Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30331, William Cleaver, Va.
Page 1

SERVICE
Va.

Cleaver, William

NUMBER
S. 30331

Born in Penn.

CONTENTS
Page 2

Kentucky 19[illegible]
Wm Cleaver 19225
of Graysabo in the State of Kent
who was a pr in the co commanded
by Captain SMith of the regt commanded
by Gen Clarke in the Va
line for 10 mos

Inscribed on the Roll of Kent
at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 17 day of Augt
1839 and [illegible]
Thomas Litchfield

Arrears to the 4th of March 66.66
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1666
8332
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by D Boyd Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 6
Page 3

[illegible]
William Cleaver
Declaration for a 
Pension as
Amended
Page 4

(1)
State of Kentucky
Grayson County S.S.
On this 24th day of September 1832
personally appeared in open court before Joseph
Boone, Benedict Carrico & Wiliam Patterson
Charles H Stutevile
the court of Grayson County in the State of Kentucky
now Sitting William Cleaver aged Seventy on eyears
who being first duly sworn according to law doth on
his oath make the following declaration in order
to obtain the benifit of the act of congress passed
June 7th 1832, that in the year 1776 he lived
in Tigers Valey in Virginia on the monongahala
river and the Indians being very troublesome the
people were forted consequently the government
had to keep a guard for the forts and frontier
settlement of Tigers valey, that he volunteered
under Captain Smith who was sent out by the
government to guard the forts and frontiers of
Tigers valey, that he served under Capt Smith
for the purpose aforesaid upwards of three months
and during the year 1777 and 1778 he was during
the summer seasons almost constantly in service
under orders from the government in guarding the
forts and frontier settlements of Tigers valey at
one time he thinks in 1778 he was detailed out
to go out on a scout against the Indians under
Captain Wilson, at this time he was gone 15 days, that he is confident he served during the
years 1776, 1777 & 1778 at least nine months in
guarding the Forts and Fronteers of TIgers valey
Page 5

