Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39517, John Felkins, Va.
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(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Va.

Felkins, John

NUMBER
S. 39517

CONTENTS
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[left column]
20.334
West Tennessee
John Felkins
from
---
-
---
of Overton in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Payton
of the Regiment commanded
by Colonel Marshal in the Virginia
line, for the term of three years
from 1777 to --1780,

Inscribed on the roll of West Tennessee
at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to
commence on the 7 day of June 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 of June
1831 and sent to Wm Gore
Monroe Tennessee
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1831. $23.46
Semi-anu'l all'ce ending
$23.46
Rec. Book D.
Vel: 9. fol. 148
$23.46
Revolutionary Claim,
Acts March 18, 1818, ┃
and May 1, 1830.

Rec Book D
Vol: g fol: 148

[right column]
For Letters to P. Agt. & Hon. J. B. Forester Jan 31 1837 Wilis Huddleston, C.C. Tribe & Pen . Agt. Ast.
28, 1837

Dead
Paid at the Treasury under
the acts of the 6th April 1838
from 4th Sept 1837 to 21 July
1839.  The day of his death 
Agt notified 17. April 1840
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State of Tennessee
Overton County.

On the 25th day of October 1830, personally
appeared in open Court, It being a Court of record having the power of fine and imprisoned, and proceeding according to
the course of the common law for the County of Overton aforesaid John Felkins resident in said County aged seventyone years. who being first duly sworn according to law
doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by the act of Congress of 18th
of March 1818 and on the 1st of May 1820 that the said John Felkins enlisted for the Term of three years on the day of
1777 in the State of Virginia, in the company commanded by Captain Dayton, in the Regiment commanded first by Col Marshal and afterwards by Col [Crist?  in the line of the State of Virginia on the land continental establishment that he continued
to serve in the said corps until some time in the year 1780. He got no discharge, having been wounded in nine different places, at the battle at Bluford, and was let there unable to travel, and having faithfully served the full term of three years and more, on recovering sufficient strength, made his way home, there being no officer to apply to for a discharge
that he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present.  That his name is not on the Roll of any state except as herein stated, and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension, that is to say. some time about the year 1819-1820
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-20- be employed counsel to prepare his aplication and arrange his papers so that he might obtain his pension - His counsel made some attempts to do so but at last it could not be obtained. He further States that being poor as well as old and infirm, and
somewhat disheartened by reason of the failure aforesaid He made no further application until in the year 1829 being in a state of sufferance, he was advised by many his application and by the gratuitous assistance of Court be again made a declaration Schedule and forwarded it on to the war department hoping to obtain his pension, but his application was refused on account of some informally in the proceedings, and the papers were not returned to him again and since the last sessions of said Court for Porton County aforesaid
He further states that from the first time he was informed of the provisions of the act of Congress of the 18th of March 1818 up to this time, he has used his utmost exertions to procure a pension, and believes that the reason of is to be alone ascribed to the difficulty that attend the forming a declaration
according to the rules prescribed by the
department. And in pursuance of the acts of Congress of the 1st of May 1820. I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th of March 1819 and that I have not since that time by gift, say
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or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with interest thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval services of the United States in the revolutionary war, passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due
me, nor any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. I have no interest in any Real estate above  The following is a
list of my personal property to wit - necessary beding and clothing excepted-- one small mare about fifteen years of age worth about thirty dollars one cow and two small heifers worth about fifteen dollars one sow and
six pigs worth about five dollars. One Shovel plough and one bull tongue worth about two dollars. One chopping axe worth about one dollar and seventy five cents one three
quarter auger worth seventy five cents one small hoe worth fifty cents one pot one kettle and one dutch oven worth about six dollars and one Iron Wedge worth about seventy find
cents making about sixty one dollars and twenty five

John Felkins

I have no debts owing to me of any kind, and I am by occupation a farmer but I am now almost entirely unable to labour being about seventy one years of age and much
afflicted with a brest complaint and encrippled in one of my legs that I am unable to get about to labour and have been by reason of it for about five years-- I had only one in family who now resides with me (to wit
will about sixty eight years of age she is infirm and unable to labour and on conscientiously say that I stand in need of the bounty of my Government.
The following is the amount of property owned by me on the 18th of March 1818 one mare worth about $30 and cow and calf worth about $8.00 one two year old heifers
worth about $3.00 about seven or eight head of hogs worth $12.00 one plough worth about $25- Two small hogs worth about one dollar one three quarter [illegible] worth about fifty
cents one Iron wedge worth about seventy five cents and one chopping axe worth about one dollar and fifty cents one oven worth about $1.00 One Kettle worth about $1.00 one at worth $2.00 making in all $66.00 The one cow and calf died the hogs were made use of to support my family one of the horse but the balance of the property is
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not in my possession.
John Felkins
Sworn to and declared on the 26th day of October 1830 before the Court of Overton County aforesaid when sitting
Wm Gore

This day appeared in Open Court Martin Felkins and Reuben Filkins Respectable men Citizens of said County of Overton who first being duly sworn saith that the statements in the foregoing declaration made by John Felkins believe to be true that they have been acquainted with the situation of the said
John Felkins for a considerable time past that he is Entitled to full credit on his oath in a court of Justice and that they were acquainted with his circumstances on the 1st of March 1818 and since. that he was always since they knew him a very poor man and that they believe the schedule rendered herewith contains the whole amount of his property at a fair valuation having knowledge of the facts as stated by him in the foregoing
declaration [signature of John Felkins obliterated]

Sworn to and declared on the 26th day of October 1830, before the Court of Canton County aforesaid when sitting William Hare Clerk of Burton County aforesaid

I William Gore, Clerk of the Court of pleas and Quarter Sessions for the County of Denton aforesaid, do hereby certify that it appears to the satisfaction of the court that the said John Filkins did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the term of three years under one engagement on the land
continential establishment also certify that the foregoing and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the records of the said Court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the that amount in value of the property exhibited
in the aforesaid schedule is and the testimony which I have hereunto set my hand and paid
William Cowley
the court on this 26th day of October 1820
and County
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Second Comptroller's Office
March 30th 1840

Sir
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," the child of John Falkins decd a Pensioner on the Roll of the Nashville, Ten. Agency, at the rate of Eight Dollars [crossed out "and cents"] per month under the law of the 18th March 1818, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1837.
to the 21st January 1839, the day of his death.

