Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7865, Willoughby West, Va.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE                       NUMBER
Va. West, Willoughby   S 7865
CONTENTS                   Carded
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North Carolina.  27.85[6][illegible]
Willoughby West Sr: 
of Currutuck in the State of N. Ca (6) who was a pv in the __ commanded by Captain __ of the Rgt commanded by Col Wilson in the N.Ca.* line for 9 mo:
* Va. Line 
Records corrected. Aug. 8, 1904. SS

Inscribed on the Roll of N. Carolina at the rate of 30 Dollars __ Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.  

Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of June 34 and Sent Jno H. Wheeler Present.

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 34  90—
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Dec: 34  15.—
$105.—
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Nath. Rice - Clerk,
Book E  Vol. 6 1/2  Page 79
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(1)  
State of N Carolina Currituck County } 
Court pleas & Quarter Sessions August Term 1832 
On this 29th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before Caleb Ethreidge John B Jones Wm. Bray and Benjamin T Simmons Justices of the Court of pleas & Quarter sessions for the state and County aforesaid now sitting Willoughby West senr a Resident of Currutuck County aged about seventy five 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  He saith that he entered the service of the militia of the State of Virginia in August or September 1775 a private and a volunteer that he was stationed most of the time near the lines of North Carolina & Virginia that he remained in the service untill the British evacuated Norfolk he was in the battle at the Bunch of Walnuts under Capt Bradly and Lieutenant Portur. and after that Battle he retreated with the armey to the Great Swamp where a battery was erected and the British there made attack but were defeated and retreated after which the Americans went back to North west Bridge in Virginia then he was at the Battle of the Great Bridge under Capt Bradley Genl Thomas Matthews had command of the Virginia line at the time _ He afterwards followed the enemy with the army near Norfolk and remained in the service untill the enemy left Norfolk and then was stationed at Fort Nelson where he remained untill driven out of the Fort by the enemy  _ He remained in the service near five years but is an unlettered man and cannot give a very particular account _ He was acquainted during his service with Col John Wilson of Norfolk Co Va. and Col Godrey and Col Lincore of the Virginia line _ He knew Col Dozier. Col Lamb & Genl Gregory of the North Carolina line He further states that he was born in Norfolk County Va and did not remove untill after the close of the war & since
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the peace he has resided in Currutuck County N.C. He has no documentary evidence and cannot prove his service by any person now living _ He knew Joshua Ball at North West but does not recollect any other North Carolina soldier that he knew at the time that are now living _  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pention or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the Roll of the agency of any state
Sworn & Subscribed the day and year aforesaid (signed) Willoughby West senr

We William Doxey a clergyman residing in Currutuck County N.C. & Jeremiah Land of the same place do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Willoughby West Senr who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration & that we believe him to be of the age of Seventy five years and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a revolutionary soldier & that we concur in that opinion 
Sworn & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid
(signed) Wm Doxey Jeremiah Land

Joshua Ball being duly sworn maketh oath that he knew a soldier at north west bridge during the revolution by the name of West & he believes it to have been the same man who hath subscribed and sworn to the above declaration & he further has understood & believes he was was a soldier during the revolution 
(signed) Joshua Ball

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the Interogatories prescribed by the war Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and the Court further certify that it appears to them that William Doxey who has signed
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(2)  
the preceeding certificate is a clergyman and that Jeremiah Land is a credible person and that their statement is entitled to credit
I Spence Hall Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter sessions for the County of Currituck & state of of North Carolina do certify that the foregoing contains a true coppy of the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Willoughby West sent for a pention.
[Seal stamped] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 15 day of Sepember A.D. 1832
S..HALL.C.C.C

