Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 13694, for James Laffoon, Georgia
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE     NUMBER
Ga   Laffoon James  S.13694
Va.

learded [sic]

CONTENTS
Page 2

Kentucky  76
7622   7.622

James Laffoon
of Fayette Co in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Threadgill of the Regmt commanded
by Col. Glen on the Virginia
line for 17 months

Ga. and Va.
Records completed. June 06.

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 56 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of May 
1853 and Sent to Leslie 
Combs Lexington

Arrears to the 4th of March  113.32
Semi-anl. allowance ending Sept  28.33
$141.65

{ Revolutionary Claim, }
{ Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 1 Page 17
Page 3

8031

James Laffoon

from 1779 private
17 months.
$56.66/100

5.11.12.13.14.
Int 2.7.
(illegible initials)

Sent let Nov 5. 1832 to
Leslie Combs
Lexington
Ky.
Page 4

803 / BRIEF in the case of James Laffoon
County of Fayette in the State of Kentucky
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  69

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
[TABLE]
Column 1 - Period.
Column 2 - Duration of Service - Years, Months, Days.
Column 3 - Rank - As a
Column 4 - Names of General and field Officers under whom he served - Gen.

Row 1 - as Subst:  In 1779 .... -- 3 --- .... private .... Col Jno Glen Gen Stephens

Row 2 - Do .... -- 3 -- (illegible) .... Cap. Thos. Threadgill

Row 3 - the end of 2d tour from .... -- 3 to 9 mos .... (blank) .... Capt J Webb (of the Va line)

Row 4 - He afterwards -- till after battle of york .... (blank) .... Capt J. Harrison May
Jno. T. Wagner

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  Little york

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Lunenburg County Va.

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence,
by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Witnesses

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?  Correct

I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case
above mentioned.

T. Waugh  (signature)  Examining Clerk.
Page 5

No 1

State of Kentucky
Fayette county SS

On this tenth day of September 1832 personally
appeared before the county court of Fayette county
being a court of record, James Laffoon a 
resident in Said county & State, aged Sixty nine
years, who being first duly Sworn, according
to law, doth, on his oath, make the following
declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the 
provision made by the act of congress passed 7th
June 1832. That he (two words crossed out) entered in the army of the
United States in the year, he thinks, of 1779
with Capt Sill Walker, as a Substitute for
[3 mos } (in margin)] one James Thompson, & served three months, in
Col John Glen regiment under Genl Edward
Stephens - He then substituted for Jerry Morgan
under Capt Thomas Threadgill, in the Same
[3 mos (in margin)] army, for three months. at the end of that
time, he was put under Capt Isaac (illegible)
of the Virginia line, for Several months
[6 mos (in margin)] Say from 3 to nine - this was after the defeat
of Genl Gates near Camden. He then
went under Capt James Harrison, (illegible) Genl
Robt Lawson & remained in his company
till after the capture of Lord Cornwallis
[3 mos. (in margin)]
at York.  John P. Wagnon was his major 
at
Page 6

at the Seige [sic] of York. He thinks his whole
Service was about two years in the militia
& regular Service [& not less than eighteen months. = inserted] -- while first engaged he
was in Genl Gates' defeat -- but was not
at Guildford court house, owing to being
detached during Six hundred (illegible), under
Capt Isaac Webb. He does not recollect
to have red [sic] any discharge or if he did it
is lost long Since.

He was born raised & first entered Service in Lunenburg
County Virginia. He belonged mainly
to the Southern army till he went to
the Seige [sic] of York.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension or an annuity except the present,
& he declares that his name is not on the
pension roll of any agency in any State.
He now lives in Fayette county Kentucky
& has resided there for about twenty seven
years.
James Laffoon (signature)

I Simon Laffoon do state that I am a younger
brother of the above named James Laffoon &
know that he went on three or four different
tours in the army during the Revolutionary war
& served Several months each tour. I cannot
Say how long all of them, but a good while.
Simon Laffoon (signature)
Page 7

And the Said court do hereby declare their
opinion that the above named applicant was
a revolutionary Soldier and Served as he states.
Wm. Boon (signature)  Presiding Justice

I James C. Rodes clerk of the Fayette County
court do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the Said
court in the matter of the application of
James Laffoon for a pension. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal
of office, this Tenth day of Sept 1806
(illegible) in four places before Signed
J. C. Rodes Clerk (initials)  (signature)

