Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 16,526, for Basil Shaw, Maryland
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(3-1776)

SERVICE | | NUMBER
Continental | Shaw, Basil | S. 16,526
Md. | | 

carded

CONTENTS
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Georgia No. 23,218
Basil Shaw
of Hall Co. in the State of Georgia
who was a Sergeant in the company commanded by Captain Tannehill of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Rawlins in the Maryland Troops
and Continental line for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 120 Dollars  Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7th day of Dec.
1833 and sent to John B. Nichols
Gainesville C.H. Hall Co. Ga.

Arrears to the 4th of Sep. 1853 300.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March 34 60.00
$360.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6 Page 103  

(written left side vertically)
Date of death - recd on 13
Page 3

Washington City 26th. July 1813.
Sir -
I received your letter of enquiry for a
Mr. Basil Shaw of the 14th inst. yesterday. The person to whom you allude was an intimate acquaintance and a near kinsman of mine. I have neither heard from, or seen him for about thirty years. I know not whither he may be yet living - I can give you every information
respecting his patriotic career in the American
Revolution - He enlisted under me, in perhaps the month of August 1776 for three years - I discharged him as a sergeant at Pittsburg in Aug. 1779 - with a character worthy of a good, and faithful friend to his Country - after his discharge he returned to his mother's
family in Maryland - I am not certain; but to the best of my recollection  I saw him afterward in Fredk Town and I think he was married - among many inquiries after him at different times I understood he had
become religious and became a Methodist preacher & removed to some of the southern states - since which I
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I have had no account of him - From your name sir, the presumption with me is, that you are a relative of his, if you are, & can give me a detailed account of him - where he resides - his situation in life &c. I shall be much obliged - or if he be alive, & you have any communication with him, would be much gratified if he were to
write me himself; to address his letter to me at Grovehill near Pittsburgh. -
I am Sir
Yours respectfully,
A. Tannehill

I Wilkins Tannehill of the Town of Nashville and State of Tennessee, do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the handwriting of Adamson Tannehill whose name is signed to the foregoing letter, and I do hereby declare that the foregoing is in the handwriting of said Adamson Tannehill late of Pittsburgh in the State of Pennsylvania. Given under my hand this 6th day Decr. 1828
W. Tannehill
Page 5

27 690
Basil Shaw
Ga
Admit as Sergeant
2 years $120
Page 6

State of Georgia Hall County
I Basil Shaw do hereby state & declare that I am seventy two years of age and that I enlisted as a soldier before I was 17 years old in the State of Maryland in Montgomery County where I was born & raised with one
Captain Adamson Tannehill who was authorized to recruit soldiers for the purpose of supporting the regiment of riflemen commanded by Col. Moses Rawlins that was captured at Fort Washington in
1776 near New York and while prisoners, the troops nearly all died; it was in 1778 that I enlisted for the term of three years and the first services that I was directed to attend to was to guard British prisoners at Fort Cumberland in Maryland and after seven
months it was ascertained that Col. Rawlins'
regt. could not be rescued, there being only two
companies enlisted. One of them was commanded by Captain Tho's Beall and the other by Capt. A. Tannehill whom I enlisted with and we were ordered to go on to Fort Pitt and join the Boston army in the Indian War. The said company, that I was attached to was called the Maryland Corps and there was no other Maryland troops there. The 8th Pennsylvania Regt. commanded by Col. Brodhead and the 9th Virginia Regt. commanded by Col. J. Gibson and the Maryland Corps were all the troops except the militia who was engaged in the Indian warfare at Fort Pitt. After 4 months service I was appointed a Sergeant, and continued in this [illegible] at different stations until my 3 years expired and was discharged by Capt. Tannehill as a Sergeant. I then returned to Maryland
Page 7

