Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5437, for Erasmus Oakley, Georgia
Page 1

SERVICE                                  NUMBER
Ga.                                          W5437
Oakley, Erasmus
             Rhoda

res. at inl. & after Rev.  Cumberland Co. Va.
CONTENTS
Page 2

15.7.33
Virginia
m. 1780  d. 1825
--------------------------
Erasmus Oakley
of Cumberland in the state of Virginia
who was a Sergeant in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Elbert of the Georgia
line, for the term of Three years
---------------------------
Inscribed on the roll of Virginia
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 5 of October 1818
--------------------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 5 of Nov 181[.?]
and Sent to Wm. Daniel Esq.
Lynchburg Va.
-------------------------------
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1819                   88.02
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 March 1820   48.00
                                                             --------
                                                            $136.02
10  274
      -----
      3130

{Revolutionary claim,}
{Act 18th March, 1818.}

File Mch 20

[Notes on right upper]
Let. to H. Ford
Augst 25th 1840
Page 3

[handwritten note left margin "Reported"]

Virginia   2470
-----------------------------------------
Rhoda Oakley
widow of Erasmus Oakley
who was a Sergeant
in the Georgia Line
for two years
----------------------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
one hundred & twenty Dollars [blank]
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
----------------------------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 
twenty seventh day of October 1843
and sent to 
F. V. Sutton
Bowling Green
Virginia
---------------------------------------
[Act of March 3, 1843.]
Recorded in Book A
Vol. 1  Page 151
Page 4

Cumberland Co Va
November 4th 1840

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[written crossways on the left margin]
Nov 7 1840
[illegible signature]
Page 5

Dr. [dear] Sir
Your favr [favor]of the 27th Oct came only to hand and
contents noticed.  If records proof is the only means by
which a widow can establish her marriage with a dcd [deceased]
husband in order get the benefit of the law giving pensions
to certain widows, then the claims of Mrs. Oakley, a poor
infirm old lady, must be lost although as just entitled as 
any widow in the United States.  If record proof could
have been furnished, it would have been sent before
Mrs. Rhoda Oakley was married to Erasmus Oakley by
a person long since dead, who kept, as I understand, a 
record of marriages.  he removed from this county many
years ago, leaving his record books at the glebe from
where he moved.  these books which long since been 
destroyed.  upon examining the clerks office of this
county, no marriage is found recorded of an earlier
date than 1782.  Mrs Thoda Oakley as well as her
husband Erasmus Oakley, were very illiterate people
and did not keep a record of their marriage or births
of their children.  Erasmus Oakley died in 1825 having
a small estate, which was divided amongst his children
after attesting to his widow, her legal portion, which
was reported by commissioners & recorded.  if this testimony
will avail any thing, it will be furnished, or if additional
oral testimony, of which an abundance can be had
will avail, it will be furnished, but record proof where
none exists, cant be produced.  I am solicitous on account
of Mrs. Oakley, because she is poor & suffering and
because I know her claim to be an honest and just
one.  Upon examining the law requesting this 
testimony to be produced by widows, I see that record
testimony is required when it can be had, but when 
no record testimony can be obtained, the fact must 
be proved as to the marriage, by one or more respectable 
persons.  Please answer this at your earliest
convenience.

your obt [obedient] servt [servant]
Haz Ford

J L Edwards Esq
Comer [Commissioner} of pensions
Washington City
Page 6

Erasmus Oakley

28 Dec. Henry Skipwith
examined on Oath.
Page 7

To the Secretary  BW
For the department of War
of the United States
Washington

[the following is written sideways]
Recd Sept 24, 1819
Case of Erasmus Oakley
William Daniel Esq
Judge of 
Lynchburg Va.  
Admd
Page 8

At Superior Court of law held for Cumberland County the
5th day of October 1818 present the Honbl [honorable] Wm Daniel Judge