And on this 14th day of January 1833 the
Said James Laffoon again appeared in the
Fayette county court & made oath that his
first Service was not less than three months
his Second Service the Same ie three months
his Third Service not less than eight months
his last Service not less than three months
17 months
-- this he swears to altho [sic] his impression is that
he Served longer, but will not State So on
oath positively. He has no document in his power
Page 8

or possession showing his service I know not
if any is in existence - He has no [^ other] record of
his age in Kentucky [^ except in his bible] and it is put down in
the bible of his father in Virginia He knows
not who has possession of it. He can prove his
good character for truth by many respectable
men in Fayette County Ky, among others
he would name Thomas Shelly, Charles
Carr, Genl Thos  Bodley, Capt James
Martin ,John Young Esq & Rev. George
Boone -  Amos Baker. He makes
this additioned affidavit in compliance
with a letter from J. L. Edward & printed
instructions sent therewith, to the care of
Leslie Combs Esq - James Lafoon [different handwriting]
No 8031
Rev George Boone a Clergyman residing in
Fayette county Ky and James Martin, Thomas
Bodley John Young residing, the said Martin &
Young in Jessamine county within a short
distance of said Laffoon say within a mile
& a half. The said Bodley residing in
Lexington, being clerk of the Fayette Circuit
Court do hereby certify that we are well
acquainted with the above named James
Laffoon I have known him for about
twenty yeares who has subscribed sworn to
the two forgoing declarations - ie one dated
Septr 10th 1832 & one 14 Jany 1833 -
See next Sheet
Page 9

No 2

-- that we believe him to be Sixty nine
or Seventy years of age; that he is
reported & believed in the neighbourhood [sic]
where he resides to have been a Soldier
of the Revolution & that we concur
in that opinion.

Sworn & Subscribed the
day & year last (illegible).  Geo. G. Boon (signature)
Thos Bodley (signature)
James Martin (signature)
John Young (signature)

And the Said Court doth now
hereby declare their opinion after the
investigation of the matter & after putting
the interrogatories prescribed by the
war department that the above
named James Laffoon was a
Revolutionary Soldier & served as
he states. And the court further
 certifies that it appears to them
that George Moore who has Signed
the Said certificate is a Clergyman
of good character, resident in Fayette
county & that Genl Thomas Bodley
is a credible person in [the = crossed out] Same
county & that John Young & Capt
James Martin are credible
persons residing in the adjoining
county of Jessamine and that

thru (bottom right corner of page)
Page 10

their Statement is entitled
to credit -- 14 Jany 1833
Wm Boon (signature)  Presiding Justice of Peace

State of Kentucky Fayette County to wit:
I James C. Rodes Clerk of the County Court for the County
aforesaid, do certify, that the foregoing Contains the
additional original proceedings of the Said James
Laffoon in Court in the matter of his application
for a pension

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set
my hand and Caused the Seal of Said Court
to be hereunto affixed this 16th day of Jany
1833. & of the Commonwealth the 41st year

(Illegible) J.C. Rodes Clk  F.C.C. (signature)
Page 11

BA-J / AWF
James Laffoon
S. 13694

Miss Mary Louise Morgan
3309 Glencoe Street
Dallas, Texas

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you
request information in regard to James Laffoon who
was born in 1759, was in the siege of Yorktown, and
died in 1851.

The data which follow were obtained from claim
for pension, S. 13694, based upon service of James
Laffoon in the Revolutionary War. This is the record
of the only James Laffoon found on file in the Revolutionary
War pension records of this office.

James Laffoon was born and reared in Lunenburg
County, Virginia. The date of his birth was not
given, nor are the names of his parents shown; his
father was referred to as of Virginia.

While residing in Lunenburg County, Virginia,
James Laffoon enlisted sometime in 1779, served three
months as private in Captain Sill Walker's company,
Colonel John Glenn's Virginia regiment; he served
three months in Captain Thomas Threadgill's company,
and was in the battle of Gates' Defeat, near Camden;
he served eight months in Captain Isaac Webb's 
Virginia company; he served three months in Captain James
Harrison's company, under Major John P. Wagnon, and
was in the siege of Yorktown.

James Laffoon was allowed pension on his appli-
Page 12

cation executed September 10, 1832, at which time he
was about sixty-nine years old, and living in Fayette
County, Kentucky, where he had lived about twenty-
seven years.

In 1832, Simon Laffoon, the younger brother of
the soldier, James Laffoon, was living in Fayette
County, Kentucky.

The papers on file in this claim contain no 
futher discernible data in regard to family.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of
this pension, name and address of person paid, and
possibly the date of death of James Laffoon, you
should apply to the Comptroller General, General
Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and
furnish the following data:

James Laffoon
Certificate #7622
Issued May 6, 1833
Rate $56.66 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Kentucky Agency.

