Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 10,064, for William Stapleton, Virginia
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(8 - 1776) 
SERVICE Va. 
Stapleton, William 
Mary
NUMBER 
R.10.064
CONTENTS
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22, 187 
Jonesborough Agency Ten.
William Stapleton of Hawkins Co in the State of Tennessee, who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Posey of the Reg commanded by Col Lewis in the Virginia line for 2 years from 1777 
Inscribed on the Roll of Jonesboro Agency at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831. 
Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Oct. 1833 and sent to W.O. Winston Rogersville 
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 1833 $200 Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 36 40 $240. 
Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm L Allison Clerk 
Book 6  Vol. 6 Page 133
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6086 
[illegible]
July 4 1830
Paid 10
J.S. Edwards Esq
War Department
Washington City DC
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Tenessee Hawkins County to wit 
on this 3rd January 1846 personally appeared before me Pleasant Begley a Justice of the peace of the County Court of Hawkins County in the State of Tennessee being a Court of record by virtue of the Law of Tennessee creating said court, Mary Stapleton resident of the said County of Hawkins and state of Tennessee aged Eighty five years. Who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the pension made by the act of Congress passed July the 4th 1836 that she is the widow of William Stapleton who was a pensioner of the United States and obtained a certificate thereof on the day of and for proof of whose services reference is made to the record of the War department. She is able to produce no better proof than that herewith submitted of the fact and date of her marriage as she knows of no one now living who present except Marcy Bobbs but she hopes that this proof coupled with the fact of her having lived with William Stapleton as his wife will satisfy the war Department. She further declares that she was married to the said William Stapleton on the 8th day of Dec 1793 that her husband the afore said William Stapleton died on the 10th day of June 1835 and that she has remained his widow ever since that period as will more fully appear reference to the proof hereto annexed. She also declares that she is unable to attend personally in Court by reason of bodily infirmity 
Sworn and subscribed this day and year first above mentioned before the undersigned 
Mary Stapleton her mark X 
Pleasant Begley 
Hawkins County
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State of Tennessee 
Hawkins County }
I Robert Johnson Clerk of the County Court of said County do certify that Pleasant Begly Esqr whose name appears to the within is now and was at the time of Signing the same an acting justice of the peace in for said County and that his signature appears to be in his own proper hand writing.- 
Given under my hand and seal of office at office in Rogersville this 5th day of January 1846 - 
Robert Johnson Clk 
By J L Fulkerson D C 
State of Tennessee 
Hawkins County } 
I Robert Johnston Clerk of the County Court of said County of Hawkins do hereby certify that satisfactory evidence has been to said Court that William Stapleton was pensioner of the Unighted states at the rate of Eighty Dollars per year and was resident of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee the widow of said Stapleton was a resident of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee the 18th March 1840 where William Stapleton her husband died and left widow who has remained unmarried ever since In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office at Rogersville this 5th January 1846 
Robert Johnson Clk 
By J L Fulkerson D C
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Tennessee Hawkins County }
I Robert D Young, Justice of the County Court of Hawkins County do certify that the application of Mary Stapleton for a pension was submitted in Court at the January Term thereof and approved by the Court 
Witness my hand and seal this 5th day of January 1846 
RD Young JP
Chairman [?] 
I Robert Johnson Clerk of the County Court of Hawkins County do certify that the above is a true transcript of the County Court of Hawkins County in the matter of the application of Mary Stapleton for a pension 
Witness my hand and seal of my Office at Rogerville January 10th 1846 
Robert Johnson Clk 
By J L Fulkerson 
Dep Clk
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State of Tennessee Hawkins County } October Term, 1832 
On this 2nd day of October 1832, personally appeared before the Judge of the Circuit Court for the County & State aforesaid William Stapleton a resident of Lee County in the State of Virginia aged about 76 years, who being first duly sworn, according to law doth on his oath, make the following Declaration order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. 
