Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 16,894, for John Owsley, Virginia
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Va

Owsley, Ousley, Hously, John
Charity

NUMBER
R. 16,894

CONTENTS
Page 2

22282
East Tennessee
John Hously of Claiborn in the State of Tennessee who was a private in the Compy commanded by Captain Coombs of the Regt commanded by Genl Morgan in the Va line for 13 months

Inscribed on the Roll of East Tenn at the rate of 43 Dollars 33 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 18 day of Oct 1833 and sent to B F Cloud Clerk C. C. Tenn

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1833  $108.33
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4 Ma 34   21.67
$130.00

 Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk
Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 46
Page 3

John Owsley
Tenn
Act 1832
36
Page 4

State of Tennessee 
County of Claibourne}
Be it Known, that on this the 30th day of December A. D. 1852, before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared John Beck & Stephen Owsley, the Legal Representatives of Charity Owsley Decsd widow 4 of John Owsley resident of 2 the State of Tennessee in said County, and made oath according to law that 3 they are the Legal heirs of John Owsley Desd who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the benefit of the Pension Act of 4 ——
that 5 they are directly interested as a claimant in said pension and makes this affidavit to be filed with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim.
Countermanding and revoking all Powers of Attorney, and authority heretofore given, I hereby constitute and appoint SAMUEL M. KNIGHT, of Washington City, my true and lawful Attorney, to prosecute the claim of 6 John Owsley for any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents in relation to said claim on file in the Department at Washington City, or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or arguments, and to receive for my exclusive benefit, the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, D. C. Agency; to appoint one or more substitutes under him for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present.  
Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises. 
7 John Keck & Stephen Owsley. 
Sworn to, Subscribed and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said 8 John Keck & Stephen Owsley to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party therein alleged.
9 Levi Goin
Justice of the Peace for Claiborne County

State of Tennessee 
County of Claiborne}
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the Court of Claiborne County that 8 John Keck & Stephen Owsley the party who has sworn to, and ackowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney is the 10 Identical heirs of the reputed soldier aforesaid.  I further certify, that 11 Levi Goin Esq. before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to be his, I believe to be genuine. 
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, this 4th day of Jany 1853 
12  Thos J Johnson  Clk 

1. Claimant's name or names in full.—2. Post Office address. 3. "That he is the identical man," or "that she is the widow of the identical man," or "that he or she is the legal heir of the identical man," &c., &c. 4. Leave this line blank she or they are." —6. Revolutionary soldier's full name.—7. Claimant's signature.—8. Claimant's name.—9. Magistrate's signature. 10. "Identical," "widow of," or, "child of." —11. Magistrate's name.—12. Clerk's signature. 
N. B.—Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number.
Page 5

FAMILY RECORD.
____________________
BIRTHS.
__________________
Tabitha Owsley the first child of John and Charity Owsley was born March the 15 in the year of Anno Domini 1780
___________________________
  John Owsley the second child of the aforesaid John and Charity was born March the 17 A.D. 1783
________________________
Isaac Owsley the 3d child was born April the 27th in the year A.D. 1785
___________________________
Stephen Owsley the 4th child of the aforesaid was born June the 24 yr. 1787
____________________________
Matthew Owsley the 5th child of the aforesaid was born Sept. 23d A.D. 1789
___________________________
Ann Owsley the 6th child of the aforesaid was born December 28th 1792
________________________
William Owsley the 7th child of the aforesaid was born April the 9th in the yr. A.D. 1796
Page 6

FAMILY RECORD.
_______________________
MARRIAGES.
______________________
John Owsley was married to his wife Charity Barton August the 15th 1778
The former was born the 6th day of Novemb. in the yr A.D. 1757
Page 7

State of Tennessee
Claiborne County
This day being the 19th day of March 1833.
Personally appeard before the court of pleas and quarter Sessions held for said county the same being a court of record. John Hously aged about 76 years who having first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of congress passed June 7th 1832.
States that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and Served as herein stated.
That he resided in the County of Loudoun in the State of Virginia in the year of 1776 and that he enlisted his services in the Army of the United States under Lieutenant William Hausly for the Term of Six months in the Minnet Service and after his Term of Service expired he Received his discharge from Capt Joseph Combs who command the company to which I belonged there was but Two Companies of us and we had no Colo. or Major to command us but we we stationed at Alexandria to to keep the British from landing. This applicant begs leave to Re[-]present that some time in the year of 1777 as well as he can recollect that he still resided in the county of Loudoun in the state of Virginia and that....
Page 8

