Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 39878, John Watkins, Va.
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(3-1776)
Service Number
Va Watkins, John S.39878
Contents
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Watkins, John
Va. S39878
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S4.398
Virginia
John Watkins
Bedford Conty. in the state of Virginia
[illegible]o was a Quar. M. Sergt. in the regiment commanded by
Colonel Neville of the Virginia
line, for the term of 3 years-

[illegible]rtificate of Pension issued the 21st of Sept. 1819
and Sent to Wm. Daniel Esqr.
Lynchburg, Virga.

Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1819-28/31 .4/.30 8.28
[illegible] emi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Mar: 1820 18.00
11 Jany 58 $56:20
File Mch. 20 78

{Revolutionary claim,
[illegible]}
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To the
Commission of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.-
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Lexington March 21st. 1843,
Dear Sir,
I have this day addressed a letter
to the Hon: Alexander H. H. Stuart the Representative
from this District in Congress, enclosing him the
papers evidencing the claim of John Watkins
deceased, late a revolutionary pensioner of the United States
against the Govt. and must beg your attention
to the same at the earliest period it will suit
your convenience to give it - You are aware that
an application for the arrears of Pension due
him at his death was laid before your department
atty the late Represative from this District
the Hon: Robert Craig, and that it was refused
upon the ground, that the Power of Attorney
under which he acted had not been signed
by all of the heirs of the said Watkins. That
defect has now been supplied as will appear
from the papers, & oaths I have been subjected to
a considerable expense in procuring the signatures
I shall not regret the expenditure provided success
shall attend my effort in aiding the cause of the
distressed & unfortunate - Old Mr. Watkins lived
to a very advanced age, being nearly 90 years
old when he died, and during the last three
years of his life was in a most infirm and
helpless condition, & but for the benevolence
of those who charitably assisted with their own
means to furnish him with necessaries,
must have perished from actual want.
The surviving children Mrs. Witheron & Mrs. Wilcher
whose names are appended to the new Power
of Attorney, are the sole surviving children of the
late John Watkins; are being in a state of extreme
poverty, with large families dependent on them
for their support, & [illegible] the pittance which they
seek is right of their decased father is but
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small it will prove a seasonable and acceptable
accession to their humble stores
Uninfluenced by any other consideration save
not of charity & kindness, I have stept forward
in behalf of the distressed descendants of the deceased
and as his claim upon the Govt is conceded to be
part, & the right of his children to stand in the
place of their deceased father uncontracted, I hereby
hand that my exutions in their behalf will
be attenably crowned with success.

Yr [illegible]
James Matheny
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John Watkins
Decliration

March 1820
Schedule-
Cont..
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Virginia Bedford March County Court 1821 the Same being a
Court of Record the 27th day of March 1821 This day John Watkins
aged about 65 a resident of the County and State aforesaid
Came into Court and made Solemn Oath that he enlisted in
the army of the Revolution in January 1777 in Cumberland
County Virginia under Capt John Holcombe and served
in the 4th Virginia Regt on Continental establishment
under Col John Nevill, first under Col Lawson & after his
promoting under Nevill and Served three years and was in the battles of
Brandywine Germantown at Paulus Hook and at the taking
of Stony Point and battle of Monmoth &c and was
honourably discharged at Frederickstown in Maryland 1780
that his discharge was burned thereafter when his house
got burnt that such are his Reduced Circumstances
in life that he needs the assistance of his Country for
Support that he is by trade a brick layer but almost
entirely unable from age and infirmity to follow his trade
that he has Six Children being with him three Sons and
three daughters the eldest not quite fourteen years Old that
the following is all the property he possesses to Wit:
One Shot Gun Cash $3 not worth more one Calf worth
$3 Two Iron pots & one Oven $5 four Split bottom chairs $2
about 40lbs Bacon $4.00 that he was a resident Citizen
of the United States on the 18th March 1818 & always was &
still is that he has not Sold or otherwise disposed of either
directly or indirectly any Spieces of property in order to bring
himself within the provisions of the act of Congress of 18th
March 1818 or 20 May 1920 That I have not now has any
other person in Trust for me any property or Securities contracts
or debts due to me nor house & any Increase other than
that Contained in the above Schedule hereto contained & by me subscribed
That he made his first declaration under the act
of 18 March 181 in Campbell Supr Ct of Law the 4th Augt
1818 & has Received a warrant from the war office under said act
but never has drawn any thing under it
John Watkins
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I James Steptoe Clerk of Bedford do hereby Certify that the
foregoing Oath and the Schedule thereto annexed are truly copied
from the Records of the Said Court and I do further
Certify that it is the opinion of the Said Court that the
total amount in value of the property exhibited in the
aforesaid Schedule is 15 dollars dollars In testamony
whereof I have hereunto Set my hand &
affixed the Seal of the said Court on this
20th day of April 1921.
J. Steptoe CBC