That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1777 with John Posey & served in the 7 Regiment of the Virginia line under the following named officers are Col Lewis appeared to have command of the Regiment that from this office he got his discharge at Williamsburg but owing to the indistinct recollection which old age has caused this Declarant now to have of those times, he is not able to state the name of any other officer that he recollects his capt. because he was always with him during the service, that after his enlistment he was marched by his Capt from the County in which he lived, on to York that the Regiment in which he served was stationed at this place for about 3 months in expectation that the British forces would land at this place. that at York the oath of Allegiance was administered to & taken by this Declarant the Original of which surtificate, that he had taken the said Oath is appended to this Declaration marked Exhibit A. that from York the Regiment to which this Declarant belonged was marched to the sea bord that they halted [illegible] to an Island called Guinus [?] Island, that they were encamped at this place for some time before the British forces made their appearance
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that the British under the command of Lord Cornwallis did at last make their appearance that they heard the firing of their cannon on the water the night before they landed on the Island that in the morning about day light they landed all their forces on the Island. that on this Island the British remained about 2 months as well as this declarant can now recollect. that as soon as Corwallis landed on the island the Americans began to throw up Breastworks and plant their artillery for the purpose of driving the British from the Island. that after they planted their cannon they commenced cannonading the British & throwing fire Bombs to the ships that the British were so annoied that they were compelled to leave the island and after having 3 of their ships burnt. that the British forces entered their ships & sailed toward the South. that after Lord Cornwallis was driven from this landing, we remained guarding the sea shore for some time & then marched to Williamsburg into winter quarters that here they wintered & in the Spring this declarant was discharged; that after he got his discharge he returned to his home in Botetourt County that he served as a regular under this engagement 12 months. This Declarant further states that he lived in Montgomery County in the State of Virginia when he volunteered again in the service of his Country some time in January 1781 under Capt James Barnett that the Regiment was commanded by Col Crocket that they set out from Montgomery
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for the purpose of marching into Carolina to assist that State in expelling the British forces therefrom, that the Regiment to which this Declarant belong joined the army command by General Green before they got to Guilford Court house that they reached Guilford where they had an engagement with the British stationed there under the command of Cornwallis. that this Declarant was not in the main action but was in the reserve. that the Americans were here defeated that from this place this Declarant returned home without getting any discharge. that he served in this expedition about 2 months making in all the time he served in the revolutionary war as a regular & a volunteer 14 months that his discharge as a regular he has last he does not now know how but so it is he can not now produce it. 
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and 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 Virginia 
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid 
W B Mitchell Clk 
William Stapleton his mark X 
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states 
Edw Leo Howe of the Judges of the Circuit Court of Law and Equity in and for the State of Tennessee aforesaid
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I Willie B. Mitchell Clerk of the Circuit Court of Hawkins County & State of Tennessee do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Stapleton for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & [illegible] seal of Office this the 2nd day of October 1832
WB Mitchell Clk 
Exhibit A. 
I do hereby certify that William Stapleton hath taken and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance and Fidelity as directed by an act of General assembly instituted an Act to oblige the free male inhabitants of this State above a certain age to g[illegilbe due to rip] assurance of allegiance to the same and for other purposes. Witn[illegibledue to rip] Hand and seal this 22d Sept 1777 
Dan Smith [illegible symbol]
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April 7, 1934 
XXXXXXXXXXXXX 
Mr. R. L. Stapleton 
713 Oxford Street 
Chattanooga, Tennessee 
WILLIAM STAPLETON
R.10064
BA-J/MLB
Dear Sir: 
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of William Stapelton (also spelled Stapleton), a pensioner of Tennessee. 
His record, which is the only one found for a soldier named William Stapelton or Stapleton, follows as shown in the papers on file in pension claim, R. 10064, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. 
William Stapleton (as his name appears in the claim was born in 1757 in Augusta County, Virginia; the names of his parents are not given. 
He volunteered early in February, 1776, as a private in Captain Thomas Posey's company, Colonel Dangerfield's 7th Virginia Regiment, stationed at Gwyn's Island and was in the battle at that place; just before Christmas of the same year he was taken ill, his illness continued for four months and he returned to his home in Botetourt County, Virginia; after his recovery he entered the service in Captain Roberson's Virginia company and served the remainder of the two years for which he first enlisted. While residing in Montgomery County, Virginia, he volunteered sometime in January, 1781, and served two months as private in Captain James Barnett's company, Colonel Crockett's Virginia regiment. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 2, 1832, while a resident of Lee County, Virginia; the application was executed in Hawkins County, Tennessee, where he had formerly lived and had many friends and relatives to assist him; his residence in Lee County, Virginia, was within two miles of the Tennessee line. 
