Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3426, Joseph Griffith, Va.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
Va

Griffith
Joseph

NUMBER
3426
Carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

13782
East Tennessee
Joseph Griffith
of Morgan be in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Yarbornn of the regiment commanded
by Col Crockett in the Virginia
line for 6 months

Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee
at the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of June
1833 and Sent to Levi
Trewhitt  Morgan C H

Arrears to the 4th of March  40.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept  10
$50

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book  E  Vol. 7  Page 44
Page 3

When the Pension
certificate in this case is returnd
to this office issue a new certificate 
allowing $80 per 
annum. See letter 23 July
1833 to Levi Trewitt,
Morgan C. [County] N. [North]Ten. [Tennessee]
New certificate issued 2 Sep
1837 sent out to L. Trewhitt.
Page 4

State of Tennessee
Morgan County
On this 20th day of Aprail [April]1833
personally appeared before me Thomas Jack of [illegible]
of the [illegible] & [illegible] of the Justice of the Court of
pleas and Quarter session for the County of
Morgan aforesaid Joseph Griffith resident
in the County of Morgan State of Tennessee
and at the home of the residence of the
said Joseph Griffith who is very aged &
infirm man & who supposes himself to be
Seventy seven years of age not have any
end of his age,& who from old age & infirmity of years is unable to get to Court
and who being first duly sworn according
to law doth on his oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the benefit
of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. that he enlisted
as a private regular in the Army of the
United States the day & date Cannot now
from old age & consequent loss of memory
be now recollected but it was about six
years before the surrender of Cornwallice
at York he enter and served in the 7th
Regiment of the Virginia line his
time of enlistment was to be during the
War.  Applicant lived in Brunswick County
State of Virginia and enlisted & enterd the
service as aforesaid under the following
named officers to wit Captain Edward
Yarbower Lieutenants name not now recolled
Page 5

there.   Major Leu. led Joseph Crockett Gen l [General]
Washington was marched to Peters Burg was
in a battle at Peters Burg was Stationed there
about six week.  Was then marched to Richmond & was
marched to Divens Points all of which cant
now be recollected but was in the service 
at Richmond & near there at Differnt Points
wherever nessity [necessity] called for him some three
or four years, he was then Marched
of the Country after the Brittish Army
in the State of North Carolina was
in the Battle fought with the Tories at
Ramsowers Mill when the Tories was
defeated was marched & placed under 
the command of General Green was
then marched to Guilford was in the
Battle of Guilford was then marched
to Divens Points persurring the Brittish
Army untill the seige of York was
in the siege was one of General
Washingtons Life Guard On the day
that Cornwallice  Surrenderd Saw
Cornwallice Deliver his sword to
General Washington applicant was
then marched as one of the Guard
over the Prisioners to King & Queene
County near Appletree Church. Was
there honorably but verbally discharged
Page 6

applicant cant from old age & consequent
Loss of memory recollect the precise length
of his service but it was not less than
Six years and that as a private enlisted
regular soldier applicant hereby relinquises every claim to a pension or anuity
Except the present and he declares that
his name is not on the pension Roll of any
agency in any State applicant makes
Oath that he is unable to get to Court
applicant has no Dockumentary evidence
by which he can prove his services nor is
there any person living whose testimony
he can procure by whom applicant
can prove his absolute services but that 
the following person citizens and Neighbors
to him can testify as to his character as 
a soldier of the revolution to wit Andrew
Lewellen, John Patter William Seston
Archelles Gibson Henry Bishop Mous
Siston this applicant has lived every
since the revolutionary war in the States
of Virginia Tennessee Kentucky Indiania
& Illinois applicant now resides in Tennessee
Morgan County
 Joseph X Griffith
his mark

Sworn to & subscribed
the [illegible] & [illegible] aforesaid
Joseph Griffith

Thomas Jack
Justice of the Peace  And I Thomas Jack Justice
of the peace & one of the Justice of the Court of
Page 7

pleas and quarter session for said County
do herby declare my opinion that the
above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier and served as he states & that
said applicant is unable to get to court
and that the forgoing contains the
Original proceeding in the application 
of Joseph Griffith for a pension
In ths testimony when of I have
hereunto set my hand this 20th
day of Aprail 1833
State of Tennessee
Thomas Jack
Justice of the Peace