.... he voluntered his services in the army of the United States under Capt. Charles Porterfield and that he joined the Briggade commanded by General Morgans at Winchester in the state of Virginia  we marched from there to Philadelphia where this applicant nnockalated [inoculated] for the Small Pox and we marched from there and joined General Washington at the White Plains and the hole army marched back to a Small Village near Philadelphia and from there to the Crop Roads and from there we marched to the State of New York and from there we marched back to Philadelphia and this applicants Term of service having expired he returned home after having been six months in the actual servis of his country.
This applicant states that some time after that he voluntered himself to gard the funtiers of Virginia and that he served his country one month in that campaign.
he states that putting the hole of his services to gather that he did actually serve his country more than Thirteen months as he believes  he states that he has no documentary evidence of his serving nor dose he now of any living Testimony by whom he can prove the Same  he hereby Relinquishes ever claim to a pension or an annuity
Page 9

Except the pressant and declares that his name is not on the pention Role of any agency of any state what so ever.
Interagation &c
Where and in what year were you born.  have you any Record of your age and if so where is it  where were you living when you were called in to servis  were you drafted Volunter or a subsitute and if a Substute for whom  State some of the officers whom y knew  did you ever Recive and if so for whom.  State the names of some of your Neighbours who you no and who can testify to your carickter and the belief of your services
John his x mark Ousley
Sworn to in open court 19th March 18th 1833
B F. Cloud  Clk

I Joseph Neal am of the Clergymen of the Babtist Church.  do on oath state that I am well acquainted with John Hously who is making this application for a pention and believe him to be the years of age he states and that it is reported and believd in the Neighborhood where he resides that he was a Soldier of the Revolutionary War and that I concur in that opinion
Joseph Neel
Sworn to in open court March 19th 1833
B F. Cloud  Clk
Page 10

I John S. Hardy Justice of the Peace in Claiborn County State of Tennessee do hereby certify that I been for many years personally acquented with John Hously who makes the foregoing application for a pention and do belive his statements are correct and it is generally reputed and beleived in the neighbourhood that he was a soaldier of the revolution and I do concur in this belief.
John S. Hardy
Sworn to in open court 19th March 1833
B F Cloud Clk

I John Hunt High Sheriff of the County of Claiborne in the State of Tennessee do upon Oath State that I am well acquainted with John Hously who has made this application for a pention that it is reputed and believd in the Nieghbourhood where he resides that he was a soldier of the Revolution and that I concur in that opinion.
John Hunt Sheriff
Sworn to in open court
19th March 1833
B. F. Cloud
Page 11

26.635
John Hously
Claiborn Co
from 1776 private
13 months
$43.33/100

[East?]

On P.O. Pitupeis Co
6 months [illegible] Sepr
July 1779 deserted
[illegible]
17 Apl 1779

B. F. Cloud Clk
Page 12

And the Said Court do hereby declare this opinion after the investigation of the matter and after puting the interrogatoins precribed 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 Joseph Neal who has signed the preeding certificate is a clergyman Resident in Said County and that John S Hardy and John Hunts who has also signed certificates Respetively are Residents in said county and are respectable persons and that their statements are Entitled to credit.

State of Tennessee
I Benjamin F Cloud Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for Claiborne County do hereby Certify that the foregoing contains the original proceeding of the said court in the matter of the application of John Ously for a pension—
[Seal affixed]  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 12th day of August 1833
Benjamin F Cloud  Clk
Page 13

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of 1838 State of Tennessee Claiborne County on this 16" day of October 1846 personally appeard before me Levi Goin an acting Justice of the peace for Claibourn County Charity Hously aged about ninety five years of age and made oath in due form of law that she is the identicle widow of John Hously who was pensioned under the act of the 7" of June 1832  That she was married to her husband John Hously upon the 16th day of August 1778 and that he died on the nineteenth day of December 1845 and that she has not inter married but continues to be a widow  Sworn to and subscribed to this 16" day of October 1846
Charity her x mark Hously
Levi Goin
Justice of the peace for said county

State of Tennessee
Claiborne County}
I Levi Goin an acting Justice of the peace for Claibourn County do certify that I am personally known to Charity Hously and from infirmity of age she is unable to attend a court of Record and that she is a woman of Truth and Verasity given under my hand and seal this 16" day of October 1846
Levi Goin (Seal)
Justice of the peace for sd County.
Page 14