The soldier died June 10, 1835, in Hawkins County, Tennessee,
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where he was then residing. 
William Stapleton married December 8, 1793, place not stated, Mary _, given name not shown. 
In 1840, soldier's widow, Mary, was a resident of Hawkins County, Tennessee, and was still living there in 1846 aged eighty-five years. 
No reference was made to children. 
Very truly yours 
A. D. HILLER 
Assistant to Administrator
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Ex.C. 
State of Tennessee 
Hawkins County }
this day Samuel Marrian aged 78 to the best of his information having no record of his age personally appeared before me William Babb a Justice of the peace in sd County and made oath that William Stapelton was a listed soldier in the Continental Service in the year 1776 in the Company of Captain Thomas Posey this Deponent saith that he first got acquainted with sd Stapelton at litted York and marched from there to glaster Court house Virginia and from there to gwins Island under the command of Brigadier General Adrew Luis the Number of the Regiment was the 7th Regiment of Virginia and this Deponent Saith that he understood by sd Stapelton when in comply that he was inlisted for two years and this Deponent state that he was marched some time in July or August to Philadelphia and left sd Stapelton at Guins Island under the same officers and this Deponent further Saith Not 
Sworn to and subscribes his name 
this 14th day August 1833 
William Babb JP
Samuel Marian his mark X
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State of Tennessee 
Hawkins County } 
William Babb an acting Justice of [illegible] the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid do certify that I am Well acquainted with Samuel Merrien whose signature appears to the foregoing Deposition that he is a man of truth and his statement is entitled to Credit given under my hand this 14th day of August 1833 }
Wm Babb JP 
State of Tennessee 
Hawkins County } 
I Stockley D Mitchell Clerk of the court of Pleas  & quarter Sessions of said County and State do certify that William Babb whose name is subscribed to the above certificate is an acting Justice of the peace of said County and State duly commissioned and qualified and that his signature thereto appears to be in his own proper hand writing. 
Given under my hand and seal of office at office in Rogersville this 14th day of August A. D. 1833 
SD Mitchell Clk 
By WB Mitchell DClk
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State of Tennessee 
Hawkins County } 
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the peace for the County & State aforesaid, William Stapleton who being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he has made some mistakes in his declaration in the names & grades of Officers and term of service &c which mistakes were afterwards made plain to him when he came to converse with his wife & received & read the deposition of Thomas Goodson Sr. hereto annexed marked Exhibit B. That some of the mistakes made by this applicant & which are corrected by Goodsons deposition, are as follows, this Applicant states in his Declaration that he enlisted in the service of the United States under Capt John Pavey in the year 1777 & belonged to the Regt under Col Lewis whereas it ought to have been stated, as will appear from the said Deposition of Goodson which refreshes the recollection of this applicant, that he enlisted at the same time with Goodson under Capt Thomas Posey early in February in the year 1776 & [illegible] the 7th Regt commanded by Col Dangerfield & that Andrew Lewis was Brigadier General, that on account of great loss of memory produced some years ago as he believes, by a severe pain in his head which was so violent that it caused one of his eyes to burst, he has made the mistakes above mentioned & some others which he now corrects since he conversed with his wife & read Goodsons deposition, that the officers names circumstances stated in said Goodson deposition be adopts as his own statement which he believes to be true, altho they may go farther contradict some statements made in the Declaration of this Applicant which depostion of Goodson he refers to as part of this amendatory statement & he also refers to the deposition of Samuel Marion hereto annexed Marked C. This applicant further states that the reason he made his declaration in one County State while he lives in another, is this, that he lives within a miles of the line & having a great many friends & relations living
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in the County & State where he has made his Declaration & having a better opportunity to have his business attended to, & having formerly lived there, he prefered & did make his declaration in Hawkins County State of Tennessee, when he lives in Lee County State of Virginia. This applicant further states that there is no Clergyman living in his neighbourhood. This Applicant further states that he was born in Augusta County in the State of Virginia in the year 1757 as well as he can recollect having no record of his age. This appli cant further states that on account of loss of memory he had at the time he made his declaration forgoten a spell of sickness he had during the time he was an enlisted soldier that on account of forgeting this he made a mistake in the length of time he served as a regular & the time for which he enlisted which mistake he now discovers since Goodsons deposition reminded him of the the that from the time he enlisted to the time he received his sick furlow which was a short time before Christmas as appears from Goodsons deposition was about ten months that he was sick four months, that after he recovered from his sickness spoken of in Goodsons deposition he again entered the service under Capt Roberson & served out the two years for which he had first enlisted which fact Goodsons deposition & pension shows 
He therefore states that according to the best of his recolection, which has since been [illegible] in the manner above stated he served not less than the periods mentioned below: For 2 years I served as a regular soldier under the officers & at the time stated in Goodson deposition for 2 months I served as a volunteer at the time & under the Officers mentioned in
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my declaration and for such service I claim a pension. This applicant further states that the said Thomas Goodson whose deposition is hereto annexed, is now, as this applicant is informed, drawing a pension for services rendered to the U. States at the time this applicant served, & by refferance to the papers of the said Goodson it will satisfy the Department of his credibility. 
Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 9th day August 1833 
William Stapleton his mark X 
A Fain Justice of the peace for Hawkins County
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Ex. B. 
Virginia Floyd County Sc 
This day Thomas Goodson Sen. personally appeared before me William Young a Justice of the peace for the said County and made oath that William Stapleton a soldier of the Revolution, enlisted in the continental service for the time of the years in the early part of the month of February 1776 in the company of Captain Thomas Posey and joined the Regt at Gloucester Courthouse Virginia under Col. Dangerfield and marched from there to Guinns Island under the command of Brigadier General Andrew Lewis. The number of the Regiment was the 7th Virginia Regiment. This deponent states that he William Stapleton, Received a sick furlow, a few days before Christmas in the same year, from Col Crawford and that he knows of the applicant laying sick for the space of four months at least after getting home in the County of Bottetourt. This deponent states that in consequence of the loss of his papers, and of memory in consequence of old age, etc. he cannot state with precision the day of the month when they enlisted nor when they Received their furlows but in confident he has not over reached it. he the deponents say they both enlisted at the same time, and returned at the same time and under the same circumstances. 
Sworn to before me this 8th day of July 1833 
Wm Young J. P. 
Virginia to wit 
I William Goodson Clerk of the county court of Floyd and also of the Circuit Superior Court of law and chancery for said County do certify that William Young is a Justice of the peace for said County as above stated and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his are genuine. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the circuit superior Court of Law and chancery, there being no seal as yet provided for the county court this 8th day of July 1833 in the 58th year of the Commonwealth. 
Wm Goodson
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Rogersville 20 August 1833 
Sir 
Enclosed I return for your investigation the pension claim of William Stapleton corrected & amended as you may see by the papers, there were some mistakes made by the old man in his declaration which resulted from his want of memory. He has now accompanied his declaration & amendatory affidrit, with the Testimony of two of his companions in the service one now a pensioner, & the other on Applicant, to whose papers you can [illegible] for their characters as to veracity. 
I wish you would examine the enclosed papers as soon as it can be done and advise me of the result & you will very much oblige the old man, who is anxious to know his prospects 
I am yours &c. 
Wm C. Winston
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6686 
Mary Stapleton 
Ten: [?]
