Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,955, for Wilson Shelton, Virginia
Page 1

(3–1776)

Service
Va.

Shelton, Wilson

Number
S. 31.955.

Born in Md.
Contents
Page 2

Indiana  Terre Haute  [crossed out: Kentucky] 26822
Wilson Shelton of Henry Co in the State of Ky who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Noble of the Rgt commanded by Col Payton in the [crossed out: Kentucky] Va line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 30 dollars 00 cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of June 1836 and sent [illegible] P.H. Pope House of Rep.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1836 $90.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 2 Sep'r " 15.00 [underscore]
$105.00
{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7,1832}
Recorded by DD Addison [hand written] clerk, Book 82 [handwritten] Vol. 7[handwritten] page  421 [handwritten]

cer to Pen Agent 2 May 1888
To Terre Haute Indiana from 
4 March 1837. – 31. July 1838 Agt 
Notification sent to Pensions 
Rockville Parke County. [illegible]
Letter  to J. F. D Lanier & 3 Auditor
23d Jany1839
Paid at the Treasury under the
Act of the 6th April 1838 from 4 
March 1837 to 4 March 1838. Ant 
Notified 7th Feby 1839
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State of Kentucky 88
Henry County
On this 20th day of december 1833 personally appeared before David Adams one of the Justice of the peace on and for Henry County and one of the Judges of the County Court of Henry County Wilson Shelton aged 86 years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of an act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832. 
He states that he entered the service of the United States and served as herein stated and under the following named officers that he was living in Stafford. County state of Virginia sometime in  the year of 1780 in the month of August he thinks a draft took place in said County of Stafford for three months when he was drafted and served under the following named officers that he served under Capt Charles Rolls and was attached to Coln Samuel Paytons regiment he states that they rendezvoused at the Court house in Stafford county and was there marched by his said Capt Rolls under the command of Coln Payton down through King George County and was stationed on the Potomac River the object of stationing the regiment was to prevent the British
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from landing and destroying the property of the inhabitants they were in the habit of committing destruction and stealing the negros near the river. he states that the regiment was alternately employed in going up and down the river to prevent the British from landing they at one time affected a landing and after taking every thing of any value to them they committed the house of Mr. Brink to flames and his stack yard consisting of wheat oats and hay were all consumed he states after traversing the river until his time of draft was over he was discharged by his said Capt Rolls sometime in Nov 1780 In the summer of 1781 about the month of July as well as he now remembers he states that he was again drafted from the county of Stafford for a tour of six months and served under Capt William Harden and was attached to  Coln Garrard's regiment he states that they rendezvoused at Stafford Courthouse and were then marched to Fredericksburg on the Rappahannock River where they were stationed for a short period waiting for orders where In march they were then marched to Bowling Green thence to Richmond. thence to Pittsburg where he  found Washingtons army he states that they then
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under the Command of Washington marched to Yorktown where the British army under the command of Cornwallis was then stationed he states that on arriving at Yorktown he was taken sick and the hospital being badly provided for and his disease seemed to increase until he was furloughed to go in to the country  to remain until he was fit for duty in consequence of  which he states that he did not participate in the capture of Cornwallis  after his health was restored he states that he was marched back to Stafford county where he was charged by Coln Garrard having served out his time for which he was as he states that he has no documentary evidence of his service and knows of no living witness by whom he can prove said service he hereby relinquishes his every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares his name as not on the pension roll of this agency of any state sworn to and subscribe before me this date and year aforesaid.
David Adams Justice of the peace for Henry county
Wilson [mark of sword drawing] Shelton
aforesaid
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Interrogatories put by the magistrate
Ques-where and in what year were you born
Ans- I was born in Charles County State of Maryland in the year of 1747
Ques- Have you any record of your age
Ans- I have not at this time I have had but it is misplaced
Ques- Where were you living when you were called into the service. where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live
ans- I was living in Stafford County State of Virginia when i was called into the service where I remained till the year of 1810 I then moved to Shelby County Kentucky and I now live in Henry County Ky
Ques- How were you called into the service were you drafted did you volunteer or did you substitute and if you substituted for whom
Ans- I was drafted in both cases
Ques State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served and such Commanders and militia regiments as you can now recollect and the general circumstances of your service
Ans - during my first tour there were no regular
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officers and only one regiment and that was commanded by John Payton on my last tour there were General Washington General Wayne and General Lafayette and General Lineden 
Ques- did you ever receive a discharge and by whom was it signed and what has become of it
ans- i did receive two written discharges one for a tour of three months given Capt Rolls and another for a tour of six months signed by Coln Garrard these discharges I have lost not thinking that I should ever want them
State the name of some of your neighbours who can testify to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of this revolution
Ans I will name Mr. Jeremiah Knight and Mr. Joseph Calendar
I Jeremiah Knight do certify that i have been well accquainted with Mr. Wilson Sheldon who have sworn to and subscribed the above the declaration he has for 15 years  he has during that time he has sustained an unquestionable character for veracity and is believed by all his neighbours to have been a soldier of the revolution. on that I concur. in the
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= opinion
Jeremiah Knight
I Joseph Callender do certify that I have been well acquainted with Wilson Shelton the above & named applicant for upwards of thirty years I believe him to be 81 years old he has for upwards of thirty years sustained an unblemished  he is reputed and believed in his neighbourhood to have been a soldier of the revolution and I concur in the belief
Joseph Callender
I David Adams a Justice of the peace in and
for Henry County and one of the Judges of the County Court of Henry County do certy that Jeremiah Knight and Joseph Callender are men of good character and their statements may be relied upon. I further certify that there is no clergyman residing in the neighborhood of the above named applicant, and that he is very old and unable to appear in court to make his declaration given under my hand this 20th day of December 1833 David Adams Justice of the peace for Henry County
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I Edmund P. Thomas clerk of the County Court of Henry County do certify that David Adams before whom the declaration was made is a Justice of the peace in and for Henry County and one of the Judges of said County for which I am clerk
In testimony where I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal of office at NewCastle this 27th day of December 1833 Edm. P. Thomas c