I went to Annapolis where they were recruiting a new 4th Maryland Regiment. I enlisted in it for 3 years and was appointed Sergeant Major. We then went on as one battalion under
the command of Major Bank to the sieges of Lord Cornwallis. And after his capture a garrison of the army was ordered on to join General Gasser in South Carolina. He was commanded by General Wayne, and after being there a few months I obtained a furlough to return to Maryland with instructions to join the recruiting party at Annapolis where the balance of the 4th Regiment was completed. And joined a battalion commanded by Major Thomas Lansdale and was then ordered on to the north to join General Washington in the latter end of the year 1782. And remained at his headquarters near the Hudson River at New [illegible], a place now called Newburgh, about 15 miles above West Point until the first part of
June 1783 where the revolutionary army 
was. And then when tour of service had not expired, was retained in Fredericktown Maryland until the next November when they were ordered on to Fort Pitt. And as there was no place for me to do the duty of Sergeant Major, I was discharged on the 10th day of Nov. 1783. My first discharge I lost and my last discharge I gave up to a gentleman, and  sold my claim on the government for my pay.
My last enlistment also was given up to the Secretary of State of Maryland at Annapolis who paid me my bounty. I recv'd from the state 50 acres of land, a bounty that was allowed to the troops of the state that
served to the end of the War.
Basil Shaw

The above statement sworn and subscribed to September the 2nd 1833
John Mcafee, Justice of the Peace
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We Charles W Parks, a clergyman residing in the County of Hall and Wiley Harbin
residing in the same county and state hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Basil Shaw who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration.  That we believe him to be seventy two
years of age - that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Jno M McAfee J I C
Charles W Parks
Wiley Harbin

And the said Court hereby declare their opinion after the 
investigation of the matter and after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the War Department
that above named applicant was a Revolutionary
soldier and served as he states. And the Court
further certifies that it appears to them that
[blank] who has signed the preceding certificate
is a clergyman resident in Hall County and that
[blank] who has also signed the same
is a resident in Hall County and is a credible
person and that their statement is entitled to credit.
Jno M McAfee J I C
Wiley E Wood J I C
W Garrison J I C
Joseph Duncanson J I C

I George Hawes clerk of the Court of Ordinary
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
original proceedings of the said court in the
matter of the application of Basil Shaw
In testimony whereof I have herewith set
my hand and seal of office this 2nd day of September
1833
Page 9

State of Georgia
Hall County
I John B Nichols clerk of the Inferior
Court of said county hereby certify
that John M Mcafee before whom the foregoing
affidavits were made is an acting Justice of the
Inferior Court in and for said county and that the
signatures annexed are his genuine signatures
Given under my hand and seal
of office this 20th of September 1833
John B Nichols Clk 

27690
Basil Shaw
Ga

Admit as Sergeant
2 years $120
Page 10

December 5, 1933
Basil Shaw - S. 16526
BA-J/AWF
Mrs. H.A. Patch
3928 Arbor Street
Omaha, Nebraska

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which
you request the Revolutionary War record of Basil Shaw of Montgomery County, Maryland, the War of 1812 record of Joseph Shaw, who served in Captain Isaac Watkins' company of Kentucky militia, and the Civil War records of George w. Shaw and William A. Shaw.
The War of 1812 records of this office fail
to show a claim for pension on file on account of the services of a Joseph Shaw, who served in Captain
Isaac Watkins' company of Kentucky militia.
Your letter has been forwarded to the proper
division, for reply relative to the Civil War records
of George W. and William A. Shaw.
You are furnished herein the record of the Revolutionary
War soldier, Basil Shaw of Montgomery County,
Maryland. The data given were obtained from the papers
on file in pension claim, S. 16526, based upon his
service in that war.
Basil Shaw was born and reared in Montgomery
County, Maryland; the date of his birth and names
of parents not given. He stated that his father disinherited
him, because of his enlistment.
While residing in Montgomery County, Maryland,
Basil Shaw enlisted in August, 1776 and served as
private, Sergeant and sergeant-major in Captain Adamson
Tannehill's company, Colonel Moses Rawlings' Maryland
regiment, and under Majors Beall and Thomas Lansdale;