Act 4 July 36
William Babb JPcc
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Hawkins County Court 
This day Marcy Babb personly appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for said County and made oath that Mary Stapleton is the lawful widow of William Stapleton and that the said William Stapleton was a Unighted States Pensioners and drawed a Pension and the said William Stapleton died about the 10th June 1835 and further states that she was present when William Stapleton and he was maried and she has remained unmarried ever since that period given under my hand this 3rd day of January 1846 
William Babb JP of Dawkins County 
Mary Babb her mark X 
State of Tennessee 
Hawkins County } 
I Robert Johnson Clerk of the County Court of said county do certify William Babb Esquire whose name appears to the above affidavit is now and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the peace in for said County and that his signature appears to be in his own proper hand writing 
Given under my hand and seal of Office at Office in Rogersville this 5th day of January 1846 
Robert Johnson Clerk 
By J L Fulkerson D C
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State of Tennessee 
Hawkins County } to wit 
I William Babb a Justice of the of the County Court of Hawkins County in the State of Tennessee holder in the said County of Hawkins where the declarant resides do hereby certify that the above named Mary Stapleton is from her extream age and disability unable to attend the Court of which I am a member and I do not think from presant appearance that she will be able to attend the Court above named at its next Session. I have therefore in persuance of the act of Congress passed the 1st March 1823 attended at the place of abode and administered the foregoing oath given under my hand and seal this 3rd January 1846 
William Babb JPcc
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Jonesville Lee County, this July 28th 1841 
Dear Sir 
Tho unacquainted with you only from character, I take the liberty of addressing you on the present occasion for which I must ask an apology for so doing; but I hope you will do me the favour to examine the pension cases of Mary Stapleton & the widow Pridmore residents of your own state (Tennessee) I prepared the cases of the above named widows and forwarded them on to J L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions which I suppose from some cause or other they have been rejected. I wish you therefore to examine the Declarations of them both, and send me a copy thereof so that I may be enabled to prepare them again. Pleas write to me the grounds upon which they were rejected and the proof which will be necessary in the cases 
Send me a copy of them: whether the declarations filed will or will not answer I would like to have a copy of them; If there is any late act of Congress on the subject of Pension pleas write to me the provisions of said act especially the second wives of Pensioners; or those who have married since the = first husbands died or any later date than 1793. direct your letter to Jonesville Lee County [illegible]: I want you to attend to these cases for me, and I will pay you well for your trouble write to me by the first [illegible] so soon as you examine the cases 
Yours Respectfully 
Hon Andrew Johnston 
Washington Cty DC 
John P. Kane 
NR It may not be necessary to forward any other cases untill Congress meets again in the fall inform me of that fact and when you write again 
Yours Respectfy 
JP. Kane
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Eastillville Va July 17th 1846
Sir 
My brother Mr Jno P Kane has requested me to address you a line upon the subject of the pension claims of two old ladies of this vicinity whose husbands were pensioners towit Mrs Rachel Pridemore and Mrs Mary Stapleton for the purpose of ascertaining with certainty what can be done for them or for either of them. In 1844 whilst canvassing this district as Elector on the Democratic ticket, I had occasion to travel out of the District to address the people in the neighbourhood of those females and it was the well received opinion that their husbands were in the service in defence of their country in the war of the revolution, and if their husbands were pensioners, and they were married at a period entitling them to the small pittance which the law recognised as their right for the short period that such helpless females may survive, surely it would require a good deal of ingenuinity to cast them off, having regard to the spirit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of July 1838. We hope it will be practicable to afford some and to those two helpless females whose husbands are well reputed to have been in the service of the revolution, in relation to which service of the frailty of memory of such old men has erred in relation to the details of that service, if it were rendered at all, their widows rights should be regarded with charity. My brother has failed to hear from  you according to his expectation. It may be that you addressed your communications to the State of Tennessee by reason whereof he did not get them. Be
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pleased to address me at this place and say whether those widows or either of them can be allowed the small claim? and if so, whether the declarations that have been forwarded will answer? and if not wherein are they defective? and what is necessary to be done to enable them or either of them to draw? Your attendance to this matter will be an act of charity towards two helpless widows and much oblige 
Yr Obt Servt 
Henry. S. Kane
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Sir 
Pen H [?]
April 9, 46 
The declaration of Mary Stapleton has been examined & filed. It should have been made the mate under the act of 7 July 38 according to the enclosed regulations. when a single Magistrate acts in taking the declaration his proceedings should be submitted to the Court & their approbation certified under a seal of the Court having an distinguishing inscription or device. 