We Elijah F Nuttall &Stephan Shaw residing in Henry county Ky say that we are well acquainted with Wilson Shelton who subscribed and swore to the above declaration we believe him to be 81 years of age he is reputed and believed in his neighbourhood to be a man of veracity and a soldier of the revolution and we concur in this opinion
Elijah F Nuttall
Stephen Shaw
Sworn and subscribed this 6 day of may 1839
And I David Adams a Justice of Peace in and for Henry County do hereby declare my opinion that having investigated the matter putting the interrogatories prescribed  by the department that the above
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Wilson Shelton was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he has stated in his declaration it also appears to my satisfaction that Elijah F Nuttall & Stephen Shaw who have subscribed and sworn to the preceding certificate are persons residing in the neighbourhood of said applicant and that they are credible persons and their statements may be relied upon I further certify there is no clergyman residing in
the neighborhood of said applicant and that he 
cannot from old age and infirmity appear in open Court to make his declaration
David Adams Justice of the
Peace for Henry County

28.987 Wilson Shelton
[other signatures]

I Edmund P Thomas Clerk of the County
Court of Henry County do certify that David
Adams whose name appears to the
preceding certificate is a Justice of the
peace in and for Henry Cty and am
of the Judges of this Court for which
I am [illegible] and the Signature purporting
to be his is genuine and that full faith
is and ought to be given to his official
acts In testimony whereof I have
hereunto subscribed my name and
affixed the seal of my office this 5th
day of May 1834
Edmund P Thomas [signature]
clerk of the Henry County court
 
 I Freed
New Castle
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Application for a transfer of Wilson Shelton [underlined]
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Application for a transfer
State of Indiana, Parke County S.S
On this 16th day of July 1838, before me the subscriber, a justice of the peace for said County of Darke personally appeared Wilson Shelton, who on his oath, declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by
Ballard in the Regiment commanded
by Colonel William Garrett in the service of the
United States; that his named was placed on
the pension roll of the State of Kentucky from
whence he has lately removed; that he now resides in Parke County and State of Indiana, where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to be there payable in future. The following are his
reasons for removing from the State of Kentucky to the State of Indiana - towit - That his daughter Mrs. Margaret Harding with whom he has lived about twenty seven years moved to the state of Indiana in the spring of the year 1837, and it was her wish that he should come with her and as he had lived with his said daughter so long, and he being very feeble and infirm, it was his wish to be with his said daughter so that he might be carefully nursed and taken care of in his old age he not being able to walk without assistance
Wilson Shelton
his mark [his name is divided by his cross mark]
Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid
Henry Havens [underlined] J.P. [drawn seal]
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State of Indiana, Parke County S.S
Before the subscriber a justice of the peace
in and for the County aforesaid personally appeared Mason Harding who on his oath declares
that the within named Wilson Shelton who has
taken the within oath is the identical person
person described in the affidavit
Mason Harding
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 16th day
of July 1838, and I do further certify that
Marson Harding. (the witness whose name is
signed above,) is a person of veracity.
Given under my hand and seal the
day and year last above
Henry Slavens J.P. [underscored and followed by handwritten seal]
State of Indiana
County of Parke ⎬ I John G. Davis Clerk of the circuit 
Court of the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify
that Henry Slavens Esquire is a justice of the peace in
and for said County duly elected commissioned and
qualified and acting under the authority of said State and
that his signature above written is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and the seal of said Court
at Rockville this 14th day of July
1838 John G Davis, Clerk
Page 14

