Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 3449, for John Pettis, Virginia
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Va.

Pettis, John
Martha

NUMBER
W. 3449

CONTENTS
Page 2


[left hand side of page]
3573
Virginia Richmond
Martha Pettis
widow of John Pettis
who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a private
Va Line
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
73 Dollars 33
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1848
Certificate of Pension issued the
1 day of Feby 1849
and sent to Sutton & Southhall
Richmond Va.
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act
February 2, 1848, Page 175 Vol. 3.

[right hand side of page]
Let to H. H. Smith
4 March 54
Reported
feby 1 / 49
Page 3

[handwriting is very faint and difficult to read]

I Catherine Pettis of the County of Caroline and State of Virginia do hereby Certify that I am well acquainted with John Pettit who was my brother and who was an old Soldier [illegible] [illegible] Pettis moved from this County many years ago to [illegible] where I understand he died leaving a widow as I am now upwards of seventy years old and recollect when I was a young girl that said John Pettis married to Martha Reynolds in the Town of Port Royal. Although I was at the wedding I do not recollect who married them. [illegible] sworn under my hand this the 19th day of Octr 1841.

Catharine her “X” mark Pettis

Caroline County Va
This day personally appeared before me Edmund Clark a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid Catharine Pettis the subscriber to the foregoing certificate and made [illegible] due form of law to the facts site forth therein. I also certify that from my knowledge of a part of the facts certified to and the character of Catharine Pettis I have no doubt of the truth of every word. Given under my hand this 19th day of October 1841

Edmund Clark J.P.
Page 4

State of Virginia,
Caroline County SS:

I John S. Pendleton Clerk of the County Court of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Edmund Clark is a Justice of the peace in and for the said County duly commissioned & qualified and the signature purporting to be his is genuine.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of my Office this 19th day October 1841 the 66th year of the Commonwealth.

John S. Pendleton Co
Page 5

I Jane Frawner of the County of Caroline & State of
Virginia do hereby certify that I was acquainted with
John Pettis who married Patsy Reynolds many years ago
in this county. I was not at the wedding but recollect
well that when I was a girl before I was grown John
Pettis was then a married man and that he married Patsy
Reynolds, the Father of the said Patsy Pettis formerly
Patsy Reynolds lived with my Father and kept school. 
I went to him, it has been upwards of fifty years since
John Pettis & Patsy Reynolds were married and I know that
fact from being now very near seventy years old and
they were married before I was grown.
Given under my hand this 9th day of December 1841

Jane Frawner [signature]

Caroline County To wit
Jane Frawner personally appeared before me a justice
of the peace and made oath in due form of law
to the facts set forth in the above certificate. I also
certify that I have no doubt of the truth set forth by
Her. Given under my hand this the day and date named.

M. H. Jones J.P.
Page 6

State of Virginia
Caroline County SS

I John S. Pendleton Clerk of the County Court of
the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that M. H.
Jones whose name is subscribed to the within certificate is,
and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of
the peace in and for the said County duly commissioned and
qualified, and that the signature purporting to be his is genuine

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto,
subscribed my name and affixed the seal 
of my office this 10th day of December 1841.

[seal image].  John S. Pendleton [illegible]
Page 7

State of Virginia Orange County To wit
On this the 21st day
of September 1841 personally appeared before me a justice
of the peace in and for the county aforesaid Martha Pettis
a resident of this county aged about eighty four years
old 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 July 7th 1838. That she was
married to John Pettis (in the spring of the year
1782) who was a soldier in the war of the Revolution
That her deceased husband John Pettis was a pensioner
and received his pension regularly and after his
death which took place sometime in July 1832
or 1833 she as his widow drew the sum then due
amounting to about twenty four dollars as she
believes she also says that her deceased husband
died in Spotsylvania County and that she herself
resided there until last April when she moved to
this County - she further declares that she
was married to her deceased husband in the
Town of Port Royal in the County of Caroline
by Parson Waugh. That she has remained ever
since the death of her husband John Pettis his
widow & now remains such.