The date of the marriage so nearly approximates (within 22 days of) Jany 94 to which the act is limited that it will be indispendably necessary to establish it by the records of the County in which the License was issued or by an original family register bearing incontestable evidences of genuineness & antiquity. The credibility of the witnesses should be certified by the Justice & his official character signature duly attested by an Official Seal. By refering to her
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husbands papers it would appear, to the better information of the Dept acquired since his claim was adjusted, that he was very improperly allowed a pension [crossed out text] Since the admission his claim upon poor proof, the rolls of the Regt in which he alleged he served 2 years from fall of 76 have been obtained this name is not borne on any one of them. nor is his name found on the depreciation certificates of the whole Va line. Her claim therefore is discredited by the original roll which may not at this late day be questioned. 
Jus. P. Kane 
Jus P. [illegible] Esq. 
Estellville 
[illegible] Va
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Pension Office
July 31, 1846
Sir, 
The enclosed copy of my two letters to J P Kane, dated April 8th 9 last in the Court [?] of Rachel Pirdmore widow of Jonathan Pirdmore and Mary Stapleton widow of William Stapleton, will furnish you with the objection to the admission of their claims 
Henry S. Kane Esq 
Estellville Va
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Hon A. Johnson 
Augt 10 '46
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136
Pension Office 
August 10 1846 
Sir 
I have the honor to return M. Kane's letter, and to inform you that a report was made to M.K. in the case of Rachel Piedmont widow of Jonathan Piedmont on the 8th of April last and in the case of Mary Stapleton Widow of William Stapleton on the 9th of that month. Since which time no additional evidence has been received in either case. 
Copies of these reports were enclosed to W. H. Kane, the brother of your correspondent on the 28th [illegible]. 
Hon Andrew Johnson 
House of Rep.
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6686. 
Mary Stapleton 
Tennessee 
[crossed out text: J P Kane, H S Kane, Andrew Johnson] 
10064
Act 4th July 1836
Page 32

Jonesborough 
William Stapleton 
Tennessee 
Hawkins Co 
from 1776 prvt 
[illegible] $80 
W. O. Winston 
Rogersville 
Tennessee
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which the answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Stapleton which requires further proof or explanation. 
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? It does 
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? No 
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? No 
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? He has 
V. 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 amout of pension he is entitled? No Not found on the Rolls & should therefore prove his service by two credible witnesses. 
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? He has 
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? He has 
VII. Has the Court given their opinion? Has 
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? He has 
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?
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2 
XI. 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 
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtain ing it? No 
XIII. 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. If the applicant has produced 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? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? 
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. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? They are 
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? No 
EXPLANATORY NOTES. 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 recolelection 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."
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3 
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, 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. 
QUERE XIV. Proof of Service. 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 be 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. 
QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers. 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.
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1934 Rv6 - Hist to Mr. R L Stapleton 
MLB 
Act of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873 
REJECTED 
10064 
P.O. Mary Stapleton 
Service: _,18.
Enlisted: _, 18. 
Discharged: _, 18. 
Application filed: _, 18. 
The printed list of 1852 shows reasons for suspension 
Alleges: "The difficulty connected with the proof of services obviated by the joint resolution of July 1,1848 
Re-enlisted: _
Attorney: _ 
P.O. _ 
_ Recognized. _ Contract. 
_ Cert. of Dis. Searched for _, 18.
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O. R. TARWATER, PRESIDENT 
R. L. STAPLETON, SECRETARY 
C. F. LOCKMILLER, TREASURER 
W. L. OLIVER 
H. M. HAWK 
E. O. WOODWARD 
W. S. TOWNSEND 
Z. LUPTON PATTEN 
J. H. JARVIS 
J. A. GRIGSBY 
W. I. MARSHALL 
Holston Conference Preachers Aid Society 
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 
ROBERT L. STAPLETON, SECRETARY 
713 OXFORD STREET X TELEPHONE  6-0806 
Chattanooga, Tennessee 
March 15, 1934 
[seal] 
Veterans Administration, 
Pension Bureau, 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Sirs -- I am writing to ask you if you can at your earliest convenience, please send to me the report on the war records of one William Stapelton (also spelt Stapleton) Secretary of was report of  1835, Pension 3, Tennessee 68. 
Please also send me any information on the family history which may be available from these records, or any information which may be helpful in tracing the history of this family in the early history of Tennessee and Virginia. 
Very Sincerely, 
R. L. Stapleton 
113 Oxford St 
Chattanooga Tenn