Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,687, William Gaines, Va
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Va Gaines, William S.31.687
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Georgia
6817
William Gaines
of
Elbert
in the State of Georgia
who was a Private in the Company
command
by Captain Jones of
the Regt commanded
by Col. Cole in the Virginia
line for 19 mos
described on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 63. Dollars 33 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 2nd day of May
1833-
and sent to Hon W. Thomps
H. R.
Arrears to the 4th of Sep 32.                94.99
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar 33  31.66
                                                                    ---
                                                                  $126.65
⎨ Revolutionary Claim, 
Act June 7, 1832.} 
Recorded by
G.U. Stites Clerk
Book D.  Vol. 8 Page 33

Error corrected & certificate forwarded to appt. March 29-1834
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Application
of
Wm Gains
for a Pension
found on Va state line
L 55.10.6
amod
19 mo. pri
$63.33
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State of Georgia
Elbert County   s.s.
On this thirtyth day of November in the year
One thousand eight hundred and thirty two person-
ally appeared in open Court before James Oliver
Benjamin Smith & Dillard Herndon
Justices of the Inferior Court in and for said County
while sitting as a Court of Ordinary in and for Elbert
County, William Gaines a resident of the County
and State aforesaid aged Seventy five years
who being duly sworn according to law, did on his
oath make the following declaration in order to
obtain the benefit of the provisions awarded by the Act of 
Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under
the following named officers and served as herein stated
That he volunteered into said Service at the commence-
ment of the Revolutionary War under Captain Jones
Commanded by Colonel Cole, served thirty days and
was discharged, the exact time he does not recollect,
Also that he entered the Army of the United States under
the following named officers and served as herein
stated,
That he Enlisted in the Army of the Unted States
under Captain Marks
in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty and
joined his Regiment at Chesterfield Court House in 
the State of Virginia, marched from that place to Richmond
Virginia, from Richmond back to Chesterfield Court House
from thence to Albemarl old Court House, where he was commanded by Colonel Gaskins and Major Polson
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Marched from thence to Point of Fork from thence
across Roanoak River, from thence back across James
River above Richmond from that place joined
General Wayne and Marquis De La Faytte, marched 
from that place to Birds on James River, across James River
to Cobham, from Cobham to Richmond, from Richmond
to Springfield from Springfield to York Town in the 
State of Virginia, remained there until the British Army
Commanded by Lord Cornwallis surrendered themselves
prisoners of [illegible], from York Town after the surrender of Lord
Cornwallis to Old Cumberland Court House in the State of
Virginia, and after serving in the Army Eighteen months
was discharged at the last mentioned place in the latter 
part of the year Seventeen hundred and eighty on the
first of the year Seventeen hundred & Eighty two
exact date he does not recollect, that he resided in Albemarle
County State of Virginia when he Enlisted in the Army
of the United States and when he volunteered his services
says that he was born in Albemarle County State of Virginia
on the     day of     in the year one thousand 
Seven hundred and fifty seven, says that he has a record of his age
Says that he resided in Albemarle County in the State of 
Virginia when he volunteered and Enlisted in the Army
of the United States, and lived in said State until he
removed to the State of Georgia about forty years ago and
have resided there ever since, and now resides there in Elbert County
Says he volunteered and enlisted in the Army of the 
United States.
He says to the best of his recollection the names of some of the 
officers which he served under were Barrow, Steuben, Marquis
De La Faytte, General Wayne, Colonel Gaskins, Major Polson,
Captain Marks, Colonel Cole & Captain Jones.
He says that he received a Discharge in writing signed
by Major Polson which said discharge has long since been
either lost or destroyed and cannot tell where or what has become
of it.
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He relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or surety
except the present and declares that his name is not on the 
Pension Roll of the agency of my State.
The person to whom I am known in my present neighbor-
hood, and who can testify as to my character for veracity
and their beliefs of my services as a Soldier of the Revolution
are Col. David Dobbs, Rev. Jas Rily Hon. Wily Thompson
Sworn to and Subscribed, the day & year aforesaid
Attest Job Weston c.c.o     William Gains his mark
Mr James Davis a Clergyman and David 
Hudson residing in the County of Elbert and State of
Georgia hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with
William Gaines who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration; that we believe him to be about Seventy five
of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood
where he resides to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and
we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and Subscribed   James Davis
the day and year aforesaid   David Hudson
attest Job Weston c.c.o.
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the day and year aforesaid
attest Job Weston c.c.o.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the
investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations
prescribed by the War Department, that the above named ap-
plicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
And the Court [illegible] [illegible] that it appears to them that
Jas Davis who has signed the preceeding certificate,
is a Clergyman, resident in the County of Elbert and State of
Georgia, and that David Hudson who has also signed the 
same, is a resident in the same place and is a creditable person
and that their statement is entitled to credit.  Benjamin Smith J.I.C.
Dellard Henison J.L.C.
James Oliver J.I.C.
I Job Weston Clerk of the Court of Ordinary for
Elbert County in the State of Georgia, do hereby Certify
that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the
Court in the matter {illegible] application of William Gaines
for a Pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set
set my hand and private seal having
no seal of Office this 3rd day of 
November 1832.
Job Weston c.c.o.
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Va Rolls
William Thompson
aomd
Hono W Thompson
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BRIEF in the case of William Gaines
County of Elbert in the State of
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? open Court