Miss Ida G. Lyons
936 New Hampshire Street
Lawrence, Kansas

August 22, 1939.
M-J/ady [pencil mark]
Wilson Shelton S. 31955
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter relative
to Wilson Shelton, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.
The data contained herein were obtained from the papers
on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.31955, based upon the military service of Wilson Shelton in that war.
Wilson Shelton was born in 1747, in Charles
County, Maryland, day, month, and the names of
his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Stafford County, Virginia,
Wilson Shelton enlisted in August 1780, served
as private in Captain Charles Rolls' Company, Colonel
Samuel Parton's Virginia Regiment and was
discharged in November 1780. He enlisted in July
1781, and served six months as private in Captains
William Barton and Ballard's Companion, Colonel
William Garrottor Garrard's Virginia Regiment.
In 1810 he moved from Stafford County, Virginia, to Shelby County, Kentucky.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
December 20, 1833, at which time he was a
resident of Henry County, Kentucky.
About 1836 he moved from Kentucky, to Parke
County, Indiana, with his daughter, Mrs. Margaret
Harding, with whom he had resided about twenty-seven
years.
In 1838, one Mason Harding was of Parke County,
Indiana, his age and relationship to the family not
given. There are no further family data.
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In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly
the death date of soldier, you should apply to
the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and cite the following data: Wilson Shelton, Certificate No.26822, issued June 6, 1834, rate $30.00 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832. Kentucky Agency transferred to Terre Haute, Indiana
Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
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31955 [hand written]
Ray INVALID.
File No. 31,955
Wilson Shelton
Sir Rev War
Act. June 7th 39
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 366.
(Arrangement of 1870.}
1921 Apr. 22 Hist to Ms Paron E. Nelson [underscored]
1939 Aug. 22. Hist. to Ida G. Lyons. a.D.z.[underscore]
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office
January 31st 1839
Sir: Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838 entitled "A. act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States," Wilson Shelton -
a Pensioner in the Roll of the Indiana Agency, at
the rate of Thirty -Dollars and  Cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March, 1837.
to the 4th March, 1838
Respectfully, yours, Albion K. Parris
To the Commissioner of Pensions Present.
Comptroller
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Northen Bank of Ky
Lexington 10 May 1838
Sir Your favor of 2 Inst. is read. Wilson Shelton
Pensioner under act of June 1832 at $30 per annum
has been paid to the 4 March 1837. He will not
be paid in future at this Agency
very respectfully
Your Obt Sert
John Tilford [illegible]
per Wm Emet
Pens Clk
Page 19

