Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 10366, for Michael Swope, Virginia
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Service: VA
Swope, Michael
Number: R10366
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NO. 30171
Michael Swope
VA

Dinet to Major Wm Mc Cord
Huntersville, Virginia
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State of Virginia
Monroe County, ss
On this Twenty Seventh
day of January One thousand eight hundred
and thirty four personally appeared before me
Joel Stodghill a Justice of the peace of and
for the County of Monroe and State of Virginia
aforesaid Michael Swope a resident of
said County and State aged Eighty years
on the 29th day of September last 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 7.
1832
That he entered the
service of the United States under the following
named officers and served as herein stated
That he entered service as an Indian
Spy in the spring of the year 1776: that at the time
he entered the service as a spy he was enrolled and
mustered in a company of Militia commanded
by Captain John Henderson and resided in that
part of the State of Virginia which is now Monroe
on Wolf creek about sixteen miles from where
he now resides; that at the termination of the
cold weather and when the first signs of approching
Spring and the putting forth of vegitation appeared
same signs of Indians having been seen, the people 
becoming much alarmed in the neighbourhood
betook themselves to Cooks Fort which is situated
on Indian Creek about eight miles from where he
now resides and about the same distance from
where he then resided. The settlers betook them
selves to Cooks Fort on the first of May in that
year and he entered on the duties of an Indian
on the same day and continued in service
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the first of November following when cold weather
coming on and all signs of Indians disappear
in the settlers left the fort and returned to
their habitation he was discharged from service
during the winter having continued in service
six months. He again commenced his duties
as a spy on the fifteenth day of April
1777 and continued in service as such
until the first of November following
when he was discharged having served
that summer six months and a half:
that he again entered the service as an
Indian Spy on the fifteenth day of April
1778 and continued in service until
the first of November following making
a tour of six months and a half:
and again on the first day of May
1779 he entered the service as an Indian
Spy and was discharged on the first
day of November following having
performed a tour of six months
service that summer making in
the whole term of service as an Indian
Spy which he served his Country
two years and one month.
The
nature of his services as an Indian Spy in
each of the aforesaid years was to
leave Cooks Fort on Indian Creek
descend said Creek to its mouth where
it empties into New River and thence
down New River to the month of
Blue Stone, thence to Van Bibbon
Fort on Fenton River, and thence to
Janet Fort on Wolf Creek, making
a distance in going and returning of
from thirty to thirty five miles: that
he was generally out from thence to
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four days in each week, and sometimes longer
of the danger of the inteligence from the
Indians seemed to require it and sometimes
when they saw signs of the Indians they
would fligh from Fort to Fort and give
the alarm so that preparations might be
made for defensive operations by the
people that were forted and that those
who had ventured out to work their
corn might betake themselves to the Fort
before the Indians would attack them
That he had for his companions, his two
Brother Joseph and John Swope who were
both older than himself, who are both
dead, and James Given who has also been
dead for a number of years; that their
manner of spying was for two to go together
and to meet at one point designated.

That before he entered upon the duties
of a spy he took the Oath of Fidelity and
an oath to perform the duties of a spy
that during the time he was thus engaged
as an Indian Spy he was not engaged
in any civil pursuit. During the Summer
of 1780 he was permitted to remain in quiet
there being no law given in the settlement
of the approach of the Indians and no depredations were committed that year. That in the
winter of the year 1781, he was drafted
for a three months tour to go as he was
then told against the Indians on
Cumberland River and on the 15th day
February of that year he together with
about thirty others to keep their march as they
supposed for that place under the command
of Captain John Henderson, Lieutenant
John Woods and Ensign John Hall
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their company was joined at Burnsides Fort
by a company from the levels of Greenbrin
Commanded by Captain James Armstrong
and an other company commanded by Capt
tain Davidson, and the whole was under the
command of Major Hamilton
that they marched on to fort Chisel where
they met with Major Quirk or Kirk
Continental officer who assumed the
command over Major Hamilton, and
thence they marched on to Kentucky
to Colonel Logan Station where they
remain until their three months draft
expired when they were informed that the
object of the draft was to go to Detroit
and a number of the men becoming dissatisfied
deserted the next day but he remained
and went on to Baughman station and
remained until most of the men left the
Station when he was permitted to return
home having served five months in said
tour; that he never received any pay for
said services when acting as a spy and but
six dollars for his services while drafted