State of Tennessee
Claibourn County}
I Levi Goin an acting Justice of the Peace for Claibourn County do certify that I a Examined a margin bible and that the Record of the marriage of John Hously to Charity Barton took place on the 16" day of August 1778 and the birth of the first child in 1780.  I further state that the original Record has bin lost or mislayd so that it cannot be put on file with her declaration  given under my hand and seal this 16" day of October 1846
Levi Goin {seal}
Justice of the Peace for said County

State of Tennessee
Claibourn County}
I Thomas J Johnson Clerk of the County Court for Caibourn County do certify that Levi Goin is an acting Justice of the Peace duly Commisheand and qualifyed to administer oaths and that his signature appears to be in his own propper hand Riting  given under my hand and seale of office at office in Tazewell this 16" day of [crossed out: August] October 1846
Thos. J. Johnson  Clk
Page 15

State of Tennessee
Claibourn County}
On this 16" day of October 1846 personally appeard before me Simpson Hurst an acting Justice of the Peace for Claibourn County Sarah Lynch aged Eighty one years of age and made oath in due form of law that she was personally known to Charity Barton and that her marige took place to John Hously previous to the birth of her son John Lynch and he is Either sixty five or sixty six years of age  
Sarah her x mark Lynch 
Sworn to and and subscribed to this 16" day of October 18466
Simpson Hurst
Justis of the Peace

State of Tennessee
Claibourn County}
I Simpson Hurst an acting Justice of the Peace for Claibourn County duly Commishened and qualifyed by the laws of the state do certify that I am personally known to Sarah Lynch and that she is a woman of Truth and Verasity  given under my hand and seal this 16" day of October 1846
Simpson Hurst {seal}
Justis of the Peace

State of Tennessee Claibourn County  I Thomas J Johnson Clerk of the county court for Claibourn County do certify that Simpson Hurst is an acting Justice of the Peace for Clibourn County duly Commisheand and qualifyed by the laws of said state to administer oaths and that his signature appears to be Genuine
Page 16

Given under my hand and seal of office at office in Tazewell this 16" day of October 1846
Thos. J. Johnson  Clk

War department
Revolutionay Claim  13.106
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7" of June 1832 John Hausly who was a private in the army of the Revolution is intitled to Recieve Forty Three dollars and Thirty Three cents per anum during his natural life commencing on the 4" of March 1831 and payable semi annuly on the 4" of March and 4th of September in Every year
Given at the War office of the United States this 18th day of October One Thousand Eight hundred and Thirty Three
Lew Cass  Secretary of War

Examined and Counter signed 
Geo Wm Crump
Actg Commissioner of Pensions
Page 17

6728.
Declaration of Charity Owsley, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 4th of July 1836.
State of Tennessee
Claiborne County} ss.
On this Third day of [crossed out: March] April in the year of our Lord 1846, personally appeared Charity Owsley before me Levi Goin a Justice of the Peace for Said County  she being a resident of said County, and the said Charity Owsley being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836; That she is the widow of John Owsley who was a Soldier of the Revolution, but the particulars of his service for his Country she cannot state, though she knows of her own knowledge of her said husbands entering the service in the state of North Carolina.  She refers to a declaration of her said husband John Owsley, made in his lifetime, made in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th June 1832, and which declaration she presumes is on file in the Office of the Commissioner of Pensions and the same will give as she believes a correct statement of the revolutionary services of her deceased husband.  She states that a pension was granted to her said husband upon his said application, of forty five dollars dollars and sixty five cents as she beleives per annum  And she asks that the declaration here refered to may be taken as a part of her statement.  She further states and declares that she was married to the said John Owsley on the sixteenth day of August 1778, that her husband the aforesaid John Owsley died on the nineteenth day of December 1845, and that she has remained a widow ever since that period, as will more fully appear in proof if required.  She further states that her marriage
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took place at so early a date that she does not suppose that she could, aged as she is, procure the record.  But the family Bible belonging to herself and husband is still in possession of herself, and shows as she verrily beleives, Correctly the time, and the fact of her marriage with the said John Owsley, and she has caused the leaf of said Bible containing the entry of her said marriage to be cut out, and also the ages of her children, and she states that this leaf of said family Bible contains the original entry of her said marriage and the birth of her children, and the same is herewith transmitted as proof.
Charity her x mark Owsley
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 3rd day of [crossed out: March] April 1846—
Levi Goin Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee
Claiborne County}
I, Levi Goin, a Justice of the Peace for said County, do certify that Charity Owsley who made the above declaration before me, is and was at the time of making the same, unable from, or by reason of old age and infirmity, to attend in person any Court of Record in said County, for the purpose of making the same, that I am personally acquainted with her, and am acquainted with her character in the neighborhood and County where she resides, and that she is a person entitled to full credit and confidence upon oath.  Given under my hand and seal this 3rd day of [crossed out: March] April 1846.
Levi Goin {seal}
Justice of the Peace
Page 19