THat in the year 1779 he moved to the settlement
of Kentucky and in 1781 he was ordered by Genl
Clarke to assist in guarding and building forts at
the falls of the Ohio River at which time he was
in service 15 days - and in 1782 he volunteered
and went on a campaign against the northern
Indians he was in Capt Davis's company, this
expedition was Commanded by Genl Clark They
went to the Shawnee Towns and had several
skirmishes with the indians, burnt their towns
took 14 prisoners and returned, they mached 
out towards Detroit, on this campaign he was
in service 3 months a few days after he returned
from the Campaign himself and his
brother had a rencounter with a body of
Indians in which he wounded an Indian
his brother got wounded and they were both
taken prisoners and remained with the Indians
6 months, he suffered very much with cold
& hunger, frequently had to eat dogmeat without
salt
Questions propounded to the application by the court
Question 1st where & in what year were you born
Answer I was born in the state of Maryland Pennsylvania 
in the year 1761
2nd Question, have you any Record of your age
Answer my age was Recorded in my fathers ible
and it was burnt in his house
3rd Question where were you living when called into
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service, where have you lived since the Revolutionary
War and where do you now live
Answer when called into service I lived in
Tigers valey Virginia and before the close of the war
I moved to Kentucky and lived there ever since and
now live in Grayson County State of Kentucky
4th Question 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
service - Answer I have already stated the
names of such officers as I recollect and the
general circumstances o fmy service in the same
as stated in this Declaration.
Question 5th did you ever receive a discharge from the
Service - Answer not that I recollect of
Question 6th State the names of some of the persons
to whom you are acquainted in your neighborhood
and who can testify as to your character for veracity
and their belief of your services as a soldier of
the Revolution
Answer Charles Wortham, William Erving, John
Jamison, John Peebles, William Brunk, Thomas
Doran, Edmund Philips, Martin Utterback
Frederick Keller Jacob Keller, William C Wortham
That he has no Documentary evidence and that
he knows of no person whose testimony he can
procure who can testify to his services except the
evidence of Benjamin Cleaver whose affidavit
is here filed in Court
He hereby relinquished every claim whatever to a
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4
pension or annuity except the present and declares
that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency
of any state
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year
aforesaid William Cleaver
We Martin Utterback Clergyman residing in
the County of Grayson and State of Kentucky and
Charles Wortham residing in the same place do
hereby certify that we are will acquainted with
William Cleaver who has subscribed and sworn
to the above Declaration that we believe him
to be 71 years of age and 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 day and year
aforesaid Martin Utterback
Charles Wortham
and the said Court do hereby declared their
opinion after the investigation of the matter and
after pulling the interrogations prescribed by the
war department that the above named named
applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served
as he states and the Court further certifies that is
appears to them that it appears to them that Martin
Utterback who has signed the preceding certificate
is a clergyman resident in Grayson County State of
Kentucky and that Charles Wortham who has also
signed the same is a Resident of the same county & state
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(5)
and is a credible person and that their statement is
entitled to credit
I Jack Thomas clerk of the Grayson County
Court in the state of Kentucky do hereby certify that
the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
said Court in the matter of the application of
William Cleaver for a pension
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand the affixed the seal
of the County aforesaid this 24th
day of September 1832
Jack Thomas clk
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The amended Declaration of William Cleaver
to his Declaration for a pension under the act
of congress passed the 7th of June 1832
On this 27th day of May 1833 personally
appeared in open court the before the court of
Grayson County State of Kentucky being a court
of Record, William Cleaver who being first
duly sworn according to law doth upon his
oath make the following statement by way
of amendment to his original Declaration,
That in the year 1776 he lived in Tigers
Valey on the Monongahala River in the State
of Virginia, and the forts and Frontiers of
Rigers Valey having to be guarded from the
indians, that in the year 1776 he volunteered
in the militia of the state of Virginia under
the Command of Captain Smith who was
sent out by the government to guard the forts
& Fronteers of Tigers Valey that he was in the
service of aforesaid under the said Captain
Smith at least three months, that in the
year 1777 he was in the service in guarding
the forts and Fronteers of Tigers valey at
least three months in the militia of Virginia under orders from the
government but he cannot Recollect the
names of the officers - and that in the summer
season of the year 1778 he was also in
Service at least three months in the militia
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of Virginia under orders from the government
and his service was guarding the forts & Fronteers
of Tigers valey but he does not recollect his
officers names and that in this year he was
detailed out on a Scout against the Indians
under Captain Wilson and was gone 15 days
That in the year 1779 he moved to the settlement 
of Kentucky and in 1781 he was ordered by
Genl Clark to assist in guarding & building forts
at the falls of Ohio River and was in service
15 days - and in 1782 he volunteered and
went on a campaign against the northern
Indians he was in Captain Davis's Company
this campaign was commanded by General
Clark and marched to the Shawnee towns
on this campaign he was in service three
months for which he claims a pension
That he has no documentary evidence
except the affidavit of Benjamin Cleaver
which is hereto annexed as a part of this
amended Declaration
William Cleaver