Martha Pettis [signature]

Sworn to and subscribed before me a justice of the peace as aforesaid on the day and date aforesaid.

Richard Richards JP

I do also Certify that Mrs Pettis is a very old
lady of such advanced age as to render it
too inconvenient to attend our Court & that
I am well acquainted with her and her children
at least most of them and have no doubt as to
the facts set forth in relation to her marriage.
Given under my hand the date above written.

Richard Richards JP
Page 8

[written sideways in left margin] No 8043

In Orange County Court September Term 1841
The Court having examined the certificate of Richard
Richards Jr. a member of their body, respecting the Declaration
of Martha Pettis, approve of the proceedings, and order
the same to be certified to the War Department.

I, Reynolds Chapman, Clerk of the County Court of Orange,
do hereby certify the above order is a record from my Office,
and the names of Richard Richards Jr on the aforesaid
Declaration of Martha Pettis are genuine, as I verily believe.

[seal image] In Testimony whereof, I hereto put my hand
and affix the seal of the said Court, this 30th day of 
September 1841.

Reynolds Chapman Clk
Orange County Court

The word "That" is above certificate,
interlined by me.

Reynolds Chapman Clk
Page 9

2129

Pettis Jno
Certificate

Original
Page 10

State of Virginia
County of Spotsylvania to wit

On the 7th day of August 1832 personally
appeared in open Court before the Justices of Spotsylvania County now sitting
John Pettis a resident of Spotsylvania County in the State of Virginia, aged
seventy eight years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his
oath make the following declarations in order to obtain the benefit of the provision
made by an act of Congress passed 7th June 1832. viz
That he entered the service of the United States in the year seventeen
hundred and seventy nine or thereabouts, and served under the following
named officers, viz Philip Johnson as Captain - he was drafted in
the Virginia Militia in the County of Caroline under the said Johnson,
he marched from there to Williamsburg, and joined some regiment, but
the number and commandant not now recollected, he remained in
Williamsburg three months, and was then marched home. He further declares that
After his return from Williamsburg and after the lapse of two or three months
he was again drafted from Caroline and marched under the same Captain 
To Williamsburg where he remained forty days. He the said John Pettis
Hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, or annuity [illegible]
the present, and he declares that his name is not in any pension
Roll or agency in any State, and declares that he knows of no persons
whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service.
[illegible] [illegible] Sworn to and subscribed the day & year afsd.

John his “X” mark Pettis

Henry Willoughby a credible witness personally appeared before the
Court of the said County whilst sitting, and upon oath declared that
he is well acquainted with John Pettis, and believes him to be aged
about seventy eight years, that he knew him about a year after this period
mentined by him of his service in the Va. Militia, and that he
well recollects to have heard the said John Pettis say at that time,
That he had served as above set forth. He further states that the
sd John Pettis is generally believed and reputed in the neighborhood in
which he resides, to have been a soldier in the revolution and to
have preformed the above service as is stated in the foregoing
Declaration, and that he concur in that opinions.

Sworn to and subscribed the day & year [illegible]

Henry his “X” mark Willoughby
Page 12

And the said Court do hereby certify and declare their opinion
after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories
prescribed by the war Department, that the above named applicant 
John Pettis was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as
he states, and it further certifies that it appears to them that
Henry Willoughby who has signed the preceding certificate is a
resident of the County of Spotsylvania and is a credible person
and that his statement is entitled to credit.

I Richard L. Stevenson Clerk of the County Court
of Spotsylvania do hereby certify that the foregoing contains
the original proceedings in the said Court in the matter of
the application of John Pettis for a Pension.