Bedford County Sct
As [illegible] Justice of the peace in and for
the County aforesaid I hereby Certify that James Steptoe
who subscribes the foregoing Certificate is Clerk of Said
Court that the Same is in due form of law and
that full faith & Credit is and ought to be Given
to his official acts Certified this 25th day of February 1821
Saml Hancock
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Virginia Campbell County August 4th 1819
This day John Watkins a resident of the County
of Bedford aged sixty three years, personally came
before me William Daniel one of the Judges of the
General Court of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and
being by me first duly sworn made the following statement
& declaration - that is to say that he the said
John Watkins enlisted in the service of the United States in the year 1777 with Captain
John Holcombe of Prince Edward County for three years
as a Serjeant in a company attached to the fourth Virginia
Regiment on Continental establishment in General Charles
Scots Brigade - the Regiment was first commanded by
Colo Robert Lawson, & then by Colo John Nevil - That
he served the tour of three years, and was discharged
at Fredericktown in Maryland in 1780, which discharge
signed by Colo John Nevil who then commanded the Regiment
he thinks in the month of February, is now lost or mislaid.
That in the course of the three years, he was at the Battles
of Brandy Wine, German Town, Monmouth Courthouse Paulus
Hook, Stoney-point & various other affairs, that the
Company was called Capt-Smith's company, but he
on account of bad health was chiefly absent, and the
company was commanded by the first Lieutenant Jason
Reddick, or Radick or Rudduck (he is not certain
how his surname was written) but that he the said
Jason commanded the company in the various actions
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above mentioned & at the time when he the said John
Watkins was discharged; & that he the said John at that
time & for a considerable time before acted as quarter masters
sergeant and was discharged as such. That he the said John Watkins is now in
reduced circumstances and needs the assistance of this
country for support, being unabled to obtain a sufficient
subsistance by labour by consequence of Rheumatism
and the said John Watkins also produced to me the affadivits
of Powell Hughes & Wm Beckham certified by John Harris [illegible]
a justice of the peace of the County of Buckingham, & the affidavit
of Wm Walker certified by J.E. Woodrow a justice of the peace of
the County of Campbell, as corroborative of this declaration, which
several affidavits are herewith sent inclosed.
And on this same day David Douglass of Bedford came
also, and being by me first duly sworn saith that he is well
acquainted with the above named John Watkins who is
in very poor & needy circumstances, & that he believes the
said John Watkins by consequence of bodily infirmity
is not able to labour for a [illegible] support
and I being thus satisfied that the said John Watkins
was engaged in the service of the United States in the
Revolutionary War against the common enemy for the
space of nine months & more, & that he is now in reduced
circumstances and needs the assistance of his country for
support do hereby certify the same & send the proceedings
before me had, to the Secretary for the department
of War of the United States to enable the said John
Watkins to obtain the provesion lately made by
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an act of Congress for certain pensions who were
engaged in the land & naval service of the United
States in the Revolutionary War, under my hand
& seal (there being no official seal) this the 4th
day of August 1819 Wm Daniel {seal}
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4599V
Card of Jno Watkins
Wm Daniel
Judge
Lynchbg Va
recd Aug. 17. 1819.
John Watkins
Quartr Mast Sergt
Col Nevill Virga Regt
1777 - 3 years -
4t Augt. 1819-
Admitted.
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To the Secretary [illegible]
for the department of War
of the United States
Washington
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3rd Auditor
Feb. 27th 1855.
John Watkins.
Austin Mitten to
March 6th 1835.
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Treasury Department
Third Auditor's Office
Feb 27. 1855
Sir,
In reply to your letter of the
of the 26th Inst, in relation to the pension
of John Watkins, deceased, I have
the honor to inform you that it appears
on record in this office that
he died 11th January 1838, & that his
pension has been paid in full upto
the day of his death. Nothing therefore
appears to be due in the case.
I am, Sir, your
obedient Servant
Robt J M Atkinson
Auditor