State of Kentucky
Grayson County Sct
I Jacob Thomas clerk of the
County Court of the County aforesaid do
certify that the above and at a court held
for said county on the 27th day of May 1833
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William Cleaver personally appeared in open
court and subscribed and made oath to
the foregoing amended Declaration for a
pension which was ordered to be certified
by the court.
In Testimony whereof I
have hereunto set my hand
and affixed my seal of
office this 27th day of
May 1833
Jack Thomas
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State of Kentucky
Grayson County Sct
The affidavit of Benjamin Cleaver
Taken at the Town of Leitchfield in Grayson
County and State of Kentucky on the 27th day
of May 1833
This Deponant being in his 82nd year
of his age and being duly sworn deporeth and
saith that he has been personally acquainted
with William Cleaver from his birth until
this time that they lived neighbours in Tigers
Valey in the Monongahala River in the State of
of Virginia in time of the Revolutionary War
That he knows the said William Cleaver was in
the service of the United States in the years 1776
1777 & 1778 in guarding forts in Tigers Valey and
also guarding the Frontiers of Tigerse Valey from
the Indians as they were very troublesome and
the government had to keep up a constant
guard, tha the the said Benjamin was part
of his time in service with the said William
and that in the year 1779 they both moved
to Kentucky together and that he knows the said
William Cleaver was ordered by General Clark to
in the year 1781 to assist in guarding and building
forts at the Falls of the Ohio River and he was
in service 15 days - He also knows that in the year
1782 the said William Cleaver volunteered under
Captain Davis and went out on General
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Clarks Campaign against the northern Indians
and was in service on this campaign 3 months
that he the said Benjamin Cleaver was in
the same service and in the same company
Benjamin Cleaver

State of Kentucky
Grayson County Sct
I William C Wortham a Justice of
the Peace in & for Grayson County & State aforesaid
do certify that on this day Benjamin Cleaver
personally appeared before me and made
oath to & subscribed the above & foregoing affidavid.
I do further certify that I am well
acquainted with the said Benjamin Cleaver
and that he is a man of credibility
Given under my hand this 27th
day of May 1833
William. C. Northam J.P.

State of Kentucky
Grayson County Sct
I Jack Thomas Clerk of the County
Court of the County aforesaid do certify that
William C Wortham whose name is signed to the
above certificate is and was at the time of
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signing the same a Justice of the peace in
& fore Grayson County & State of Kentucky duly Commissioned
and qualified as such and that his said
signature is in his proper hand writing, to whose
official acts due faith and credit is due
In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
affixed the seal of my
office this 27th day of
May 1830
Jack Thomas clk
Page 15

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS,
Washington, D.C., _____, 19___
S.F. 30.331

In reply to your request of _____, received _____
for a statement of the military history of Wiliam Cleaver
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.

LENGTH OF SERVICE.

RANK.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. COLONAL.

STATE.

1776. 1777. 1778. 9 mos. Smith & Wilson. Va.
Guarding the forts & frontier settlements
of Tiger Valley

1781. 15 days. guarding forts of falls of Ohio under Gen'l Clarke

1782. 3 mos. Davies General Clarke
He & his brother (name not stated) were taken prisoners by Indians
& detained as such 6 mos.

Battled engaged in, General Skirmishes with Indians of Shawnie towns

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Tigers Valley on Monongahela River Va.

Date of application for pension, Sept. 24. 1832 His [illegible]

Residence at date of application, Grayson County Ky.

Age at date of application, b in 1761, in Pennsylvania

Remarks: It is not stated that he had a wife
or children.
Page 16

13.490
W Cleaver
Ken
[illegible] 1778 [illegible]
10 months
5.616
$33 33/100

J Thomas
Litchfield
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13490
BRIEF in the case of William Cleaver
County of Grayson in the State of Kentucky
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

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

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

3. How old is he? 71

4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period. Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days.  Rank. As a. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.

In 1776 vol upwards of 3 months Private Capt Smith

1778 15 [days] Private Capt Wilson,

Sundry other times 1781 Time not stated 15 [days] Gen Clarke

1782 vol 3 [months] Capt Dvid, Gen Clarke.

5. In what battles was he engaged? None

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Tiger's Valley Va

7. In his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by
incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary & Witness

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? They are not
connected with the seal as required

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

T. Waugh
Examining Clerk
Feb 16th 1833
Page 18

30331
INVALID.

File No. 30,331
William Cleaver
Pri Rev War

Act: June 7" 32"
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 74
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1921 Mch. 5 Hist to Mrs. Bess
C. Caldwell Letter in S.F.
18201 Nathaniel Scales.