State of Tennessee
Claiborne County
Personally appeared John Keck before me, Levi Goin a Justice of the Peace for said County, and who being first duly sworn by me according to law, upon the Holy Gospels of God, deposeth and saith as follows, to wit; that he is personally acquainted with Charity Owsley widow of John Owsley, decd. and that she is one of the personal representatives of said John Owsley, and that the leaf from the family Bible of said John Owsley was cut from the source in her presence and by his Consent, in order to be transmitted as proof to the Commissioner of Pensions and that the leaf so transmmitted is the same which contained the Statement of the Marriage of said Charity Owsley to the said John Owsley with the births of their children and also States that he is acquainted with the character of said Charity Ousley; and that she is entitled to full faith and credit on oaths.
John Keck
Sworn to & subscribed before me [crossed out: March] April the 3d, 1846
Levi Goin
Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee Claiborne County_  I Levi Goin a Justice of the Peace for said County, to certify that I am personally acquainted with the above deponent John Keck, and that he is a person entitled to full faith and credit on oath_  and that he supports a good moral character_
Given under my hand and seal this 3rd day of [crossed out March] April 1846
Levi Goin {seal}
Justice of the Peace
Page 20

State of Tennessee
Claiborne County}
County Court, April Term 1846
Monday April 6th 1846_
Upon motion it is ordered by the Court to be certified that satisfactory evidence has been produced to shew that Charity Owsley is the widow of John Owsley, decd. and that said John Owsley was a pensioner of the United States for revolutionary services, that oweing to her age and infirmity she is unable to attend a court of record in this County, in order to make her declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Pension laws of the United States, and that said Charity Owsley is a person entitled to full faith and credit upon oath.  It is further ordered to be certified that Levi Goin before whom said Charity Owsley has made her declaration is and was when the same was made a justice of the Peace for Claiborne County and a member of the Court, and that the preceedings by said Levi Goin are produced here in open Court and that the same are hereby confirmed by the Court, and also that the interlineations therein were made by the said Levi Goin in his own hand writing and before the signing of the same by said Charity Owsley, John Keck, or himself_
I Thomas J. Johnson, Clerk of the County Court of Claiborne County Tennessee, do certify that the foregoing proceedings of the County Court of said County, is a true copy from the records of the proceedings of said Court, in my Office.  And I do further certify that the said Levi Goin whose name appears to the declaration of Charity Owsley and the deposition of John Keck, is and was at the time of signing the same an active Justice of the Peace, duly Commissioned as such, and that his signature is in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my public seal of Office, at Office in Tazewell, the 1st day of May 1846_
Thomas J. Johnson, Clerk
Page 21

16894   Revy}  our
Charity Owsley 
widow of John
REJECTED
[All categories blank:]
P.O.
Service: 
Enlisted:   ,18  . 
Discharged:   ,18  .
Application filed:   ,18  .
Alleges: 
Re-enlisted: 
Attorney: 
P. O. 
Recognized.  
Contract. 
Cert. of Dis.  
Searched for   ,18   .
Page 22

6728
Charity Owsley
Tenn.
 Let. to W. R. Evans, Esq
[Crossed out:
Aug. 5. '46 & Nov. 18th 1846
J. K. McAnnally Sep 1. 1852
Jon. Geo W. Jones Jan 14, '54
Same Jany 17 1854]
Act July 4/36
Page 23

Tazewell Tennessee
The Commissioner of Pensions will please to address any Communication upon the subject of the enclosed Pension claim, to me at this place._
Respectfully,
Walter R. Evans
Page 24