Hon. R.C. Puryear,
House of Representatives,
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Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
September 20, 1929
Mrs. L.F. Chapman
531 N. Clara Avenue
De Iand, Florida
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary
War pension claim, S.39878, it appears that John Watkins
enlisted in January, 1777, in Cumberland County, Virginia,
and served three years as sergeant and quartermaster sergeant
in Captains John Holcombe and Smith's Company in Colonels 
Robert Lawson and John Neville's Fourth Virginia
Regiment. He was in the battles of Brandywine, Germantown,
Monmouth, at the storming of Stony Point and Paulus Hook.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
August 4, 1819, at which time he was a resident of Bedford
County, Virginia, and was aged sixty-three years.
He died January 11, 1838.
In 1821, he stated that he had six children living
with him, three sons and three daughters, the oldest not
quite fourteen years of age, but did not give their names,
nor is the name of his wife shown.
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In 1843, the only surviving children of the soldier
were two daughters, Mrs. Witheron and Mrs. Wilcher.
Very truly yours,
Earl D. Church
Commissioner.
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Bedford County Va
April 10th 1855
Capt: Henry,
Dear Sir:
While Congress was in session I addressed
a letter to my friend Col: Puryear, M.C. of North Carolina
requesting of him to ascertain whether anything was due
the children of several old Revolutionary soldiers and pensioners
who lived and died in my neighborhood, and one
of whom you no doubt will remember.
It seems that the children of John
Watkins received a letter sometime ago from an agent in
your city stating that their father having served a long time
in the Revolution as a Quarter Master Sergeant and was enntitled
to more than the $96. per annum that he was seeing. John
Watkins died in Jany, 1838. He has some children living one of whom
desires me to write to you on the subject. Col Puryear seems to
have made a partial investigation of his case. I enclos a letter
he received from one of the Departments in regard to
Watkins' case. The other case is that of Henry H.
Nowell who also served as a Sergeant in the Revolution
and received under one of the acts of congress some $96 per.
annum, and died in February 1846, a 1847.
over
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I would request of you, Sir; (if you can do so consistently
with your duties) to make the [illegible] inquiry at the
Pension office (I suppose that is the proper office)
and see if there is any back pension due the heirs
at law of these two meritorious, but now departed
old heroes of the revolution.
I would be pleased to hear from
you at your earliest convenience. Our election
is next November, and both parties, i.e. the
"]illegible]" and the "Know Nothings" seem confident
of success. that we shall see rather
we shall see, in a few weeks.
Very truly yours &c
J.S. Austin

Capt. P.N. Henry
Washington DC

Col Niles
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Powell Hughes, s
Affidavit
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Buckingham County Virginia to wit -
The affidavit of Powell Hughes of
the County of Buckingham & State aforesaid, this affiant 
being first duly sworn saith, that he is acquirainted
with John Watkins of the county of Bedford and
that the said John Watkins enlisted as a Soldier
[illegible] the Revolutionary War in the year 1777 -
under Capt. Holcombe & that the said John
Watkins marched to Join the army & that
the said John Watkins returned again to
the House of the affiant, in the year
1780. after having served three years in
the Revolutionary army as the affiant understood,
and further that he saw the discharge
of said Watkins, He further states that the is
now acquainted with said Watkins and knows
that he is an infirm man -

