Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 2024, James Witcher, Va.
Page 1

Va. Witcher James S2024
Page 2

[illegible]
James Witcher
S. F. 2024.
Va.
Page 3

This is to Certify that James Witcher a Soldier in my Company of Malitia from Pittsylvania County Virginia under David Mason Colo. Commd of the Virga Brigade has Served his time out and is discharged Given under my hand at Camdon this 23d day of July 1779.
Wm,, Witcher Capt.
Page 4

Lt Jno Witcher
Page 5

Sir I Just now Recd an Compass to Call on No 67.8910&1 of my Company to meet at the Courthouse monday next in order to march In Head Quarters & hope to give them all the [illegible] you Possibly Can also Collect all the ammo and Ammunition that you Possibly Can and Take out the delinquents In particular Bryant Ward Nowhere [illegible] all the Sergt to do out in their Power in warning the men and Collecting the arms &c
Henry Conway
12th Sept 1788
Page 6

Copy of J. Witcher's oaths of Allegiance
Pittsylvania County
Virginia -

Witcher, James
Va. S2024
Page 7

Pittsylvania Sct
Virginia
I DO hereby certify, that James Witcher - hath taken and subscribed the oath or affirmation of allegiance and fidelity, as directed by an act of General Assembly intituled An act to oblige the Free mail inhabitants of this State, above a certain age to give assurance of allegiance to the same, and for other purposes. Witness my hand and Seal, this 23d day of Aug 1777 ~
Wm. Witcher {Seal}
Page 8

of Commanding officer. Major Cloyde 
Show is to Cirtify that James Witcher Joined My Company on my March to North Carolina And Served but his Tower Faithfuly and Behaved himself Exceeding well in everything and Respect that becomes a good Soldier and is hearby Discharged given under my hand this 22 day of October 1780 - 
George Parrish, Capt
Page 9

Pittsylvania
County
This is to [illegible] at [illegible] Mr James Witcher Seavibly pass and Repass he behaving himself as becomes a Subject of the United States of America Given under my hand the 12th day of July 1771
[illegible]

James Witcher
S.F. 2024
Va
Page 10

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of James Witcher - 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.
Page 11

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? has a living witness & documents -

XIV. [notation sign 1]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? yes.
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? yes
Has the proper officer certified the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes.

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? No.

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.”
Page 12

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.
[symbol of pointing finger]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.
Page 13

State of Tennessee
Smith County
Be it known, that on this Fourth day of Augt 1832. Personally appeared, before me Daniel Young, a Justice of the peace in & for the county aforesaid Milton Young - aged 68 years - who being first duly Sworn in due form of law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in favor of James Witcher who is now making application for a pension, pursuant to the provisions of the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832. That his first acquaintance with the said Witcher was in the year 1779. That at that time he understood that he had Just returned, from a campaign in the army of the revolution, to the County - that he had served a tour of six months that he had been acquainted with said Witcher from then untill now - the last twenty years, they have lived neighbors - that their acquaintance has been intimate, & cordial, that he has often heard the said James speak of his revolutionary service, & always in the same way - That he was in the battle of the Shallow ford of the Yadkin. That he has generally been reputed & believed to be a soldier of the revolution, & that he dept believes the said Witcher performed the services, set forth in his declaration
Page 14

accompanying this.
Sworn to & subscribed before me this day & date as above
Milton Young
Witness
Daniel Young (Seal)
Justice peace

12.398

State of Tennessee} I Jonathan Tickett
Smith County} Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said County do hereby Certify, that Daniel Young before whom the foregoing proceedings was had in the matter of the application of James Witcher, for a pension, now is & was at the time Said proceedings was had and of the Active Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said County, duly Commissioned and qualified according to Law.
In Testimony Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of Said Court at Office in Carthage, this 5th day of September, 1832 and 57th year of Our Independence
J. Tickett Clk
Page 15

Pension Bureau
The Department of War
Washington, D.C.

[stamp 1]
RECEIVED
AUG 28 1933
Old records
Division
AG. O.

[stamp 2]
ATLANTA. GA
AUG 24
1933

[stamp 3]
RECEIVED
AUG 30 1933
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS ADM
READER # 64

[stamp 4]
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
AUG 26 1933
WAR DEPT

[stamp 5]
DO Received A. G. O AUG 26 1933
Page 16

2028 Ridgewood Dr., N. E.,
Atlanta, Ga.
Aug. 24, 1933.

Dear Sirs,
Will you please mail me a copy of the pension papers of James Witcher, [penciled note: only] revolutionary soldier, son of Wm Witcher of Pittsylvania Co., Va. The record that I need is the one that gives the names of all the children of James Witcher, which I shall appreciate. Yours truly,
Miss M. Little
Page 17

Rev Sec
Roebuck Springs
Birmingham
Ala.
Nov. 30 - 1919
The Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir,
Kindly give me the Rev. Military Service of James Witcher, born Sept 20 - 1750. He volunteered from Pittsylvania Co. Va.
He applied for Pension in 1832 from Smith - Co. Tenn. 
I am especially eager to have the names of his wife

[stamp]
PENSION
D
DEC
U 3 S.
1919
OFFICE.
Page 18

and children, if they appear on his Pension Application -
Thanking you I am
Mrs H. R. Johnston
Page 19

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON

July 8, 1919.
Hon. E. C. Tieman,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Tieman:

Will you kindly give me Revolutionary Records and names of heirs of John Witcher, Daniel [penciled note: negative] Witcher and William Witcher, brothers, of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, and especially advise me, if this fact is shown, which one was a Captain in the Virginia Militia and whether the name of Tobitha Witcher is given by either soldier.
Also please give me the Revolutionary Record of William Frazer, "Fraser", or "Frazier", [penciled note: negative] of Spartanburg District, South Carolina, and the names of heirs, if given.
Yours very truly,
[signed] H. M. Jacoway
Page 20

July 9, 1919.

Honorable H. M. Jacoway,
House of Representatives.

My dear Mr. Jacoway:
In response to your letter of the eighth instant, I have the honor to advise you, that this Bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolution, unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made on account of his services and a careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file in account of the services of John, Daniel and William Witcher and William Fraser, Frazer, or Frazier, described by you.
You are herewith furnished the history of the only soldier of the Revolution named Witcher, found on the records of this Bureau and in his claim it appears that one William Witcher was a captain of Virginia Militia, but there is no further data in said claim relative to him, nor is it stated that he was related to the soldier.
From the papers in the pension claim, Survivor File No,2024, it appears that James Witcher was born September 20, 1750, the place not stated and while residing in Pittsylvania County,
Page 21

Virginia, he entered the service in 1779, for six months, in Captain William Witcher's Company of Pittsylvania County, Militia, which was attached to Colonel David Mason's Regiment, he was in the battle at Stono, South Carolina and was discharged July 23, 1779. He again enlisted in the summer of 1780 for three months, in Captain George Parrish's Company of Virginia Militia, under Major Cloyd, he was in a battle with Tories at the Shallow Ford of the Yadkin River in North Carolina and was discharged October 22, 1780.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 30, 1832, while living in Smith County, Tennessee.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Very truly yours,

Deputy Commissioner.

[handwritten note: Original Signed by Mr Tieman-]