The Amended declaration of Willoughby West mad in addition to his declaration of the 29th of August 1832  He states that he entered the Service as stated in his original declaration in August or September 1775 and remained a common soldier in the servace untill some time in December 1780 and that from the time he first entered the servace in 1775 untill he was discharged in December 1780 he never was out of the servace and consequently he says he served more than five years  He states that at the battle of the Bunch of Walnuts mentioned in his original declaration there were Two companies engaged the one under command of Capt Bradley to which this declarant belonged and the other under command of Capt. Wm Wilson_  The Americans were defeated at that battle & retreated to Great Swamp.  Col Mathews had command when the enemy attacked us a Great Swamp Battery mentioned in his original declaration.  He says that during the first part of the time Col John Wilson had command but most of the time he was under Col Mathews.  He remembers a french officer who was in the army by the name of Linco and that by his orders a corn house at North West with a considerable quantity of corn was burnt
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12.975
He remembers also that the soldiers censured him for burning the corn house because they believed the enemy could not have taken the post if it had been bravely defended__ He further states that at the time he entered the servace he was living in Norfolk County near the North Carolina line and that as soon as the war closed he came into the County of Currutuck NoC. where he has resided ever since.  He does not remember that he ever had any written discharge if he did have one he has now forgotten it and only remembers that he was told by Capt. Bradley that he was discharged.
He further says that he remembers seeing Thomas Payner at North West and that he has called on the said Payner to State whether he remembers this declarant and that he finds he does not remember enough about him to state anything distinctly_  He further says that he knows no one by whom he can prove his servace_  He belonged to the Virginia line of Militia and removed from that state so long ago that he has lost sight of all the acquaintances he had during the war if any are now living
(signed) Willoughby West senr

Isaac Baxter of the age of fify one years being duly sworn according to law do state that I have been Sheriff of Currtuck County for the last eighteen years & that during all that time I have been personally acquainted with Willoughby West senr that he is a man of feeble Intelect, but has been always reputed an honest man and a man of undoubtedly veracity.  That it has always been reported & believed in the neighborhood where he resided that he was a soldier of the Revolution and in that I concur  He said Baxter further states that he believes that it is owing to his frail memory and to the fact that he removed many years since from Virginia that he is unable to make a more full & satisfactory statement of the serevcises he preformed during the revolution
Sworn "the day & year" aforesaid 
(signed) Isaac Baxter Shff.
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(7)
September 14, 1937
Willoughby West, S. 7865
BA-J / MCS  oen

Mr. H. H. West
214 South Hill Street
Los Angeles, California
Dear Sir:  Reference is made to your request for an abstract of the papers on file in the pension claim of Willoughby West who applied for pension from Currituck County, North Carolina.
The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, S. 7865, based upon the military service of Willoughby West.
He was born in Norfolk County, Virginia.  The date of his birth and the names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Norfolk County, he enlisted in August or September, 1775, and served until December, 1780, as private with the Virginia troops under Captains William Hale or Hall, James Bradley and George Hale or Hall, and Colonels John Wilson, Godfrey and Matthews; he was in the battles of Great Bridge, Bunch of Walnuts and Great Swamp, Virginia.
After the close of the Revolution he moved to Currituck County, North Carolina.
He wad allowed pension on his application executed August 29, 1832, at which time he was living in Currituck County, North Carolina, aged seventy-five years and he was then referred to as Willoughby West, Senior.
There are no data relative to the family of Willoughby West.
Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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amended declaration
of W. West Senr.

Jno H. Wheeler
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Admit as private 
9 mo. $30=

Jno H Wheeler
Present
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(4)
State of North Carolina  Currituck County } Personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace Willoughby West Senr. of said County and State who being duly sworn saith that by reason of old age, and consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served as follows not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades.
I served at the commencement of the War in the Militia three months as a private in Captain Wm Halls & Lieutenant John Butt Company Colonel John Wilson & Colonel Godfrey commanding 
That at the expiration of the above time I went to Portsmouth and joined a Company, as a private, commanded by Captain James Bradby & Lieut. Porter and was in Garrison some where about six months & retreated from Portsmouth to the Great Bridge and was at the Battle at said Bridge.  Colonel John Wilson & Colonel Godfrey commanded the Virginia Line  after the Battle we encamped about two miles from the Bridge about one month.  from thence we retreated to the North West.  There we threw up a Breastwork and was encamped there about four months
We spiked our cannon Burnt the Corn House by orders of Colonel Linco, we then had to retreat up the North West River to the Bunch of Walnuts and there to the Great Swamp.  We stayed there a few days and then returned to the North West & from thence to Portsmouth.  I there joined Captain George Halls Company as a private and was in Garrison at Portsmouth and Fort Nelson and served one year under the command of Colonel Matthews and at
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the expiration of that year I joined again and remained untill the cesation of hostilities  If ever I had a written discharge I do not recollect it  all of which time I was not employed in any civil pursuit for which service I claim a pension 
Willoby his x Mark West Senr
Sworn to & subscribed before me this 4th June 1834. 
W. Bray JP