Erasmus Oakley of the State of Virginia and County of Cumberland made oath to this Court that in the year
1776 and month of October as well as he could now recollect
he enlisted in the continental service with Capt Elisha Miller
to serve for the Term of three years, that in the spring of the
year 1777 he marched from Cumberland County State of 
Virginia as a Sergeant in the company of said Miller for 
the South, that he belonged to the served Regiment and eight
company of the Georgia Continental line.  the regiment was
commanded by Col. Samuel Albert [Elbert] that he was in several
skirmishes with the Indians and British.  said Oakley being
of the Florida Scouts that he was in a battle with the
Indians and British at Briar Creek, that he was at the 
siege of Savannah he thinks in the year 1779 and was 
taken prisoner with the American forces, that he escaped 
from the British sometime after and joined a party of 
Americans at Augusta.  commissioned by General Macken [runs off the page]
dosh [possibly McIntosh] with which he remained until the expiration 
of the three years.  That he was on board of a prison ship
(The Whitby) for nine months and never got his regular 
discharge as his company was scattered after it was captured at Savannah.  That he returned to Cumberland 
in the year 1779.  That he is in reduced circumstances and 
needs the assistance of his country for support.
George Booker being sworn in open Court says he 
is acquainted with the said Erasmus Oakley and his 
situation.  And that he is in reduced circumstances
and needs the assistance of his country for support.

A copy Teste 
Miller Woodson Jr Clk

I William Daniel one of the Judges of the General Court
of the Commonwealth of Virginia do certify that Miller
Woodson Jr whose name is subscribed to the above
Page 9

attestation is Clerk of the Superior Court of Law of Cumberland
County; & that the things therein stated were done before
me in open Court on behalf of Erasmus Oakley; & that 
not being satisfied as to the circumstances of said Oakley
on the statement of George Booker although he is a very
respectable & credible man; at another day to wit on the 
28th of December 1818 Henry Skipwith who is also a respectable
& credible man came before me & being first sworn said
that he knew the said Erasmus Oakley & [practiced?]
as a physician
in his family & that he considered his circumstances such as 
very [illegible - blurred ink] that he the said Erasmus although the owner of a 
small tract of land did very much require assistance for 
his support.  Wherefore I do certify the above proceedings
before me had to the Secretary for the department of War 
of the United States & that it appears therefrom to my satisfaction
that the said Erasmus Oakley was in the service of the United
States in the Revolutionary War for the space of nine months
& more of that he is in reduced circumstances & needs
the assistance of his country for support.  to enable the 
said Erasmus to obtain the provision lastly made 
by the Act of Congress for certain persons who were 
engaged in the land & naval service of the United States
in the Revolutionary War.  Under my hand & Seal
Wm. Daniel
[seal]
Page 10

Rhoda Oakley 7393
widow of Erasmus
Va
Act 7 July 1838

aomd
2 years Sergt
120$

no deduction


Hez. Ford Esq  [possibly Hezekiah]
Cumberland CH.
VA
Page 11

State of Virginia, towit;
On this 5th day of October 1840, personally appeared
before the subscriber, a justice of the peace in and 
for the County of Cumberland, Rhoda Oakley, a 
resident of Virginia, in the County of Cumberland,
aged Seventy Seven years, who being firs duly sworn
according to law, doth on her oath, make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by the act of Congress, passed 7th July 1838
entitled an act granting half pay and pensions to 
certain widows; that she is the widow of Erasmus Oakley
who was a Sergeant in the army of the Revolution, whose
services, she is informed, was established in his life time and 
now filed in the pension office at Washington City.
She further declares that she was married to that
said Erasmus Oakley in the year 1780, but of
which she is unable to find any record proof; that 
her husband, the aforesaid Erasmus Oakley, died in the
month of August 1825 (the particular day she is 
unable to name) that she was not married to him
prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage 
took place previous to the 1st day of January 1794,
viz, in the year above stated.