[right margin]
Sent to Mr Dewitt Cook 
[illegible] Bldg Dec 5 - 33
Page 11

Lansdale; he was at the siege of Yorktown and was discharged,
November 10, 1783. He stated that he had three
campaigns "in the last war under that great and good
man General A. Jackson".
In 1828 the soldier, Basil Shaw was living in
Nashville, Tennessee. He was allowed a pension on his
application executed, September 2, 1833, then seventy
two years of age and living in Hall County, Georgia.
He married and later became a Methodist preacher;
there are no details of the marriage and name of wife
not shown. His son, J. Shaw in 1813 gave his address as
Carthage, Tennessee. In 1828 Jo. Shaw was forty-one years
of age and living in Davidson County, Tennessee, his
relationship to the soldier not stated.
Captain Adamson Tannehill under whom the soldier
served, stated that he was a near kinsman of the soldier.
One Wilkins Tannehill was living in Nashville, Tennessee,
his relationship to the Captain Adamson Tannehill not
shown.
Very truly yours
A.D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator
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16.526
INVALID.
File No. 16,526
Basil Shaw
Serg Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index :- Vol. 1, Page 340
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1919 Feb'y 13 Hist. to R. Ross.
Letter in S. 14,252 Hugh Randolph.
1933. Dec 5 Hist. to Mrs
H.A. Patch - see letter
sent to Rec. Div. relative
to Civil War records - awf
Page 13

LAND OFFICE,
Annapolis, November 22nd 1883,
I Certify, that it appears by a Pay Roll remaining in the Office, that Basil
Shaw a Sergeant received of John Hamilton,
Agent of the Maryland Line, $120.00 cts. arrears of pay from the 1st August, 1780,
to the 1st of January, 1782 - also $120.00 cts. pay from the 1st January, 1782, to the
1st January, 1783 - also $65.00 cts. from the 1st January, 1783, to the 15th of
November, 1783.
Gratuity, _ Total received $305.00 cts.
George G. Brewer
Register Land Office, W.S. Md.
Page 14

Maj. Basil Shaw
Lebanon
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Lebanon 30th June 1828.
Maj. Basil Shaw.
Pursuant to a resolution of the Committee
of arrangements, for the Jackson Dinner, to given at
Lebanon the 2nd day of July next. I am directed to
invite you, as a soldier of the Revolution, to partake
of the same, with the citizens of Wilson County.
In discharging this duty, I take great
pleasure in having an opportunity to
offer you testimony of the high regard and esteem of
Your very obedient servant.
Sam'l Yerger Sec'y
Page 16

Land Office,
Annapolis, Nov. 22nd 1833
I hereby certify that it appears by the Muster Rolls
remaining in this office that Basil Shaw enlisted as a
private in Rawlings' Regiment on the 5th day of April
1779, and on the 27th day of July 1779, was promoted to
the rank of Sergeant
George G Brewer
Regr Ld Off. W. S. Md.
Page 17

[circle stamp]
NASH T
JUN 29


Revolutionary Claims
FREE
Honbl.
Saml. D Ingham
Secretary TReasury
Washington City
D.C.

Basil Shaw 1420
3046
Rec’d 11 July 1829
Page 18

Nashville June 30th 1829
Honbl. S.D. Ingham
Sir
Your favour of the 16th [?] informed me
that a decision of my claim upon the government was
suspended for further evidence - I did believe that there
were two persons yet living the one in Kentucky the
other in Alabama by whom I could make the necessary
proof but on application I find that one is dead the
other has removed to some part of Missouri to me unknown
I have therefore come to the conclusion to bring the
matter to a close and trouble you no farther with it I
beg leave to refer my case as it now stands to your
decision having every confidence that you will do
me all the justice the nature of the case will admit
of a favourable result would add greatly to the comfort
of my declining years if made now but a short time
hence can be of but little consequence to me a few days
must with me and this earthly career which I shall close
with prayers for the permanency of our present institutions
and the continuance of the present happy state of things
and for the health and happiness of that great and good man
who has been placed by providence at the head of
our happy country
Respectfully your obt. servt.
Basil Shaw
Page 19

[stamp ]FREE
Honbl. Samuel D Ingham
Secretary of the Treasury
Washington City D.C.