Pension Office
Novemb. 18th 1846.
The papers just received from you in the Case of Charity Ousley Widow of John Ousley or Housley, afford no additional evidence of the date of their marriage.
A transcript of the pension Certificate of Mrs Ousley's husband has enabled me to find the papers upon which his stipend was granted.  In his declaration John Housley or Ousley, to both of which he appears to have answered, Alleged that he served 6 months in 1776 as a minute man under Capt. Joseph Combs.  6 months in 1777 under Capt Portrefield of Col Morgans Regiment and 1 month afterward, in the Militia.  The Muster Roll of Capt Portrefields Company Shows that Ousley was Mustered in July 1777.  And that he deserted on 17" August of that year.  He was therefore improperly allowed a pension for that tour.  And the fact of his desertion in this time inspired such a distrust of her entire statement that Mrs. Ousley will be required to produce satisfactory proof to sustain the allegation of her husband before she can be granted
Page 25

a pension for any portion of his service set forth in his declaration.

Walter R Evans Esq
Tazewell
E. Tennessee

Nov 18 46
Page 26

House of Representatives
January 12, 1854

Hon L. P. Waldo
Comr. of Pensions
Sir
Mrs Blackburn, wife of James Blackburn of Mary County Tennessee, only daughter and child of John Howsley Decd has an application pending for arrears of Pension due her father for services in the Revolutionary War.
Be pleased to inform me its condition and the reason it has not been allowed?
Respectfully
G W Jones
M. Thompson Esqr, of this City has heretofore attended to the Claim as agent.
Page 27

Hon G. W Jones
Jan 17/54
Page 28

300

Pension Office
Jany 17 1854
Sir
I enclose you the letters of the 18 Nov 1846 and 14 inst, directed to you on the last mentioned date and have the honor to inform you that I can find no other papers, at all, answering your description.  Charity Owsley was the widow of John Hously of Tenn.  Please request Mr Thompson to furnish this office with a copy of the letter written to him in relation to the care or to give the date of the letter, that may enable me to find the papers.

Hon G W Jones
H of R
Page 29

Elm Wood Grainger County
June the 10th 1852

Hon A G Watkins
Dear Sir
The communication of the Comr of Pensions Relative to Mrs Charity Owsleys case is before me or rather a copy of his communication to W R Evans Esqr.  But that decision does not appear to me to suit the law in the case which is compiled by the Comr of Pensions Under the Act of March 3 1849.  Page 21 to which I respectfully invite the attention of the comr of Pensions  Please lay the case again before Mr Heath and if he considers the above law applicable to her case let him inform me what proof is lacking to support it.  
I have the honor to be your Obt Servant
James K McAnally
Page 30

W. R. Evans
August 5. 1846.
Page 31

Pension Office
Aug. 5, 1846.
Sir,
The papers in the case of Charity Owsley have been examined and filed.  The roll of Pensioners under the Act of June 1832 for several states has been examined and it does appear from them that John Owsley recieved a pension.  She will therefore state the place where he was paid and when he last drew his pension.
The leaf from a bible purporting to be a family record was made at too late a day to be admitted as evidence of a remote event.  The date of the marriage should be proved by the certificate of the Clerk of the County in which it took place.
The claim should be asserted before a court of record, or before a Judge in vacation if the claimant is unable to attend court

Walter R. Evans E
Tazewell E. Tennessee
Page 32

5
J. K. McAnnally
Septr 1" 1852
Page 33

13
Pension Office
Sep 1 1852
Sir
The suspicions attaching to the claim of Charity Ousley, when the letter of Nov 18 1846, was written by my predecessor, to Mr W.R. Evans have not been lessened by the time which has been permitted to elapse without any effort being made to remove them.—  I, therefore, refer you to that letter and inform you that the opinions there expressed are the opinions of the office now, and nothing short of what was required then can be received now, to admit this claim.

J.K. McAnnally Esq
Red Wood
Tenn
Page 34

Hon G. W. Jones
Jany 14/54
Page 35

241

Pension Office,
January 14, 1854

Sir,
Upon dilligent search no papers filed by Mrs. Blackburn for pension due in virtue of the services of her father, John Hously, a revolutionary pensioner, can be found. There were papers, however, presented by his widow, Charity Hously, (or Owsley), in the year 1846. The enclosed copy of a letter (under date of November 18. 1846,) sent to her agent, W.R. Evans, will put you in possession of the condition of the claim. Since that period no evidence of any kind appears to have been adduced.~
Very respectfully
&c

Hon. G.W. Jones
House of Representatives