Rhoda Oakley [her mark]

Sworn to, and subscribed on the 
day and year above written, before me

Hez Ford JP

Cumberland County, towit;
I Hez Ford, a justice of the peace, in and for the county
aforesaid, hereby certify, that Rhoda Oakley, who makes
the foregoing Declaration, is from old age and bodily
infirmity, unable to attend court.  Given under my hand
the 5th day of October 1840.

Hez Ford JP
Page 12

State of Virginia, Cumberland County, towit;
Before the Subscriber, a justice of the peace, in and for 
said County, personally appeared Mrs Nancy Hatcher
aged Seventy Four years, and made oath in due form
of law, that she was well acquainted with Erasmus
Oakley, in his life time, who died about fifteen years ago,
and was, and is now, acquainted with his wife Rhoda,
that the said Erasmus & Rhoda was married about the
date 1780, in the County of Cumberland, and that they
lived together as man & wife during the life time of 
the said Erasmus, and that the said Rhoda is now
the widow of the said Erasmus Oakley, and a resident 
of the said County of Cumberland.  Given under my hand the 5th day of October 1840.

Hez Ford J.P.

State of Virginia, Cumberland County, towit;
Before the subscriber, a justice of the peace, in and for said
County, personally appeared William Jenkins, aged sixty seven
years, and made oath in due form of law, that he lived
a close neighbour [neighbor] to and was well acquainted with
Erasmus Oakley, a revolutionary pensioner of the United
States, for upwards of thirty years previous to his death, 
which took place in the summer of 1825; that he 
left a widow by the name of Rhoda; that the said Erasmus
Oakley & the said Rhoda lived together as man & wife
in the said County of Cumberland, during the above
stated space of time, that the said Rhoda is still the
widow of the said Erasmus Oakley, and living at the 
residence where her husband died.  Given under my hand 
the 6th day of October 1840.

Hez Ford JP.
Page 13

I certify that the above named Nancy Hatcher
and William Jenkins, are residents of the County of 
Cumberland, in the state of Virginia, and that they
are persons of respectability and truth.  Given under my hand the 5th day of October 1840.

Hez Ford JP.

I Miller Woodson, Clerk of the County Court of
Cumberland, certify that Hez Ford is a magistrate 
as above, and that the foregoing signatures, purporting 
to be his, are genuine.  In testimony whereof, I have 
hereunto affixed my seal of office, and 
subscribed my name this 7th day of October 1840.

Miller Woodson, Clk
Page 14

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
W5437
Washington, D.C.  [blank] 19[blank]

In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank]
for a statement of the military history of Erasmus Oakley
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
Oct. 1776

LENGTH OF SERVICE
3 yrs.

RANK
Sgt.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN
Elisha Miller 8"co
Samuel Elbert 2" Regt
STATE
Ga

he was captured at the siege 
of Savannah, was confined on the
prison Ship Whitby 9 mos he 
escaped and joined Gen McIntosh at 
Augusta.

Battles engaged in, Brier Creek & several skirmishes
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Cumberland Co. Va.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 5, 1818.  His claim was al.
Residence at date of application, not stated.  He died August 1825
Remarks:  Sol mar 1780 in Cumberland Co. Va.  Rhoda
She was al pen on her ap ex Oct 5 1840 at which time
she was 77 yrs old and a res of Cumberland Co. Va.
They had children but their names are not stated

Respectfully,

Commissioner.


d-285C
Page 15

Revy WIDOW, &c.
----------------
File No. 5437
Rhoda Oakley
Wid.
Erasmus Oakley
Sergt. Ga. line
----------------
Act: Mch. 3rd  43
Index: - Vol. M, Page 94
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[on top left the following is notated]
1919 Aug. 15  Mrs. Susie M. Walden
furnished history  AW
Page 16

Va.  Act 1838 - 7393
Rhoda Oakley - widow
of Erasmus  -  Let to
Hez. Ford - 27 Oct 1840
same, ct on: [illegible] initials?
Page 17