Very truly yours
(blank)
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 13

[FIRST COLUMN]

1909 February 26: Military history
to Joseph McCoy  M.B.H.
1914 Nov 23. history to Dr.
C. A. Laffoon  M.B.H.
1929 Feb. 16 - Hist to
Tom Everett.  (illegible initials)
1940 June 27 - hist to Mary
Louise Morgan  (illegible initials)

[SECOND COLUMN]

13694.
INVALID.
(Illegible in left margin)

File No.  13694
James Laffoon
Priv. Rev. War

Act:  June 7 1832
Index: -- Vol. 1, Page 211

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 14

Livingston 16 Jany 1833

Sir,

I enclose the papers of J. Laffoon
made out as directed in the enclosed
printed forms.

Respy [sic]
(Illegible Signature)

The Scty of War.  Leslie Combs
Page 15

Laffoon

Complied with
(illegible) court 1833
Page 16

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
James Laffoon which require further
proof or explanation.

I.  Does the declaration show where the applicant  (word crossed out - illegible)?  yes

II.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  yes

III.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?   --

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?  yes

V.  (This question is crossed out, but answered)
Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension
he is entitled?  No

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?  yes

VII.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?  yes

VIII.  Has the Court given their opinion?  yes

IX.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  yes

X.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal?  yes
Page 17

2 

XI.  (This question was crossed out, but answered.)
Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service?  No No

XII.  (This question was crossed out, but answered.)
If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining
it?  No

XIII.  (This question was crossed out, but answered.)
If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  No

XIV.  (This question was crossed out, but answered.)
(Symbol) If the applicant has prodcued a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?  No

XV.  Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI.  (Symbol) Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  yes

XVII.  (This question was crossed out, but answered.)
Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? (illegible)


EXPLANATORY NOTES.
(Symbol)  QUERE V.  In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how
long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he
cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his 
recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:  For ------
year ---- ---- months and ------ days. I served as a ---. For ---- months
and ----- days, I served as a ------; and for such service I claim a pension."
Page 18

3  

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served,
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of
the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase (italics) about three or four months (end italics) is too 
indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

(Symbol)  QUERE XIV.  (italics) Proof of Service. (end italics)
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he
must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits
the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as
well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer
the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the affidavits must be properly 
authenticated, as above directed.

(Symbol)  QUERE XVI.  (italics) Mode of authenticating papers. (end italics)
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must
pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being
improperly attached to the certificate.
Page 19

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWF/eel

February 16, 1929

Tom Everett
3214 Mitchell Avenue
St. Joseph, Missouri

Sir:

I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary
War pension claim, S.13694, it appears that (Joseph = crossed out) James Laffoon
was born and raised in Lunenburg County, Virginia, the
date of his birth is not stated.

While residing in said Lunenburg County, he enlisted
in 1779 and served three months as a private in Captain
Sill Walker's Company, Colonel John Glenn's Virginia
Regiment; he served three months in Captain Thomas Threadgill's
(Georgia = crossed out) Company, and was in the battle of Camden; (Aug 16 '80 = written in)
he served eight months in Captain Isaac Webb's Virginia
Company and served three months in Captain James Harrison's 
Company under Major John P. (Wagner = crossed out) Wagnon (written in); and was at the
Siege of Yorktown.

He was allowed pension on his application executed
September10,1832, at which time he was living in Fayette
County, Kentucky, aged sixty-nine years.

It is not stated that soldier was married.

Respectfully,
(blank)
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 20

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.

[TABLE]
Column 1 - DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.

Column 2 - LENGTH OF SERVICE.

Column 3 - RANK.

Column 4 - OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.  CAPTAIN. COLONEL.

Column 5 - STATE.

Row 1 - 1779 .... 3 mos .... Pri .... Sill Walker .... John Glenn .... Va.

Row 2 - " .... 3 mos ....  Thomas Threadgill & ....  Ga

Row 3 - " .... 8 mos .... Isaac Webb .... Va.

Row 4 - " .... 3 mos .... James Harrison .... Major John P. Wagnon ....

Battles engaged in, (illegible) battle of Camden (2 words crossed out) Siege of York.

Residence of soldier at enlistment, enlisted in Lunenburg Co. Va.

Date of application for pension, Sept 10, 1832 His claim was at

Residence at date of application, Fayette Co. KY.

Age at date of application, 69 years: born and raised in Lunenburg Co. Va.