application for a Transfer
State of Indiana County of Parke ss..t
On this 26th Day of March AD 1838. Before me G. W. Caughron a Justice of the peace in and for said County of Parke
Personally appeared Wilson Shelton who on his oath Declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company command by Captain Ballard in the regiment
commanded by Colonel William Garrett in the service of the
United States; That his name was placed on the pension
Roll of the State of Kentucky from whence he has lately
removed. That he now lives in the State of Indiana
where he intends to remain, and wishes his pension to
be there payable in future. The following are his reason
for removing from Kentucky to Indian Viz his Daughter
Mrs Harden with whom he has lived for about twenty
seven years moved to this State, In and it was her wish that
I should come with her. And it was also my wish to be
with my child that I could be taken care of as I am
not able to take care of my self-- Wilson  his mark [an x] Shelton 
Subscribed and sworn to before me this day
and year aforesaid G. W. Caughron [initials and hand written seal]
State of Indiana Parke County SSt
on this Twenty Sixth day of March 1838 Before me the subscriber
a Justice of the peace in and for the said County of Parke
Personally appeared Mason Harden and on his oath declare
that the above Named Wilson Shelton whose name and mark
is attached to the above oath is the Identical person
Described in the affadavit and that the above Signature
is his Genuine Signature or mark- and that the following
Certificate was obtained for the same Identical person whose
Name is attached to the above affadavit and who is described
in the above affadavit - War Department Revolutionary Claim
I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June 1832
Wilson Shelton of the State of Kentucky who was a private in the war of
the Revolution is entitled to receive Thirty Dollars per annum during
his natural life commencing on the 4th of March 1831 and payable 
Semiannually on the 4th of March & 4th of September in every year
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Given at the war office of the United States this sixth
Day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty
four
Examined and Countersigned 
Lew Cass Secretary of War
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Endorsed as follows
Payment to be made
at Lexington Ky
by the Prest of the U. S. B. Bank
Agent for paying pensions
in the Agency of Kentucky
Recorded in the Pension
office in Book C D Vol 7
Page 44 by D. D. Addison
Clerk
Sworn & Subscribed to
Mason Harding
Before me the day and
year above written ⎬
G. W. Caughran J.P. [handwritten seal]
State of Indiana
County of Parke
J. G. W. Caughran a Justice
of the Peace in and for the aforesaid County of Parke do certify that the above named Mason
Harden is a man of Honor Truth and verocity
and that his Oath should be entitled to full
credit and respect.
Given under my hand and seal
this 10th day April 1838 G.W. Coughran J.P. [handwritten seal]
Page 21


State of Indiana
Parke County ⎬ I John G. Davis Clerk
of the circuit court of said County do certify that
G. W. Caughran, Esquire, by whom the foregoing oaths
of Wilson Shelton & Mason Hardin were administered
is a justice of the peace in and for said County &
that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed the seal
of said Court at Rockville the 10th
day of April Anno Domini
1838.
John G. Davis
Clerk
Page 22

Chicago, Mar. 18, 1921.

Bureau of Pensions
Revol. War Sec.
Washington DC
[circular stamp  U.S. Pension Office Mar 21 1921]
Gentlemen:
my ancestor Wilson Shelton born
on or at year 1757 received pension for his
service in Va. Militia. He was living in
Paris, Ky. when he applied June 6. 1834
Will you send me pension certificate
for use in the Daughters of Am. Revlution,
and oblige. Please put on all data shown
Awaiting very anxiously for same
Very truly yours
Mrs. Paron England Nelson
Room 1333 Stock Exchange Bldg.
30 N. La Salle St. Chicago, Ill.
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[oval stamp RECORD MAR 21 1921 DIVISION]
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[circular stamp JU 26 1939 VeiS ADM]
Pension Department
Veteran's Administration
Washington, D.C.

936 New Hampshire St.
Lawrence, Kansas
July 22, 1939
Dear Sirs:
Wilson Shelton served in the Revolutionary War as a private
in the Virginia Line (Virginia Militia), probably from Stafford County (?).
According to the Report of the Secretary of War on Pension Rolls,
1835, Wilson Shelton was granted a pension and placed on the rolls as of
date June 6, 1834. At the time, he was living in Henry County, Kentucky and
was reported to be eighty-seven (87) years of age.
If there is a record of his service and pension on file, will you
please send me a copy of his papers.
Yours truly,
Miss Ida G. Lyons
Page 25

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.

3 -- 325
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C.,
1.7.31.93-3

In reply to your request of [left blank]
received [left blank]
a statement of the military history of Wilson Shelton
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.|
Aug. 1780
July 1781
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.|
Nov. 1780 
6 mos
RANK.|
Pvt.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.|
CAPTAIN.|
Charles Rolls
William Harden
Ballard
COLONEL.|
Samuel Payton
Wm Garrett or Garrard
STATE|
Va

---

Battles engaged in, none stated[hand written]
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Stafford,VA
Date of application for pension, Dec. 20 1833 His cl. was al.
Residence at date of application, Henry County, Ky.
Age at date of application, born in Charles Md in 1747
Remarks:
In 1838 he had gone to Parke Co Ind.  To live with his daughter
Mrs. Margaret Harden or Harding
Respectfully,
Commissioner.