State of North Carolina  Currituck County }  
I Spence Hall Clerk of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that William Bray Esqr whose name is above is an acting Justice of the Peace in & for said County and that he acts under the authority of the state and that due faith and credit should be given to his official acts.
[Seal affixed]  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this the 4th day June 1834
S.HALL.C.C.C
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(5)
I am not much acquainted with Willoughby West although I have seen an old man of that name residing in Currituck County  I am well acquainted with Isaac Baxter Sheriff of Currituck  Jeremiah Land & William Doxeyand believe them to be individuas upon word the strictest and fullest reliance can be placed. ___
Wash: June 22nd 1834 
Will B. Shepard
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As agreed and in behalf of the within named applicant, I agree to accept a certificate for nine months service:  June 25 1834
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Rev War 7865 INVALID.
File No. 7865
Willoughby West, Sr.
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7th 32
Index:—Vol. 1st,  Page 399
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1915 May 15. Hist. to Miss Mary E. Bonner. ¢
1930. Mch. 12. Frances P. Ross [illegible] cost of photos.  MMHF
1930 May 3. Photos mailed to Frances P Ross & Fin. Dir. nt fd. A.D.Y.
1937. Sept. 14. hist. to Mr. H. H. West.  M.C.S.
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Aurora, N. C., May 11, 1915. 
Rev Sec  9
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
WASHINGON,
Gentlemen:- 
Please send me a statement of the military history of Willoughby West who was on the pension list of N. C. in 1835.
Yours truly,
(Miss) Mary R. Bonner
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Please have certified and return to Revolutionary & 1812 Wars Section, Room 5033.

Photostatic copies of seven pages from Revolutionary War claim for pension of Willoughby West, Virginia Troops, Survivor File No. 7865.
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1-681
SUBMIT IN DUPLICATE
PHONE Branch 476 
All inquiries regarding this job should refer to Requisition No. 42428
Requisition for Duplicating, Addressograph, Photostat, and Blue Print Work.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR  WASHINGTON
CHIEF, Division of Publications, Room G 139. Please furnish work specified below.
April 21, 1930  192
Bureau ordering PENSION  Deliver to Room No. 5033
(ALL COPY FOR DUPLICATING WORK SHOULD BE PLAIN AND WRITTEN IN ELITE TYPE, EXACTLY LINE FOR LINE AS IT IS TO APPEAR ON FINISHED JOB.)
Title and description of job photo static copies of 7 pages from Rev. War claim of Willoughby West, S. 7865
No. of copies 1 of each  Shall form be kept standing?  ____ days
For further information see MRS. Finch  Room No. 5033  Phone No. 541
Approved: A D Wilkenson, Chief Clerk of Bureau.
Margaret M H. Finch, Chief of Division.
NOTE: No order made "SPECIAL" unless statement showing necessity is written below and approved by Chief Clerk of Bureau ordering

CHECK WORK DESIRED
Duplicate
Multigraph  single or double space? Facsimile signature?
Mimeograph  on side or both sides?  Facsimile signature?
Folding  once or twice?
Assembling
Stapling  Once?  Twice?  Side?  End?
Electric typewriter  Fill in addresses?  Dated?
Addressograph from lists
Envelopes, size _ | _ | _ Cards, size _ | _ | _
Proof list _ | _ | _  Pay rolls _ | _ | _
Labels (submit sample _ | _ | _  Corrections _ | _ | _
Fill in letters _ | _ | _  Tabulation sheets | _ | _
Photostat x Size actual  Official use?  Repay? yes  $1.05
Blue Pring x Size    Official use?  Repay?  $
Remarks
(OVER)

[Note:] in Law May 1

[Stamp:]
DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS
DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR
RECEIVED  APR 22  1930
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NOTE:  Routine changes of addresses may be made on this blank without [illegible] reference through or initialing of chiefs of branches or chief c [illegible] bureaus.  ___ 192  . (Date)