[seal image]  In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & seal of Office
this 8th day of August 18?2
Page 13

[preprinted form with handwritten responses]

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3 - 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., ________, 19___
[illegible handwritten note]
W. F. 3449
In reply to your request of ______, received _______
a statement of the military history of John Pettis
A soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension
on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - 1779
LENGTH OF SERVICE - 3 mos.
RANK - Pvt.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED - CAPTAIN - Philip Johnson
COLONEL - [check mark]
STATE - Va.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - 1779
LENGTH OF SERVICE - 40 days.
RANK - 
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED - CAPTAIN - Philip Johnson
COLONEL - [check mark]
STATE - 

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT - 1780
LENGTH OF SERVICE - 1 1/2 ys.
RANK - 
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED - CAPTAIN - Francis Cowherd
COLONEL - Samuel Hawes
STATE - 

Battles engaged in, Guilford Court House & Eutaw Springs
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Caroline County, Va.
Date of application for pension, Aug 7,1832 His I was at
Residence at date of application, Spotsylvania Co. Va.
Age at date of application {b.1754 in Spotsylvania County, Va.
{died in July 1833 in Spotsylvania County, Va.
Remarks:
He mar, in the Spring of 1782 Miss Martha (Patsy) Reynolds
at Port Royal, Caroline County Va. She was allowed pension on
her app. [illegible] Sept 21, 1841 while a resident of Orange Co. Va.
aged 84 years. Son Spencer Pettis was at one time a member
of Congress from Missouri.

Respectfully,
Commissioner.

6 -- 2856
Page 15

[left side of page]
6572
Virginia
Martha Pettis
widow of
John Pettis decd
who was a pensioned under the Act of 1832
and who died on the 1 July 1833
of Orange in the State of Virginia
who was a private in the Com, commanded
by Captain Johnson of the regt commanded
by                in the Virginia
line for 22 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 73 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of March
1842 ——— and sent to F. V. Sutton Esqr.
Bowling Green Va
Arrears to the 4th of March ‘41. 36665
Semi=annual allowance ending
366.65
Book A.
{Act July 7,}
{1838.}
Recorded by Theo L. Moody Clerk,
Book A.  Vol. 2  Page 181

[right side of page]
Agent notified 3 March ‘42
Page 16

611
Virginia - Richmond
Martha Pettis
widow of John Pettis
who was a Private
in the Virginia line
for 22 months
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of
73 Dollars & 33 
Cents per annum, to commence on
the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the
28th day of June, 1843
and sent to
F. V. Sutton
Bowling Green, Va.
(Act of March 3, 1843.)
Recorded in Book A.
Vol. I?   Page 151
Page 17

Martha Pettis
Wid of John
Va Orange Co
Act July 7, 1838
Married 1782
Died July 1, 1833
Allw? $73.33 per ann
From 4 March 1836
Page 18

FREE

[date stamp - RICHMOND - SEP - the rest is illegible]

Col. J. L. Edwards
Commr of Pensions
Washington City D.C.

[left side margin] Mr? Cole  Va
Page 19

Richmond  August 31, 1848

Dear Sir,

We enclose you the declarations of Mrs. Mary Harris and Mrs. Martha Pettis all in proper form, to be filed, and when acted upon please forward them to us.

Yours very respectfully
Sutton & Southall
Page 21

City of Washington

March 1. 1854.

Hon L. P. Waldo
Commr of Pensions

Sir
I have requested to procure
from your office a statement of the amount
of pension drawn up to the present time by
Mrs. Martha Pettis widow of John Pettis decd
who was a Revolutionary Soldier - and also the
time she commenced to draw this pension-
There is a suit now pending, in which this information
is important, and if compatible with the rules of
your office, you will oblige me by an early 
communication giving the statement sought.

Very Respectfully Yours
A. Austin Smith
Page 22

Pettis

FREE      [illegible]

[date stamp] BOWLING GREEN Va - Dec 11
[handwritten thru stamp] Dec 13 1841

To The Comms of Pensions
Washington City
Page 23

[illegible] Green   Dec 10th 1841

Dear Sir

I send you an affidavit which has been
handed to me in the case of Mrs. Pettis. I find it is
impossible to get record testimony in the case this
Clerk of this County you will recollect [illegible] a certificate
which is on file in your office that the marriage
Bonds prior to 1796 were generally destroyed at the time
the office was or fire — abundant oral testimony
I presume can be obtained in case of what
is sent should not be sufficient. I cannot conceive
how her claim can be allowed if you require record
testimony — old Mrs Pettis is quite a respectable
lady the mother of Spencer Pettis late member of
Congress from Missouri who was killed some years since
in a duel with Majr. Biddle-- I think Mrs. Pettis told
me that if her son Spencer was living he would be
upwards of fifty years old.

