Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 11926, John Yates, Va.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE   NUMBER
Va.   Yates, John  R 11926
Courtney
CONTENTS
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[stamp indicating date reads "Pension Office. APR 2[illegible] 1859]

State of Virginia County of Buchanan SS.

In this 25th day of September A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight, personally appeared before me, a Justice of the peace, within and for the county and state, aforesaid, Courtney Yates, 93 years: a resident of the Buchanan County, on the state of Virginia who, bring duly sworn according to law, declares, that she is the widow of John Yates, who, according to the best information was born in Patrick county about the A.D 1764 and died xxxxx 1834 in Tazwell county, (now Buchanan) Virginia. She said he ran away from his father in Patrick county Virginia near the close of the Revolutionary war and enlisted under Colonel Preston (she thinks) who accompanied him to Guilford county North Carolina, where he joined the army, at the Blue Springs his father, George Yates, followed and would have taken him back but at the earnest solicitation of Col. Preston was permitted to remain, he finally carried his clothes to him. He said he was in the battle at Yorktown, at the capture of Cornwalis [sic] also at the battle at Kings Mountain has heard him relate frequently, many rude scenes that occurred in the battlefield as the [illegible] since 1787 to his death.

She, Courtney Deal was married to John Yates in Russel County Virginia 1787

By------Greenville, an itinerant preacher, ---- he said a particular friend and companion of his shot down by his side, which he often related with deep sensation among other indistinctly recollected, he was beyond a doubt in the Revolutionary war as stated, and his name will [crossed out] be found on record. He was honorably discharged, and retained his discharge many years but lost it --- he often
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And his companions in arms, when they shouldered their canes, "and fought their battles over again" --- bid they nearly all, fallen asleep and she will soon follow them! He was a man of  medium size, dark complexion, dark hair, deep blue eyes, --- he was wounded in the arm at Yorktown.

Perhaps. He frequently talked of applying for a pension but was told that it would require a living witness to identify himself especially as he had lost his discharge. He was in his dotage before he learned that he was entitled to a pension. It was lately, that her (Courtney Yates) attention directed to it by a paragraph in the newsper [sic], headed, "Interesting to widows".

She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining a pension, also bounty land, to which she may be entitled under the different acts of Congress, approved for the benefit of the soldiers, his widow or heirs. She also declares that she has not received a certificate for a pension on land warrant nor does she believe that her husband nor anybody else ever has, nor made any other application therefor

Courtney Yates
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We Daniel Matney and John Yates residents of Buchanan County in the state of Virginia upon our oaths declare that the forsworn declaration was signed and acknowledged by Courtney Yates in our presence and that we believe from the general character of the applicant with whom we have been acquainted for ___ years, that her statements are true, and know her to be the identical person she represents herself to be, the widow of John Yates, named in the foregoing declaration.
Daniel Matney {seal}
John Yates {seal}

The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above written, and I certify that that [sic] I know the affiants (as well as the applicant, to be credible persons) and that the claimant is the identical person she represents herself to be, the widow of John Yates with whom I was also acquainted for many years and knew him to be a man of infinite integrity and honesty -- have heard him relate many scenes that occurred in the Revolutionary war with Great Britain -- and that I have no interest in this claim. In consequence of extreme old age and infirmity she is unable to attend court.
Joseph Looney J. P.

Kow [know] all men by these presents that I Courtney Yates of the state of Virginia County of Buchanan, do hereby make, constitute, and appoint Nathaniel M Dudley my true and
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lawful attorney for me and in my name to to [sic] demand and receive from the Department of the Interior of the United States, the Certificate for a pension and land warrant, to which I am entitled to as widow of John Yates for his military services as mentioned in the foregoing declaration, hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever my said attorney may do in the premises by virtue thereof.
Courtney Yates {seal}

Attest
State of Virginia County of Buchanan SS
On this 25th day of September 1855 personally appeared before me Joseph Looney, a magistrate, duly authorized by law to take acknowledgments, in and for the county aforesaid Courtney Yates, subscriber to the foregoing and acknowledged the same to be her act and deed, for the purpose therein described.
Joseph Looney {seal}

State of Virginia County of Buchanan SS
I James H Gillespie Clerk of the County Court in and for the county and state above mentioned, do hereby certify that Joseph Looney whose genuine signature appears above is and was at the time of signing the same a magistrate in and for the county and state aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn, that all his official acts as such, are entitled to full faith and credit, and that the aforesaid County Court is a Court of Record having general Jurisdiction.
Given under my hand and private seal (there being no seal of) office at Grundy this 23rd day of Nov'r 1858
James H. Gillespie CC
{SS}
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State of Virginia; County of Buchanan SS
On this 28th day of September 1859, personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for said County Courtney Yates a resident of Virginia Buchanan County, aged about 90 years who being first [marked out: sworn] duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832 entitled "an act supplementary to the act for the relief of certain serving officers &soldiers of the revolution" That she is the widow of John Yates, who was a private soldier in the company of volunteers commanded by Frank Preston regiment of Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary war with Great Britain, He entered the service in Patrick County Virginia in the Volunteer company of Cap't Preston on whose plantation he was born and raised--their rendezvous was at Blue Spring not far distant -- he was in the battle of Guilford Courthouse -- he continued in the service about eight months -- he was discharged soon after the battle of Guilford Courthouse -- his discharge though retained for many years, is lost.  She further declares that she was married to the said John Yates in the year 1787 that her husband the aforesaid John Yates died on the 20th Nov 1832 that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but that the marriage took place at the time above sttated.
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She further swears that she is now a widow and that she has never before made any application for a pension.  Courtney  her X mark  Yates
(Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written before me)
J. P 
The foregoing declaration was sworn to and  subscribed before me on the day and year above written and I certify that the applicant Courtney Yates is unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity.
John W. Dixon J. P.