Powell Hughes

Sworn & Subscribed
before me a Justice
for said County of Buckingham
the 2nd August 1819 -
John Harris jr

See next. p. 16 to 296
121 to 127
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Hon J. L. Edwards
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House Reps:
April 30th 1842
Hon J. L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Sir
I herewith transmit to you a
letter from James Matheny, one of my
constituents, & also a power of attorney
executed by the legal representatives of
John Watkins to enable me to draw
the arrearages of a pension due to
him - I will thank you to examine
the papers, & if every thing is
in due form to let me know
when I can draw the money -
Very respectfully
your obt sevt
Alex H. H. Stuart
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House of Reps:
Feby 16th 1843
Hon: J. L. Edwards
Comr of Pensions
Sir
I beg leave to enclose
you the evidence in the case of
Watkins, & to request that you
will place it on file in your
office -
Very respectfully
your obt: sevt:
Alex H. H. Stuart
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Wm Walker
Affidavit
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Campbell County to wit
the affidavit of William Walker
of the County of Campbell who beign
first duly sworne saithe that he is -
Acquainted with John Watkins of the
County of Bedford that he knows
that the said Watkins inlested 
under Capt John Holcom in the
yeare 1777 & served as Sergant. -
in the forth Va, Readgment, for three
years as faithful soldier to the
Best of his knowleg Wm Walker
the Above was
Sworne to before
me J. E. Woodson J.P.
this 3 day of August 1819
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Wm Beckham.s
Affidavit
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Rockingham County to wit
The affidavit of Wm Beckham
of the County of Buckingham, who being first duly
Sworn, Saith, that he is acquainted with John
Watkins of the County of Bedford, that he knows
that the said John Watkins enlisted for three
years as a Soldier in the army of the revolution
that he was in the army with said
Watkins and Knows he served the three years
for which he enlisted -
William Beckham
Sworn and subscribed
before me a Justice of the
peace for the said county
of Buckingham the 2nd August 1819
John Harris jr
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39878
INVALID.
Revy
Fil No. S9878
John Watkins
Lient Rev War
Act: 18th March 1800
Index: - Vol. 3, Page 534
Arrangement of 1870.

1929 - Sept 20 - Hist. to
Mrs L. F. Chapman [illegible]
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De Land FLorida
march 23rd 1929
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir.
Please tell me if
you have records of
John Watkins of Charlotte Co. Virginia, or his
wife or children drawing
a pension or land
grant for his Revolutionary
services, and
if so his wife & children
are mentioned
by name?
Also, if you have
records of John Moore
of Virginia, drawing a
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pension or land grant? and
if his wife or children died
or are mentioned by name.
He did draw a warrant
for land for services in
Revolution, see Saffells
Records of Revolutionary War.
But I want the names of
his wife & children -
Thank you
Very Truly
Mrs L. F. Chapman
531 N Clara Ave
De Land
Florida
If either of these two men
John Watkins & John Moore 
drew pensions have you
the dates of their deaths
or of the deaths of their
widows?
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Pension 
x
Sep
16
1929
Office

Pension
o
Mar
26
1929
Office
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IN REPLY REFER TO 3-2562
Rev. and 1918 UNITED STATES
Wars Section. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
AFR/eel BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON
July 16, 1929
Mrs. L. F. Chapman
531 N. Clara Avenue
De Land, Florida
Dear Madam:
I advise you that the data furnished by you are not sufficient to
enable this bureau to make intelligent reply to the queries contained
in your letter.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below, as the information
in your possession will permit, and return to this bureau.
First name of widow wife Mary Moore Watkins died Feby 10, 1910
daughter Martha Watkins Ragland
Full name of Soldier John Watkins
Residence of soldier at enlistment Charlotte Co. Virginia
Residence of soldier after service Charlotte Co. Virginia
Name of state from which he enlisted Virginia
Approximate date of birth 1743
Approximate date of death Nov. 1921
Kindly return attached letter with your reply.
Respectfully
Earl D. Church
EARL D. CHURCH
Commissioner.