With much respect,
Yr Obt Svt
Frans V. Sutton
Page 26

FREE

Free

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

[left side of page - written sideways]
No. 8043
Va.
Martha Pettis
Act 1838

[date stamp - BOWLING GREEN Va - OCT 20 - handwritten thru stamp - Oct 20 1841]
Page 27

Bow Green Oct 19th 1841

Dear Sir

I enclose you the papers in
the case of Mrs Pettis she had no register of her
marriage and knowing that the papers in our
office (Caroline) were nearly all last by fire
I took an affidavit or certificate proving the
marriage. This I presume though would not
have been necessary if she is right in saying
that she drew the pension at the decease of her
husband John Pettis.

Very Respectfully
Yr Obt Svt
Frans V. Sutton
Page 28

Declaration

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of
June 1832-
State of Virginia County of Spotsylvania to wit
On this 7th day of August 1832 personally appeared before
the Justices of the County Court of Spotsylvania John Pettis
a resident of and in the County of Spotsylvania and State of Virginia
aged seventy eight 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 Act of Congress
passed June 7th 1832 - That he enlisted in the Army of the
United States in the year seventeen hundred and eighty with Samuel
Coleman and served in the first Regiment of the Virginia Line under the
following named officers viz Colo. Samuel Hawes, Capt Francis
Cowherd and General Green — that he lived in the County of Carolina
the State of Virginia when he entered the service — he marched
through the States of North & South Carolina and was
at the battles of Gilford Court House and Eutaw Springs, and
finally marched to Salisbury and was there discharged on or about
the day of Jany 1782 making his term of service one year &
six months-
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity
except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the
pension roll of any agency in any State-
Sworn to and subscribed in open Court the day and year
above written.

John his “X” mark Pettis
Page 29

also at the same time and place appeared Henry Willoughby a creditable
Witness and made oath that he is well acquainted with John Pettis &
believes him to be aged about seventy eight years, and that he is 
generally believed and reputed in the neighborhood where he resides
to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that he concurs in
that opinion — And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion
that the above named applicant John Pettis was a Revolutionary
Soldier and served as he states. I Richard L. Stevenson Clerk
of the Court of Spotsylvania County do hereby certify that the
foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the
matter of the application of John Pettis for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal of
my office this 8th day of August
1832.
R. L. Stevenson [signature]

Pettis Jno
Certificate

18 con. Line
4 Militia

$73.33 per ann
Act June 7. 1832

Mr. John Layton
Present
Original
[Pds symbol] 36. P. 228 Va Con. roll.
Page 30

494
Apl 20 1843  [date stamp - BOWLING GREEN Va. APR 18]
Va
Mar 3d 1843
Martha Pettis

FREE

J. L. Edwards Esq
Commission of Pensions
Washington City
Page 31

Bow Green. Apl. 17th 1843

Dear Sir

I inclose you the Declaration of Mrs. Pettis for pension under Act of March 3rd 1843

Very Respectfully
Yr Obt Svt
Frans. V. Sutton
Page 32


FREE

Free

Feb 4 1842

[date stamp - BOWLING GREEN Va. - FEB 19]