State of Virginia, County of Buchanan SS.

On this 28 day of September personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, Joseph Looney Esqr aged 54 years a resident of Buchanan county Va; who being sworn according to law, says that he knew the said John and Courtney Yates named in the above declaration well, many years as man and wife, and that John Yates died on the 20th day of November 1832 -- that he resided in his family, and marked the superscription on his tombstone, which stands near the residence now, of the said Courtney Yates.
Sworn to before me, on the day and year above written.
John W. Dixon J. P.
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I certify that Joseph Looney Sen, (a magistrate in this County) is a man of inflexible integrity and unquestionable veracity -- as well as the applicant
John W. Dixon J. P

State of Virginia Buchanan County SS
I, James H. Gillaspie [sic], clerk of the County Court in and for the County and State above mentioned do hereby certify that John W. Dixon whose genuine signature appears above is and was at the time of signing the same a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn That all his official acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit and that the aforesaid County Court is a Court of Record having general Jurisdiction.
In testimony whereof my hand and ___ seal of office at Grundy this the 5th day of October A.D 1859
Ja's H. Gillespie, Clerk
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This claim was recorded in the Pension office [marked out: July] May last, 1859, under the act of July 7th [marked out: 1838] 1838 -- See the testimony of widow Thomas, you will perceive that we claim under the act of 20th Nov 1832 -- if any further testimony be required, we shall expect to be informed.

Addres [sic] Nathaniel M. Dudley of Jeffersonville Tazwell [sic] County Va, (attorney for Courtney Yates)

Courtney Yates
claimant
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State of Virginia Russell County SS
On this 30 day of March 1859 personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for the state and county aforesaid Sarah Thomas, (widow of William Thomas deceased)
aged 98+ a resident of Russell County Virginia who being duly sworn according to law, says she is the daughter of George Yates, and sister of John Yates, named in the above declaration, that she was born in Patrick County Virginia, in the vicinity of Guilford county N.C. was living on big Reed Island where John Yates, her brother entered the service in the Revolutionary war -- that he continued in the service eight months -- that she recollects distinctly when he, John Yates entered the service and when he returned, --that he was in the battle of Guilford N.C. that she met him Kohn Yates at the door when he returned and ran and shook hands with him saw the blood on his knapsack and blanket: that he said "his captain was shot down by his side and that they carried him some distance and laid him behing [sic] a log" this together, with many other rude scenes that occurred both in the camp and the battle field, she has heard him relate from her youth up to his (John Yates) death, (which was in AD 1834.) She further says she has known him, John Yates an [sic] Courtney Yates (whose maiden name was Courtney Deal) for 70 years, as man and wife (until his death) & she says she was 16 years old when her brother returned.
Sary Thomas
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The above declaration [marked out: and] or affidavit was subscribed and sworn to before me on the day and year above written, and I certify that the deponent Sarah Thomas, is a credible person of inflexible integrity and unquestionable veracity  (several corrections and interlineations were made before [marked out: befor] sworn)
Wilson Elliott J. P.

State of Virginia Russell County SS
I Richard H Lynch Clerk of the County Court in and for the County and State above mentioned do hereby certify, that Wilson Elliott whose genuine signature appears above is and was at the time of signing the same a magistrate duly commissioned and sworn, that all his official acts as such, are entitled to full faith and credit, and the aforesaid County Court is a Court of Record, having general Jurisdiction. Given under my hand  and seal of office, at Lebanon this 31st day of March 1859
R H Lynch C.C

Address Nathaniel M Dudley
Cedar Bluff Tazwell [sic] County, Va.
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no. 15,505
Courtney Yates,
widow of John
Virginia

Let N. M Dudley
May 12 / 59
same Augt 7 / 60

11926
Act July 7. 1838.
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11. 726.
P. O. ___
Courtney Yates
Service: John__
Enlisted:  REJECTED 18__
Discharged: ___ 18__
Application filed:___, 18__
Alleges: ___
Re-enlisted: ___
Attorney: ___
P. O. ___
___ Recognized. ___ Contra
___ Cert. of Dis. Searched for ___,18__
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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

Name Yates, Joseph Grade Sergeant Line New Jersey

warrant Number 8883  Acreage 100 Issued July 1, 1790 to --not shown--

The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of ""Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800"" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.