Basil Shaw,
of Nashville
14th May 1829

Basil Shaw 1420
Rec’d 2 June 1829
Page 20

Nashville May 14th 1829
The Honbl. S.D. Ingham
Sir - Believing myself entitled to the benefit
of the act of Congress of May 15th 1828 for the relief of
certain officers and soldiers of the army of the Revolution
I take the liberty of asking your attention to certain papers
on the subject filed in the Treasury Department (or Pension
Office) with Mr. Asbury Dickens during the last session of
Congress by the Honorable John Ball of Tennessee - those papers
are the only proof I can command at this time which I
hope are satisfactory - as you are well aware sir that at this
day it is difficult to make proof of what was in days
past matter of notoriety - nearly six years services in the
War of the Revolution and loss of patrimony being disinherited
by my father for enlisting and three campaigns in various
active and important offices in the last war under that
great and good man General A. Jackson (to whom I beg leave
to refer you) constitute my claims upon the liberality of
the government - having never before asked for a pension
and being now old and needy I hope sir you will find disposed
to grant me the relief authorized by law - the enclosed
papers will show that in a county where I have resided
upwards of thirty years I have always been known and
recognized as a soldier of the Revolution his Excellency
the President is acquainted with the hand writing
Page 21

and standing of the signers of each of them and the circumstances
under which they were received. I have had
many other such but they are now mislaid not expecting
to want them - Adamson Tannehill whose letter identifies
three years service was a Capt. in the Revolution - afterward
a Genl. in the Pennsylvania Militia and a Representative in
Congress when the letter was written - will you be so
good sir, as to inform me at an early day of the fate of
this application. For if I do receive anything from the
generosity of a country I have served long and faithfully, it
is now that I want it nor can I want it long - I hope sir
you will excuse the length of this epistle when you reflect
it is a matter of much importance to me at least.
I am sir very sincerely and
Respectfully your obt. servt.
Basil Shaw
Page 22

Majr. Basil Shaw
Hartsville
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Hartsville July 5 1828
Majr. Basil Shaw,
Pursuant to a resolution of the
Committee of arrangements for the Jackson dinner,
to be given at Hartsville on this day I am directed
to invite you as a soldier of the Revolution to partake
of the same with the citizens of Sumner County
In discharging this duty I take great
pleasure in having an opportunity to offer
you testimony of the high regard and esteem of
Your very obedient servant
Wm W Chambers Sec'y
Page 24

Major Basil Shaw
Carthage
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1420
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
15 January 1829.
Basil Shaw of Nashville in the County of
[blank] in the State of Tennessee has applied to the Secretary
of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled " An Act for the relief of certain surviving
officers and soldiers of the Revolution," approved the 15th of May, 1828. He states that he
enlisted in the Continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and
continued until its termination, at which period he was a Sergeant Major in captain
[blank]'s company, in the fourth regiment of the Maryland
line; and that he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by the resolve
of the 15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the
pension list of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 8d of
March, 1826, nothing.
The Third Auditor is requested to report how far the several statements are corroborated by
the records in his office.
By order of the Secretary
F Dickins
#16.526 Inv OK

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
THIRD AUDITOR'S OFFICE,
19th January 1829
It further appears that Basil Shaw is not now on the pension
list of any agency, and has not been so since the 3rd March 1826
The name of Basil Shaw cannot
be found among those of the Maryland line, to
whom certificates for the gratuity of eighty dollars
were issued -
Peter Hagener Aud

Evidence insufficient
Act 1828
Page 26

War Depart: Bounty Land Office
12 May 1829
The records of this office do not show that Basil Shaw
of the Maryland line ever received or is entitled
to bounty land of the United States.
Robert Taylor
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Carthage
4 July 1828
Major Basil Shaw,
Sir,
The committee of arrangements for this celebration of this day at Carthage
having learned that you were in the town have
directed me to invite you, as a soldier of
the Revolution to partake of the festivities of the
day.
In the discharge of this duty I take great pleasure,
as it affords me an opportunity of offering
to you, testimony of the high regard and esteem of
Yr. mo. obt.
Don C. Dixon Scy
Page 28

O W Div
File #16,526
Page 29

State of Tennessee Davidson County Ss.
I Nathan Ewing Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter
Sessions for said County do hereby certify to whom it may
concern that Wilkins Tannehill Esquire whose name is signed
to the acknowledgement and within affidavit was at
the time his name appears to have been signed to the
same one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for
said County and said Court duly commissioned and
qualified as such full faith and credit is and ought
to be given to his official acts in Courts of Justice and thereout.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand at office in Nashville
this 15th day of December 1828
Nathan Ewing
State of Tennessee Davidson County Ss.
I Samuel McManus presiding Magistrate of the Court
of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said County do hereby
certify to whom it may concern that Nathan Ewing
whose name is signed to the above certificate was at
the time his name appears to have been signed to
the same Clerk of said Court in said State and that
his attestation is in due form of law Given under
my hand and seal this 15th day of December 1828
S. McManus {seal}
Page 30