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

3. How old is he? 75

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

Period.
does not remember the War ..In 17...volunteered
1780 enlisted
Duration of Service.
Years, Months, Days.
________1 . . . . 
1 . . . 6 . . . . . . .
Rank.
As a 
private
"
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen. 
Capt Jones Col Cole
Cap Marks -

5. In what battles was he engaged? none mentioned

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Albemarle Virginia

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? traditionary one living witness

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? - the papers are not attached agreeably to the regulation, - nor is the period exactly given 
nor the Living witness [illegible] as credible
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
George Taylor
Examining Clerk.
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Rev. War Section
May 22,1933
Mrs. Virginia Cleveland Wall
Elberton, Georgia
Madam:
In response to your letter received April 2, 1933,
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revo-
lutionary War pension claim S. 31687 of William Gaines
it appears that he was born in 1757 in Albemarle County,
Virginia and while a resident of said County, he enlist-
ed at the commencement of the Revolution and served as a 
Private thirty days in Captain Jones' Company, Colonel
Coles' Regiment.
He enlisted again in 1780 and served as a Private
until last of 1781 or first part of 1782, eighteen months
in Captain Marks' Company, Colonel Gaskins' Regiment, Vir-
ginia Troops.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
November 5, 1832 while a resident of Elbert County, Georgia.
There is no data on file relative to his family.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
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Sur. File No. 31,687, William Gaines, applied for pension November
5, 1832 while a resident of Elbert County, Georgia.  He stated that he
was born in 1757 in Albermarle County, Virginia, where he resided when he
enlisted at the commencement of the Revolution and served under Captain Jones and Colonel Cole for thirty days.  Enlisted again in 1780, and 
served under Captain Marks and Colonel Gaskins until the last of 1781 or
first of 1782; eighteen months.  His claim was allowed.  The date of his death is not shown, and there is no data relative to his family.  No bounty land,
There is no Wm H Gaines found on the Rev.
War pension records.
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In reply to your request of _____, received _________ for a statement of the military history of William Gaines a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for a pension on file in this Bureau.
S. File 31, 687

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
[illegible]
End of 8 mo period 82
LENGTH OF SERVICE.
30 days
18 mos
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Jones
Marks
COLONEL.
Cole
Gaskins
STATE.
Va.
Battles engaged in, __________________
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Albemarle Co. Va.
Date of application for pension, Nov. 5, 1832. Allowed.
Residence at date of application, Elbert Co., Ga.
Age at date of application, 75 born 1757 in Albemarle Co., Va.
Remarks: _______________
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Elberton > Elberton, Ga.
Mar. 29, 1923

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir - 
I am trying to trace the War records of my great grandfather and will appreciate any help you ma give me very much indeed. Did Jack Cleaveland & George Alexander, both of Georgia, having settled here prior to the Revolution - receive any sort of Pension.
Did William Gaines who enlisted at Culpepper, Va, and served throughout the War, settling him with his wife Milly Banks Gaines, in 1795, receive anything from the Government?
Please write me what you can of Winslow Bangers war record. He must have been very young to have served in the Revolution, but he did receive a land grant in Smith Georgia for military services. Maybe he was in the war of 1812. Any sort of information
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concerning these men will be very much appreciated indeed.
This county, Elbert, was cut from Wilkes County in 1796.
Thanking you in advance for any aid you may give me I am your
Most gratefully
Mrs. Virginia Cleveland Wall.
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Date Mar 20 1916
Name: Wm Gaines No.: S. 31687
Va troops War Rev
Photographic copies wanted of: 1 pieces, consisting of: 1 pages
Remarks_________________________
_____Exr. A E Wilson Chief: Rev. War Secretary
APPROVED
______________________
Chief, Law Division.
Serial No.: 1367
over
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this photo paid for in person in Law Div. Mar 17, 1916 by Hon John Wesley Gaines
Hotel Billone 
McPherson Sq
Wash DC.
Copy mailed to above Mar 27, 1916 -
see receipt for payment in James Gaines 
Va. W. 25652
over
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[Header]
J. H. MURRAY, PRESIDENT CHAS J. WEITZEL, VICE-PRESIDENT R. S. HULETTE, SEC AND TREAS
THE RANKIN REPUBLICAN CLUB
YEOMAN BUILDING - SECOND FLOOR.
OPPOSITE COURT HOUSE.
FRANKFORT, KY.,
[Handwritten]
Dec 12, 910
Commissioner of Pension
Washington D. C.