State of Tennessee
Morgan County
I Elijah Lavender Clerk of the Court
of pleas and quarter session for the
County of Morgan do hereby certify
that Thomas Jack who made the ┃
foregoing certificate to the forgoing
declaration for a pension was at the 
date thereof an acting Justice of
the peace for said County & one of the
Justices of the Court of pleas
quarter session for said County duly
Sworn and commissioned & that
full faith & credit is intitled to be
given to his official acts as such
Given under my hand & [illegible]
of offices at office, this 20 day
of Aprail1833. Elijah Lavender Clerk
By his deputy Thomas S. Lea
Page 8

No.  25295

Joseph Griffith Morgan County
Tennessee

from - Private
6 year
$80.

on Roll


Levi Trewhitt Morgan Court
House, Margan County Tennessee
Page 9

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Pension Office,
183

Sir,

The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tubular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: }). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A Statement, shewing the Service of Joseph Griffith Morgan County Tenness.
Period when the
service was
rendered.
{Entered &
Served}

Duration of the
claimant's service.
Years. Months. Days.
not less than
6

Rank of
the
claimant.
Private

Names and rank of the Field officers
under whom he served.
Genl Washington
Capt Yarbower, Major
[illegible] Col Crockett

Age at present, 
and place of abode
when he entered
the service.
77 years
County of
Brunswick 
Virginia

Proof by which the declaration is supported.
7 Regt of the Virginia line, for Odering
the war
no evidence of any kind- applicant
unable to appear in Court, as per Justices
certificate appears - paper authenticated

Battle at Peters Berg, Richmond
Guilford Court House

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 10

2

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army.
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers, all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1.  The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first
instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides.  And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State Territory, or District of 
County of       }ss.

On this-----day of-----personally appeared (a) before------
A.B. a resident (b) of------in the county of------and State, Territory or District
of------aged (c)-----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
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)-----,with-----and
served in the------(e) regiment of the------line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched.  This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of------
Sworn to and subscribed the day   A. B.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary
soldier, and served as he states.
I ------of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of ------ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this ------
day of ------ & c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the -----and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with------,who has
 subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be ------
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 and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after
putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary
Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the ------
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the ------
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

I, -------Clerk of the Court of ------do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this ------day of ------ & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; 
but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration,(l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
Page 11

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal
means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; 
and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected.
All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his
case.

The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of
service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State
troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war,
and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?
And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a Soldier. {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
To an Officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what
an officer has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify
as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons--one of whom should be
the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from
their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed
and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character
and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the
enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before
required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper
county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform,
and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a
Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is
his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before
the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the
declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure.
taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period
of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the
opinion of the Court upon the whole matter-
[a]  The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow
the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b]  The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
[c]  The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d]  The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e]  Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 ------, and for such service I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each 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 about three or four months,
is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years
in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is
highly objectionable. It must, in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement;
the particular place or place where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; 
that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil
pursuit.
[f]  The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required. The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[h]  The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public
seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the
papers.

Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains
the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends 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.

Proof of Service.
[j]  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 claimant's 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 official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k]  This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l]   If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m]  The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 12

Payments to be made
at Knoxville Ten e [Tennessee]
by 
Robert King Esq
Agent for paying Pensioners,
in the Agency of East
Tennesee



Recorded in the Pension Office,
in Book E Vol 7
Page 44 by Dan Boyd
Clerk.
Page 13

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.

I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United State of
the 7th June, 1832,
Joseph Griffith
of the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the Army of the
Revolution
is entitled to receive ------
Twenty dollars and
------cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on
the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and
4th of September, in every year.

GIVEN at the War Office of the United 
States, this Seventeenth day of
June one thousand eight
hundred and thirty three
John Robb
Acting Secretary of War.

[Affixed Seal to the Left]
Examined and
Countersigned.}

J L Edward
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 14

[Left Notation] RevWar
[Right Notation][illegible]
3426
INVALID.  
File No. 3426
Joseph Griffith
Pvt. Va. line

Act:  June 7 [illegible] 32
Index: - Vol.A, Page 149
[Arrangement of 1870.]