1420
In August 1776 I enlisted in the American army
under Capt. Adamson Tannehill of Col. Rawlings' rifle regiment
Maryland Troops served three years and was honorably
discharged as a Sergeant at Pittsburgh in Augt. 1779 by
said Capt. Tannehill as will appear by the accompanying
letter from him while a member of Congress in 1813 addressed
to my son - I afterwards enlisted again in what was
intended to be the 4th Maryland Regt. revived but as only
a battalion was raised it was called the Maryland Corps, 
commanded by Maj. Thomas Lansdale I served to the end
of the war, received the bounty of eighty dollars, and was
honorably discharged as a Sergeant Major, I think on
the 10th day of November 1783 at Fredericktown Maryland
by Capt. Dyers. Being in needy circumstances I sold my
claims on the government for a trifle and gave up my
discharge to the purchaser - therefore have no proof of
my services except my own oath and the enclosed papers.

State of Tennessee Davidson County ss
This day Basil Shaw of the City
of Nashville personally appeared before
me Wilkins Tannehill an acting Justice of the peace for said County and made oath that the above written statement of fact & circumstances are true & correct to the best of his recollection and belief Sworn to & subscribed this 15th of December 1828.
Basil Shaw
W Tannehill
Justice of the Peace


I certify that since my earliest recollection (and I am in the 42nd year of my age) I have always understood that Basil Shaw was a soldier in the revolutionary army & served to the end
of the war & that I have heard divers persons say that they knew him in the army & that he was discharged at Frederick Town Maryland after the war was over as a sergeant Major. And I have no doubt from what I have heard that it was true. I
know he has allways been reputed to have been a soldier & to have served five or 6 years & to the and of the war. Jo. Shaw

Sworn to & subscribed before me this 12th day of Oct 1828
W Tannehill
Justice of the Peace
Page 31

I first became acquainted with Major Basil Shaw, in the winter of
1812. In the fall of the year 1813, I was in Pittsburgh, in the State of
Pennsylvania, and had frequent conversations with Genl. Adamson
Tannehill, the writer of the foregoing letter. I mentioned having recently
met with Major Shaw. Genl. Tannehill informed me that he had
not seen Mr. Shaw for 20 or 30 years, but well remembered him, as
he was a near relation - that he had served his country during
its struggle for independence, a considerable portion of the time
under his command - he spoke of him as a faithful and devoted
soldier to the cause he had esposed I do not remember whether
Genl. Tannehill noted that, as has Mr. Shaw first entered the
service, he had enlisted for the term of the war, or had enlisted
at two different times. I am very certain however, of
the fact that, he entered the service in 1776, and did
not quit it until the war ended, and that he received an
honorable discharge: Genl. Tannehill from whom I
derived this information, it is well known, was an officer of
the Revolution. Nashville Tennessee Decr. 6th 1828
W Tannehill
Page 32

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.,  ,  19
S.F. 163-26

In reply to your request of ___, received ___
for a statement of the military history of Basil Shaw a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. | STATE.
 | | | CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. | 
Aug. 1776 and was discharged It is also stated that he served in the War of 1812 but no details are given.
CW [initials in margin] | Nov. 10, 1783 | Pvt & Sgt. | Adamson Tannehill | Moses Rawlings | Md.
 | | Sgt. Major| " | Major Beall & Major Thomas Lansdale | 

Battles engaged in, Siege of Yorktown
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Montgomery County, Maryland.
Date of application for pension, Dec 15 1828 This cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Nashville, Davidson Co., Tenn.
Age at date of application, 72 yrs old in 1835, born in Montgomery Co. Md
Remarks: In 1835 soldier was a resident of Hall County Ga. A son J. Shaw was a resident of Carthage Tennessee in 1813. There is no other data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
J-285C