Remarks:  (Date of death not shown = crossed out) (Illegible - too light to read)
date of birth not stated No data as to family
Omit. there's a brother Simon
It is not stated (rest of line is illegible)
Page 21

Federated Hardware Mutuals
HARDWARE DEALERS MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
STEVENS POINT, WISCONSIN

[Seal of FEDERATED STANDARD PROPERTY INSURANCE]

MINNESOTA IMPLEMENT MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
OWATONNA, MINNESOTA

SOUTHWESTERN DEPARTMENT
ALLEN BUILDING
200 SOUTH ERVAY STREET
DALLAS, TEXAS

Dallas, Texas, May 12, 1940

Pension Department
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:

Do you have a record of James Laffoon; born 1759,
died 1851, who is supposed to have fought in the siege of
Yorktown?

If you have such a record would you either send
me a copy of this record or tell me how I may secure one;
as, my admission to the membership of the Daughters of the
American Revolution depends very largely upon this information.

Yours very truly, 
Mary Louise Morgan (signature)
Mary Louise Morgan
2309 Glencoe Street
Dallas, Texas

CASUALTY COVERAGES WRITTEN BY HARDWARE MUTUAL CASUALTY COMPANY, OUR ASSOCIATED COMPANY
STEVENS POINT, WISCONSIN
Page 22

[To Left of Seal]
GENERAL OFFICE AND PLANT
22nd AND GARFIELD AVE
LONG DISTANCE PHONE 16

FOR LIVE STOCK

[Seal in Middle of Page]
EXCELLO FEEDS
EXCELLO FEED MILLING COMPANY
FOR WISE FEEDERS

[To Right of Seal]
BRANCH HOUSE AND ELEVATOR
7TH AND OLIVE STREETS
PHONE 6-1675

FOR POULTRY

[Below Seal]
MANUFACTURERS
EXCELLO BALANCED RATIONS

WILLIAM HILLIX
PRESIDENT

St. Joseph, Mo.  May 28/1928.

Pension Department
Washington, D. C..

Gentlemen;

Will you please furnish to me the history of James
Lafoon? [sic]  He is mentioned in Secretary of War's Report 1835,
Pension Roll 3 Kentucky 89.

Respectfully

Tom Everett (typed)
3214 Mitchell Avenue
St. Joseph, Missouri.

[Stamp]
PENSION OFFICE
U.S.
MAY 31 
1928
Page 23

C. A. Laffoon, M. D.
Champaign, Illinois
300-301 Karcher Bldg
11 - 17 - 1814
Pention Dept
Washington D.C.
[initialed JMD]
Gentlemen
I have always understood that
my great grandfather, James Laffoon of near
Petersburg Virginia served as a Continental
soldier under General Washington most , if not
all, the Revolutionary War and was present
at the surrender of Gen. Cornwallis at York Town
Can you furnish me with
or advise me where to obtain the records
of his military service in part or in full.
Yours sincerely 
C. A. Laffoon M.D.
Page 24

Republican State Committee.
HEADQUARTERS VICTORIA BUILDING
EIGHTH AND LOCUST STREETS

THOS. K. KEIDRINGHAUS, CHAIRMAN
JNO. H. BOTHWELL, VICE-CHAIRMAN
W. S. DICKEY, CHAIRMAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
JOS. McCOY, SECRETARY
AMEDEE B. COLE, TREASURER

ST. LOUIS.  February 10, 1909

Honorable Vespasian Warner
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington,  D. C.

Sir:

One James Laffoon, who died in 1859 in Lafayette County,
Kentucky, served in the Revolutionary Army with General Washington
at the siege of Yorktown and probably enlisted from Virginia, where
he was born, or from Kentucky, where he afterward removed.  My
wife is a lineal descendent of said James Laffoon and is entitled,
therefore, to membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The said James Laffoon, after such service, drew a pension from the
United States Government on account of such service and is, therefore,
on your records as having served in the Revolutionary Army.

Will you kindly obtain for me information as to his service 
in the Revolutionary Army and more particularly what Company he served
in and the date of his discharge, and further information as to the
date his pension commenced and, if possible, the date of his death and
his birth and place of birth.  Any information you can give me along
this line, as well as in what capacity he served in the Revolutionary
Army and how long he served, would be greatly appreciated. Of course
you realize that if there is any expense incurred I will gladly pay
the same. 

Respectfully yours,
Joseph McCoy  (signature)

JM/P

[Stamp near Signature]
PENSION OFFICE.
U.S.
A
FEB 
13
1909
13694 (written)