginia.

W. T. Brooke, B. E. Brooke, Lucy A. Brooke, Virginia Brooke - Jabez Rooker & Mary C. Rooker, John Graeff & Ann Graeff, heirs of Commodore Walter Brooke, who served in the Virginia Navy establishment, during the Revolution - Pray your Honorable body for an advice of Council requesting the Register of the land office to issue a warrant to the above named Heirs & Representatives of Commodore Brooke for the amount there may appear due - And further ask an advice of Council, to the Register of the Land Office, designating the relative rank of a Commodore with the officers of the state & Continental Line of Virginia - 
And respectfully refer your Honble. body to the Statutes of Virginia Vol. 10. Page 375 oct. 1780 Vol. [illegible] Page 469 - Nov. 1781 - Vol. 11. Page 162 Oct. 1782 - Also laws of U.S. Vol. 1st. Page 625 - Nov. 1776.

H. S. Handy Atty.
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Executive Department
Richmond Va 26 January 1833

The foregoing pages, numbered 1 to 7 inclosure, contain above copy of the evidence upon which the Governor of Virginia granted Land Bounty to Me Heirs of Walter Brooke a Commodore in the State Navy, the relative rank was there settled that of a Brigadier General in the Land Service; and the amount of Land Bounty received by Com. Brooke in his life time, to be described, from the said allowance to his Heirs.
Given under my hand the date above
Wm H Richardson Secy Commr

221
Walter Brook
Recd. 24 Jany 1835.
Rejected. 620.
Half pay claims under Act July 5, 1832 not allowed by the Secretary of the Treasury in Register of Va Half Pay claims -

388.753.965.777.793.
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V.L.M. Rev. War Section.

September 7, 1917.

Ethel L. Smither,
Jefferson Hotel,
Richmond, Va.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 1" instant, you are advised that the records of this Bureau show that Walter Brooke served as a Commodore in the Virginia State Navy during the War of the Revolution, dates and details of service and dates of his birth and death are not on record.
He and his heirs were allowed bounty land by the State of Virginia and for information relative to said land you should apply to the State Librarian at Richmond, Virginia.
He had daughters Mrs. --- Graeff, and Mary C. Rooker, and the following named persons whose relationships are not stated were his heirs: W. T. Brooke, B. E. Brooke, Lucy A. Brooke, Virginia Brooke, Jabez Rocker, Mary C. Rooker, John Graeff and Ann Graeff.
R. File No. 14
Very respectfully,
G M Saltzgaber
Commissioner.

[note]
AW
No mention made of Va half pay claim or it was not allowed but the allowance of Va land stated as it would prove service
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R. File No. 14 Rev Sec-
JWS.
Richmond, Va.
Sept 18 1917
Department of Interior,
Would be possible for you to furnish me the source of your information in sending one the names of children and relations of Walter Brooke, Commodore in the Virginia State Navy, during the Revolutionary War.
Daughter's names Mrs. - Graeff, and Mary C. Rooker, and the following named persons, whose relationships are
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not stated, W. T. Brooke, B. E. Brooke, Lucy A. Brooke, Virginia Brooke, Jabez Rooker, Mary C. Rooker, John Graeff and Ann Graeff. I am tracing my ancestors, and the departments at Washington have helped me considerably.
Thanking you for your kindness
I remain
Ethel L. Smither
Miss Ethel L Smither.
Jefferson Hotel
Richmond,
Va.
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Rev Sec
Jefferson Hotel
Richmond, Va
Sept 1, 1917.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir;
I am writing to ask information concerning the war record of my great, great great grandfather, Commodore Walter Brooke, who was in the Revolutionary War. Thanking you in advance for any knowledge you may give me on this
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subject, I am
yours truly,
Ethel L. Smither

[stamp]
PENSION
O
SEP
U. 4 S. 
1917
OFFICE.
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1917 [illegible] to Ethel L Smither
1917 Sept. 21 Ethel L. Smither informed now information as to heirs was obtained.

Old War, 14
Rejected
File No. 14. 
Navy
Heirs of
Com Walter Brooke
Commodore
Va State Navy
Revolution
Discharged _________, 18

not allowed >  Va. H'f. Pay not ad July 5 32
Navy not allowed bounty land by U.S. no title, it got prize money instead,
The bounty land was allowed to sailor & heirs by the State of Va.
See Report Va. House of Delegates page 4
Received _________, 187
Attorney.
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