Dear Sir
Can you give me any information concerning Theodrich Noel of Essex County Virginia, I should have said Revolutionary information, who I am told served as Chaplain in that war. Also William Gaines of Virginia or any other by the name of Gaines in that period
Respectfully
Mrs Howard Murray
180 Broadway

[Stamp 1]
PENSION
C
DEC
U. 3 S.
1910
OFFICE

[Stamp 2]
DEC 30 1910
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31687
Revy INVALID.
_____
File No. 31,687
William Gaines
Pri Rev War
_____
Act: June 7th 32
Index:-Vol. 8, Page 150
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1909 Nov. 19. Hist to Hon Jno W. Gaines, letter in S. File 8546 Richard Gaines
1910 Dec. 7. Hist to Mrs. Howard Murray
1922 - May 22 - Hist to Mrs. Virginia Cleaveland Wall. MMHF.
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Georgia } Personally appeared in open court
Elberton } William Ward & after being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he was ackquainted with William Gaines the applicant for a Pension & whose declaration is annexed to this, at Chesterfield Court house in Virginia where he was in the Revolutionary war in Seventeen hundred & Eighty & Eighty one for five or six months & says that he [illegible] in the service as a soldier.
Sworn to & subscribed in open Court this the 5th day of November 1832
Wm Ward
attest
Job Weston C.C.C.
Done in open court.
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Elberton Ga } 
March 19th } Free
J L Edwards Esqr.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
D. C.

[Vertical]
28. March. 1834
Certif. enclosed for
connection
Georgia

March 28. 1834
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Elberton Georgia
March 19th 1834

J L Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir
I here enclose my Pension Certificate for Correction, together with a Letter which I have received from the Pension Agent in Savannah, you will be pleased to correct my Pension Certificate, and forward the same to me in this place as soon as possible
Yours Respectfully &c
William Gaines
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18 }
Mr. William Gaines
US Pensioner
Elberton, Elbert C.
Georgia

T

[Stamp]
SAVANNAH
DEC
28
GEO
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Office Bank United States
Savannah 27th Decr. 1833

Mr William Gaines
US Pensioner

Sir
I observe that your Pension has been paid up to 4th September last at the rate of $63 - per annum, where you are entitled to receive $63.33/100 - No further payment can be made until you have forwarded your Certificate to "J L Edwards Commissioner of Pensions, Washington City" for correction. This will require no inconvenience as there is sufficient time to have it returned to you before the next payment filling out, on the 4th March next.
Yours Respectfully - 
Jno Cumming Pension}
agent - }
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Honl. Wiley Thompson
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Elberton Georgia Decemr. 12th 1832

Dear Genl.
We herewith enclose the application of William Gaines for a Pension, under the provision  made by the act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832. Which you will be pleased to hand to the Secretary of War, If you can do anything that will benefit the old Gentleman in his application it will be conferring him a great favor,
We some time since forwarded on to the War Department Miss Anna Richardson, Lewis Stevens, James Riley and Thomas Adams, applications for Pensions under the above recited Act of Congress, therein referring the Secretary of War to you as to their Character for Veracity and your belief of their Services as Soldiers of the Revolution, you will be pleased to inform us what will be their probable success, We have nothing particular to inform you of, more than what is passing in the papers of the day
Your friend, Truly
Isaac N Davis
Thomas C. Wilhight

Honl. Wiley Thompson
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
William Gains
which require
further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason
assigned for his not doing so?
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? No
V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he
served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amout [amount] of pension
he is entitled? yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832? Yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished
from any other seal? yes
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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to
their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining
it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one
living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
XIV.
If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness
or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath,
certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? no
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the
regulations direct? Yes
Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age,
as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? no
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered? yes

EXPLANATORY NOTES.
QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, , but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; 
For ____ year ____months, and ____ days, I served as a _______. For ____ months and ____days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension.
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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served
and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the
pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions
merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the
officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration
of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the
applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either
in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed
in any civil pursuit.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must
prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of
the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the
regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths
must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate
must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
+QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not
written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate
must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass
under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of
office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the
certifying officer, should accompany the papers.