Respectfully, yours
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present.
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May 31, 1938
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/EEL
John Felkins-S.39517

Mrs. William P. Filkins
1721 White Oak Road
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request in formation in regard to John Felkins, who served in the Revolutionary
War from North Carolina, and received pension while residing in Overton County, Tennessee.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.39517, based upon the military service in that
war of John Felkins, the only soldier of that name that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office.

The date and place of birth and names of the parents of John Felkins are not shown.

John Felkins enlisted in Virginia, county not named, sometime in
in 1777, served as a private in Captain Payton's Company, Colonels Marshall and Heth's Virginia Regiment, was wounded nine times in
the battle of Bluford (probably meant for Buford's Defeat) and served three years.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 25,
1830, at which time he was aged seventy-one years and lived in Overton
County, Tennessee.
In 1820, soldier stated that his wife was aged sixty-eight years
but gave no further data in regard to her.

He died January 21, 1839 and was survived by a child, name not given.

In 1830, Martin and Reuben Felkins lived in Overton County Tenessee: no relationship to the soldier, John Felkins was shown.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator.

Handwritten Note:
Valentin Peyton served in [illegible] Marshal of Heth's 8th [?} Regt.
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39517

INVALID.
Revolutionary

File Number 39,517

John Felkins
Private Revolutionary War

------
Act: 18 March 18th

Index: - Volume 3, Page 168

(Arrangement of 1870.}
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John Felkins, West Tennessee
Act 18 March, 1818.
When was he last paid?

4 Sep 1833
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Momae [?] Ten
22nd May 1831

Mr. S. L. Edwards
Washington City
War Department
Pension Office

7 June
Pen [?]: to com:
7 June 1831
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Monroe May 18th 1831.

Sir
I herewith return the declaration of John
Felkin, with the impression of the seal of
Overton County Court as strong as can be
made and if not plain enough
to be understood you please return it
as soon as convienant and
the necessary certificate can be made
Satisfactory the old man Felkins is poor
and needy 

I am Respectfully Your
Obediant Servt
---
Wm Gore
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 To the Honorable
J. L. Edwards

Washington
City
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Reports April the 4th 1837

Dear Sir I have once more to trouble you with the papers of John Felkins it seems that the agent at Nashville will not pay the money I as the attorney infact of Mr. Felkins made application to draw his pension on the 17th of March the agent refused to pay the money because application had not been made before the 4th of March on which another six months pay fell due I had your letter to the Honorable John B. Forister saying you had instructed the agent to pay the amount due Mr Felkins dated the 31st day of last January and from the time the papers came to hand it would have been impossible to have got to Nashville before the fourth of March and there would have been another objection the power of attorney would have been more than 90 days old it does seem to me a hard case that these old men should be put to so much trouble to get these little pensions- the government attempted to do something for them but in the way it is managed it is of but little profit to them Where they are not able to go in person and the most of them are not it is hardly one time out of ten that they can get these money the first application the agent is so tenacious of words and letters that a power is hardly ever wright unless a lawyer is imployed to draw it
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and the fact is lawyers and attorneys for fees and expence have got the most of the money and the old men have Went without now sir this Mr. Felkins if he never gits a 
Dollar untill he goes in person he will die without it he has not been able for several years to go off of the plantation is afflicted with soar legs and sometimes
would appear to a stranger like he would not live many
hours he is an ignorant inofencive man and poor- 

I have been twice to Nashville to git this man money and could not git a dollar. I paid my own expence
which was about $20 and 20 days time lost. now sir if I was to make a charge on the old 
 man and he should
fail to git this money would it not have been better for him if the government had not done anything for him.  I send you inclosed the papers of John Felkins
a power of attorney to C.C. Trabue you will pleas
to examine them and if the claim is good give special
directions to the agent to pay the money on that power
and inclose the papers to C. C. Trabue at Nashville
The reason why Trabue is made the attorney is that the
power may not seem out of date if the claim
cannot be payed in close the papers to me at post office
in Fentress County Tennessee I am yours

Respectfully
J. L. Edwards
Willis Huddleston
at the request of John Felkins
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J L Edwards Esq
Com of Pension
Washington 
D.C.
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House of Rep
Jan 25th 1837

Dear Sir
I herewith enclose
the papers of J Felkins who applies
for renewal of pension please
attend as soon as convenient and
return the certificate and the
Huddleston letter your a early
attention will much oblige

Yours
John B Forester
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April 2nd, 1938.

Veterans' Administration,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sirs:

If you will give me information contained
in application of John Felkins for Revolutionary
pension, giving the names of his heirs,
etc., I will very deeply appreciate it. He served
from North Carolina, and in 1818 listed his age at seventy-four, and he was then residing in Overton County, Tennessee.

Yours very truly,
Mrs. William P. Felkins

Mrs. William P. Felkins,
1721 White Oak Road,
Chattanooga, Tennessee.