Richmond 11  5914.
Virginia.
-------------------------------------
Rhoda Oakley
widow of Erasmus Oakley
who was a pensioner under the Act of 18 March 1818
and who died in August 1825
of Cumberland, in the State of Virginia
who was a Sergeant in the [blank] commanded
by Captain [blank] of the Reg. 2 commanded 
by Col. Elbert in the Georgia 
line for Two years.
---------------------------------------
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 120 Dollars [blank] Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
------------------------------------------
Certificate of Pension issued the 23rd day of Nov
1840, and Sent to 
Hezh [Hezekiah} Ford, Cumberland CH Va.
---------------------------------------------
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1840               $540.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Mar. 40  $60.00
                                                                 -----------
                                                                  $600.00

{Act July 7, 1838}

Recorded by Wm C. Lantzinger, Clerk,
Book A.  Vol. 2  Page 187
Page 18

3221
Rhoda Oakley

$120 per an
2470
151

F.F. Sutton
Bowling Green
Va.
Page 19

State of Virginia  Cumberland County SS.

On this the 29th day of June 1843
personally appeared before V.C. Ryals a Justice of the Peace in 
the for the County aforesaid, Mrs Rhody [Rhoda] Oakley a resident of the County and
State aforesaid aged Eighty years and upwards, who first being duly
sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress
passed on the 3d day of March 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons
who served during the Revolutionary war; that she is the widow of 
Erasmus Oakley, who was a Sergeant in the Revolution, and that she 
has been allowed, a five year pension at the rate of One Hundred and twenty 
dollars per annum as the widow of the above named Erasmus
Oakley, under the act of July 7, 1838.  She further declares she is
still a widow.

Rhody [Rhoda] Oakley

Sworn to and subscribed on the 
day and date above written before 

V.C. Ryals, J. Peace

I certify that I am personally acquainted with Mrs Rhody [Rhoda} Oakley 
above named, and that there
 is no doubt of the truth of her declaration 
above.  Given under my hand this 29th day of June 1843
V.C. Ryals J.P.

State of Virginia 
Cumberland County to wit;

I B.B. Woodson, Clerk of the Court of Cumberland County
certify that V.C. Ryals is a magistrate as above, and
Page 20

that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his appears to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
affixed my seal of office and subscribed
my name this 29th day of June 1843.

B. B. Woodson Clerk of the Court 
of Cumberland County
Page 21

Cumberland County Va              Free
Oct 8th 1840

J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[the following is written sideways]
No 7393
Oct 12 1840
Va
July 7 1838
Rhoda Oakley


[written upside down]
Oakley
Page 22

Cumbl [Cumberland] Ct Ho Va  
Oct 6th 1840

Dear Sir

Your favour [favor] in relation to Mrs Oakley's pension
claim, dated 25 Augt last, was duly record
and in compliance therewith I have in close to you
Mrs Oakley's declaration, with such proof of her 
marriage as I have been able to obtain, which I hope
will be sufficient to establish her claim, to a 
pension as the widow of Sergeant Erasmus Oakley, decd [deceased].
Mr. Erasmus Oakley's service, I presume, as sufficiently
established in his life time & can now
be seen in the pension office.  Mrs Oakley is a 
very old and infirm woman, whose recollection of 
past events, is thereby impacd [impacted?]
Should the papers now sent be sufficient, you will 
as soon as they have been acted upon, please to 
forward to me the certificate of pay
Should any thing further be necessary please inform 
me, and I will endeavor to furnish it
Mrs Oakley takes the 5 years full pay
I am informed by Mrs Oakley that she thinks her 
husband Erasmus Oakley's pay was $94 per annum
that he drew his pay up to 4th March 1825 &
died the following August.  Consequently she was 
intitled as the widow, to the arrears of pension from 
March to August.  She was not apprised of her
legal right untill [until] a short time ago, when upon
examining for Mr. Oakley's pensions certificate it
cant be found.  is there any mode by which
this old lady can obtain this arrears of pension
due to her dead husband in the absence of the original
certificate.  please inform me

I am very respectfully
you most obt [obedient] serv [servant]
Hez Ford
Page 23

Cumberland Co Ho Va
November 16th 1840


J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington  City

[the following is written sideways]
Nov 20 1840
Va.
[illegible]
Page 24

Nov. 15th 1840.