Va.  J. L. Edwards Esqr
Commr of Pensions
Washington City

Martha Pettis
[illegible] [illegible]
Page 33


Bowl. Green. Feb 16th 1842

Dear Sir

You will receive another certificate in
the case of Mrs Pettis making the third going to prove the
marriage prior to 1790. In your last communication you say
“It will be necessary to offer some Testimony of a higher grade”
As I had sent on the Clerks certificate saying there was not
five cases of marriage license office prior to 1785 (I quote
from memory) and as I informed you there was no family
register - I cannot imagine what is meant, particularly as
claims are allowed on oral Testimony, unless it be that
some unfavorable impression has been made on your
mind in relation to the Testimony I have offered you 
in the case. If this should be the case I hope you
will inform me because I have always been very
particular in not offering you any testimony which
I did not think entitled to credit and I now say that
I can offer you the most satisfactory evidence that two
of the certificates given in this case are from persons of
undoubted veracity nor would I have you think that the
veracity of the third should not be entitled to full credit
but I know but little of her and therefore thus speak. But
I must be permitted to say that I enquired of the justice
of peace before I said I wished him to take the affidavit
If he thought she was worthy of credit and his reply was
that he had known her long and intimately and that she
would not say any thing that was not strictly true and
that her only crime was poverty. I will here also remark
not complaining though, (for I know that the duties of your
office are exceedingly laborious), that I was somewhat 
surprised that the claim of Mrs Elizabeth Seay should be 
sent on to Mr Barret instead of me-- I repeat though
Page 34

that it made no difference Mr Barret informed me
of the allowance as soon as he received the certificate
of allowance. I hope this claim will be allowed on the
Testimony sent it is impossible to obtain any records
testimony. I have looked in vain for a suit or
Conveyance of land - none are on record.

Very Respectfully
Yr obt svt
Frans. V Sutton
Page 36

Admit, private $73.33
Richmond Va Agency
Sent to
F. V. Sutton
Bowling green
Virginia
Page 37

State of Virginia, County of Orange to wit

On this the 27th
day of March 1843 personally appeared before me
Richard Richards Jr. a Justice of the peace in and
for the County aforesaid Martha Pettis a resident
of said County who after being duly sworn according to
law doth on her oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress
passed March 5th 1843 for the benefit of pensioners.
That she is the widow of John Pettis who died in the
year 1833, and to whom she was married in the County
of Caroline in the year 1782 by Parson Waugh
that the said John Pettis her husband was in the
war of the Revolution, and although she can say
nothing of his service she has heard him say he served
Eighteen months, that he received a pension from
the government, and that she the said Martha Pettis
has received five years pension. Given under
my hand this 27 day of March 1843.
Martha her “X” mark

State of Virginia, Orange County  to wit

On this the day and date above written personally appeared before
me a Justice of the peace in and for County
aforesaid Martha Pettis and made oath to the facts
set forth in the foregoing declaration, and signed the same
I also certify that she is a very Respectable old lady
and that from advanced age and infirmity
it would be very inconvenient for her to attend Court.
I likewise certify that she is the identical Martha
Pettis who qualified before me to a former declaration
in 1841.  Given under my hand this 27th day of
March 1843.
Richard Richards Jr. J.P.
Page 38

At a Quarterly Court held for the County of Orange at the
Court house, on Monday the 27th of March, one thousand eight
hundred and forty three.

The Court having examined the proceedings of Richard Richards, Jr.
member of its body in the case of Martha Pettis, approve of the same
and order the same to be certified to the War Department.

[seal image]
In Testimony that the foregoing is truly copied from
the Records of the county court of Orange, I, Reynolds
Chapman, Clerk of the said Court, hereto put my hand
and affix the seal of the court aforesaid, this 27th day
of March 1843, in the 67th year of the commonwealth.
Reynolds Chapman Clk [signature]
Orange County Court

[written in the left hand margin - 494]
Page 39


1516 Richland St
Columbia SC

Oct 27, 1920.

Bureau of Pensions
Washington DC

[date stamp - PENSION OFFICE - U.S. - OCT 29 1920]

Dir Sir,

Spottsylvania Co.
Records (Va.) page 525 from
Order Book 1829-1832
Spottsylvania Co. Va Court
and Order Book 1832-1838)
state that John Pettus (Pettis
Pettes) received a Revolutionary
Pension.
I desire to verify this
Page 40

by your records.
Please give complete record,
place of residence at the
time pension was granted
especially wanted.

With thanks, I am
Very truly yours
Mrs. John C. / Della Richards Coulter