That he has no documentary evidence
and that he knows of no person whose
testimony he can procure who can testify
to his services. He hereby relinquishes every
claim to a pension whatever or annuity of
pension except the present and declares that
his name is not on the pension Roll of the
Agency of any State
Michael Swope [signature]

Sworn to and subscribed
before me Joel Stodghill
a Justice of the peace for
Monroe County the day
and year aforesaid
Joel Stodghill [signature]
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We Jacob Cook
a Clergyman residing in the
County of Monroe and State of Virginia and John
Dunn Junr residing in the said County and State
do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with
Michael Swope of said County of Monroe
and State of Virginia who has subscribed and sworn
to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him
to be Eighty years of age; that he is reputed and
believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to
have been a soldier and Indian spy of the
Revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Jacob Cook [signature]
John Dunn Jr [signature]
Sworn to and subscribed
before me Joel Stodghill
a Justice of the peace for
the County and State aforesaid
the day and year aforesaid
Joel Stodghill [signature]
And I
Joel Stodghill a Justice of the
peace for the County of Monroe and State of
Virginia do hereby declare my opinion
after putting the interrogatories prescribed by
the war department that the above
named applicant was a Revolutionary
soldier and Indian Spy and served as he
States. And I further certify that it appears
to me that
Jacob Cook who has signed
the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident
in said County of Monroe and State of Virginia, and
that John Dunn Jun who has also signed
the same is a resident in the said County of Monroe
and State of Virginia and is a credible person and
that their statement is entitled to credit. And
I do also further certify that the said Michael
Swops from age and bodily infirmity cannot
attend the Court of Monroe County 
Joel Stodghill
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Interrogatory 
1 Where and in what year were you born

Answer: I was born on Wolf Creek near
Greenbrier River then called west
Augusta now Monroe County in
the year 1753 and I have heard it
frequent said that I was the first
white child was born in what
is now the limits of Monroe County

2. Have you any record of your age
and if so where is it

Ans: I have record of my age in a
very old family Bible now
in my possession

3. Where were you living when
called into service; where have
you lived since the Revolutionary
War; and where do you now
live.
Ans: I was living on Wolf creek when
I was called into service and remained
there until about the year 1790
when I moved to where I now live

4. How were you called into service:
were you drafted did you volunteer
or were you a substitute and if a
substitute for whom

Ans: The manner of my going into service
was first as a volunteer spy & then
I was drafted

5. 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 recollet and the general circumstances of
your service.

Ans: I can give no better account then
what is disclosed in my declaration
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6. Did you ever receive a discharge from service and if so by whom was it given and what has become of it

Ans: I never received any discharge in writing

7. State the names of persons in your present
neighbourhood to whom you are known and
who can testify to your character for veracity
and their belief of your services as a soldier
of the Revolution

Ans: I am known to almost all the citizens
now living in Monroe County and all
who know me can testify as to my
Character for veracity undertake to name
them would be an endless job. The Reverend
Mr. Jacob Cook and [blank space]
can testify to my character for veracity
Sworn to & subscribed before me

Michael Swope [signature]
Joel Stodghill [signature]

I John Hutchison Jr Clerk of the Court of Monroe County do hereby certify that Joel Stodghill is a magistrate as aforesaid & that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of Office at Union
this 5th day of February 1834
in the 57th year of the
Commonwealth
Jno Hutchison Jr. cont
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May 18, 1911.
Hon. George W. Rauch,
House of Representatives.

My dear Mr. Rauch:

In reply to your letter dated the 16 " and received the 17"
instant, I have the honor to advise you that in the claim of Michael Swope, 
R. File No. 10,366, it is alleged that he was born September 29, 1753, on
Wolf Creek then in West Augusta afterwards called Monroe County, Virginia,
and while residing there entered the service as an Indian Spy and served
as such from May 1 to November 1, 1776; from April 15, to November 1, 1777;
from April 15 to November 1, 1778; and from May 1, to November 1, 1779.
On February 15, 1781, he was drafted and served under Captain John Henderson
for five months.
In 1852, his son John Swope lived near Union, in Monroe County,
Virginia.
The claim was not allowed, proof of service not being satisfactory.
The Revolutionary War records of this Bureau fail to afford any information
in regard to Alexander McRae and Zachariah Gapen described by
you.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
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Michael Swope
Act 1832 - VA.