Dear Sir

Your favr [favor] of the 7th in reply to mine of the 4th [here?] is 
before me, the contents of which misrepresent the 
object intended to be conveyed by me in relation to 
Mrs Rhoda Oakly's [Oakley] pension claim.  I informed you, 
or intended to do so, that upon examining the records
of the Clerk's office of Cumberland County in relation 
to Mrs Oakly's marriage, there was no marriage
recorded prior to the date 1782, and as Mrs Oakly's 
took place in late 80, it was not, therefore, to be found
I have also indeavored to find the parson's register
which I have been informed was keped [kept] by him, under the
old church, but he has long since been dead.  The glebe 
lands [illegible] been sold & no trace of the records can be 
found.  Mr & Mrs Oakly [Oakley} was illiterate peoble [people] & made
no family record of their marriage or births of their
children.  The clerks office of Cumberland and a large
portion of its contents, was some years ago destroyed by fire.
Record testimony that does not exist cant be produced
and if Mrs Oakly's claim is placed upon this issue
though honestly intitled to the benefit of the law, she
must loose it.   I understand the law to require
record testimony when it can be produced, but admits
of other proof if it did not, the object of the law would
be in part defeated, and those persons mostly to be 
benefitted excluded.  If one testimony will be received, 
and that already furnished is not satisfactory, I can 
furnish a sufficiency, I think, to satisfy any person
or persons, that Mrs Rhoda Oakly is the legal widow
of Erasmus Oakly & lived together as man & wife
from 1780 to 1825.  I can also furnish a certificate
of the clerk, of the burning of the office & destruction 
of the papers, which will account for the marriage 
bond not being produced.  and he will also certify
that Mrs Rhoda Oakly was acknowledged as the widow
of Erasmus Oakly in the distribution of the little est [estate?]
of her husband.  I am solicitous for the old lady, because 
I know she is an honest claimant, and needs what this 
law intended she should have, but before I put myself 
to further trouble, I should like to know whether I can
succeed by producing the additional proof as above stated.
Page 25

please let me hear from you upon this subject

I am respectfully
your obt [obedient] servt [servant]
Hez Ford




J L Edwards Esq
Comm of Pensions
Washington City
Page 26

E. F. WALDEN
DEALER IN 
General Merchandise.

Department Interior
Washington D C

MOREHOUSE, MO.     Aug. 7 1919.

Dear Sir -  I have been seeking a source of information, and was told
that you are the one to whom I should go. I am tracing my ancestry pedigree 
or lineage.  In fact think I have it traced but want it verified
if correct.  I think I am a direct desendant of Eramus Oakly [Erasmus Oakley] of Refolutionary
Fame.  I am seeking this information in order to be eligible to 
become a D.A.R.  It is the Oakly Lineage I am wanting traced.  They were all  
of Cumberland County Virginia.
I - Mrs Susie Walden - nee - Meador formally of Cumberland Co Va. am the 
daughter of Merrett Singleton Meador, son of Jonas Meador who married Polly
Oakly - daughter of Shaderick Oakley - son of Asa D. Oakley Jr - son of Asa D Oakly Sr - son of Eramus Oakly [Erasmus Oakley].  
Eramus Oakley fought under Lieutenant Elisha Miller.  He served for 
awhile as a Florida Scout  He was also under Capt Samuel Albert [Elbert] and Gen.
Mackintosh.
I get this information from the Records of Cumberland C.H. Va.
Would bw pleased to know if any of these ancestors were of 1812 Fame.
Please look into this at your earliest convenience and let 
me know.
Thanking you for your Kindness
I am your very Truly
Mrs Susie Meador Walden.

[handwritten note]
Please return letter with reply
[date stamp]
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
AUG 11 1919

[handwritten note upper right corner]
Rev Sec 2B