INDICATE BY AN X IN PROPER SQUARE ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
[Square] Make new addressograph plate}
[Square] Change present addressograph plate}
[Square] Destroy present addressograph plate} }On list __
as follows:
Now reads 
1
2
3
4
5
Should read
1
2
3
4
5
FOR USE OF DUPLICATING AND ADDRESSING SECTION
ADDRESSOGRAPH
The above change was made ___ 192  .
Operator __ 
MULTIGRAPH
Operator __ Date __ Type set by __ Date __
Remarks:
MIMEOGRAPH
Operator __ Date __  Cut by __
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[Illegible] O.# 217329- $1.30

[Stamp:] 
FINANCE DIVISION BOOK-KEEPER'S DESK
APR 19 1930  
BUREAU OF PENSIONS

Washington, D.C.   April 16 / 1930
To - Earl D. Church, Comm'r
Bureau of Pensions
Wash. D.C.

Re: Rev & 1812 Wars Section 
MMHF.
(your Letter of 3/12/30)

[Stamp:] 
REVOLUTIONARY & 1812 WARS SECTION
APR 18 1930
BUREAU OF PENSIONS

Dear Sir:- 
Enclosed is a Money Order for $1.30 Covering the cost of a certified copy of the following papers:
Revolutionary War pension claim of Willoughby West, S. 7865
which I understand sonsists of 7 pages.
Yours Very truly
Frances P. Ross
Room -507- McLachlan Bldg.

[Note:] In CC Rm 22
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[Illegible] Wars Section  
March 12, 1930. 
Frances P. Ross, 
507 McLachlen Building, 
Washington, D. C. 
Dear Madam:  
I advise you that photostatic copies of original papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim of Willoughby West, S.7865, will be furnished you at the rate of fifteen cents a page. The number of pages to be copied is seven. 
Should you desire to have them certified allow twenty- five cents additional for the entire set.
The proper amount should be forwarded to this bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior. 
From the data furnished by you the bureau has been unable to identify the particular William West in whom you might be interested. 
Please furnish as much as possible of the following data in regard to him and a further effort will be made to aid you: approximate dates of birth and death, place of residence at enlistment and after service and given name of widow. 
Very truly yours, 
EARL D. CHURCH, 
Commissioner.
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Room 507 McLachlen Bldg.
Washington, D. C.
Commissioner of Pensions,
Interior Department,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Kindly advise me of the cost of photostats of the pages showing the pension records noted below
which I understand are shown in Clark's "North Carolina Record of Pensioners -- State Records of North Carolina" (Volume XXII)
√ Willoughby West, Sr. -- page 91
[cursive more] William West -- page 89
I understand the above-mentioned volume is
available at the Bureau of Pensions.
Yours very truly,
Frances P. Ross [cursive]
Frances P. Ross.

[stamp] 
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
FEB 1  1930
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In reply to your request of __ received __  for a statement of the military history of Willoughby West Sr. a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his [crossed out: (or his widow's)] application for pension on file in this Bureau. 

S. 7865 
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. 
LENGTH OF SERVICE.  Aug. or Sept 1775 to Dec. 1780 
RANK.  Private
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN.  
William Hale or Hall  
James Bradley  
George Hale or Hall 
COLONEL. 
John Wilson  
Godfrey 
Matthews 3
STATE. Va 

Battles engaged in, Bunch of Walnuts, Great Bridge, & Great Swamp. Va.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Norfolk Co., Va. 
Date of application for pension, Aug. 29, 1832. His claim was allowed. 
Residence at date of application, Currituck Co. N.C. 
Age at date of application, 75 years, born in Norfolk Co., Va. 
Remarks: There is no family data on file. 

Respectfully,  

Commissioner.

6—2856
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(3)
I Spence Hall Clerk of the County Court of pleas
& quarter Sessions for the County of Currituck & State of North Carolina do certify that the foregoing contains a true coppy of the original amended proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Willoughby West for a pention
[Seal affixed]  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 8th of May A D 1836
S.. HALL.C.C.C