A Hillackland
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State of Virginia
County of Monroe
Be it Known, that on this twentieth day of December A.D. 1852 before me, the under
signed, a Justice of the Peace, in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared John Swope
resident of Near Union Va in said County, and made oath according to that he is an heir of
Michael Swope who was a Soldier in the war of the Revolution, and who has heretofore made application for the best of
the Pension Act of
That he is directly interested as a claimant in said Pension, and makes this affidavit to be filled with such additional evidence or arguments as my Agent may use in prosecuting said claim
Countermanding and revoking all Power of Attorney and authority here in
Washington City, my true and lawful Attorney to prosecute the claim of Michael Swope
for
any amount of Revolutionary Pension, or increase of Pension that may be due; and I hereby authorize my said Attorney to examine all papers or documents
in relation to said claim, on file in the Department at Washington City or elsewhere, to file additional evidence or argument, and receive
for my exclusive benefit the certificate which may be issued for said claim, which certificate I wish made payable at the Washington City, 
D. C. Agency;
to appoint one or more substitutes under him 
for the purposes herein expressed, and to do all things that I might or could do were I personally present . Hereby ratifying and confirming all that my said Attorney and Agent shall lawfully do in the premises. 
John Swope [signature]

Sworn to, subscribed, and Acknowledged before me the day and year above written, and I hereby certify that I believe the said
John Swope
to be directly interested in said claim as set forth, and to be the identical party
therein alleged.
James Swinney J. P.
-
State of Virginia
County of Monroe
It is Hereby Certified, that satisfactory evidence has been exhibited before me, Clerk of the court of  Monroe, County that John Swope
the party who has sworn to, and
acknowledged the foregoing Declaration and Power of Attorney, is the identical child reputed soldier aforesaid. I further certify, that, 
James Swinney Esq, before whom the preceding affidavit and Power of Attorney were made and
acknowledged, was, at the time of so doing, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, and that the signature purporting to his believe to be
genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office
this twentieth day of December 1852
George W. Hutchinson
Clerk of Monroe County Court
Va
Green in
10. "Identical," "widow of," or,
"child of." -- II. Magistrate's name." -- 12. Clerk's signature.
N.
-- Should two or more heirs join in the foregoing, the plural should be substituted for the singular number
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Act Congressive
3 -- 871.

RECORD DIVISION.
Department of the Interior,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
-
Briefed by A.M.D. 17 /5 /11
Claim No.
Certificate No.
Claimant
Soldier Michael Swope
Service.
Additional Service Rev.
No claim, State records 191...
No claim, combination records 191...
No Rev.  below W Iowa
REMARKS:
No Wid.  any service from 23000
11 Rej atall exc.
Reg. 10,366 (Va.
No B.L.
6 -- 1944
Chief Division
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GEORGE W. RAUCH
11TH DIST INDIANA
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

House of Representatives A.S.
Washington, A. C.

May 16th, 1911.

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Mr. Davenport: --
Kindly supply me with any information that may be
available concerning the military record of Alexander McRae
who are supposed to have served in a North Carolina Company in
the War of the Revolution; also anything that may appear from
the pension rolls concerning Zachariah Gapen and Michael Swope
who served in the same War.
Thanking you for any attention given the matter, I am,
Very respectfully,

George Ranch [signature]
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Acts of July 14, 1862 and March 3, 1873. [crossed out]

10366 ┃
P. O
Michl Swope
Service:
Enlisted: __,18
Discharged: __,18
Application filed: __,18
Alleges:
re-enlisted:
Attorney:-
P. O.

Recognized. 
Contract
Cert. of Dis. Searched for __,18

Rejected [stamped over form]
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Michale Swope
VA

10366