Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6799, for Royall Lockett, Virginia
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Va.

Lockett, Royall

NUMBER
S. 6799

carded

CONTENTS
Page 2

(right side)
12717

Virginia

Royall Lockett

of Mecklenburg in the State of Virginia
who was a Private in the compy commanded by Captain Fleming of the Regt commanded by _______ in the Virginia line for two years. 

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of May '33 and sent to J. Baptist
Boydton M. Co. Virginia

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833   160.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833 40.00

$200.00

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832}

Recorded by Wm R. Palmer Clerk
Book E Vol. six, Page 16

(left side)
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6 April 1838 from the 4th March 1837 to the 4th March 1838 - Agent Notified 5 Decr 1838.

Dead
Paid as above from 4th March to 1 July 1842.  Agt notified 29th Oct. 1844
Page 3

24736. 12717

Royall Lockett
Mecklenburg Co.
Virginia

Look on Va Roll
On role
Admitted 2 years $80.00

J. Baptiste Clerk
Mecklenburg Co.

Boydton, Virginia
P.O.
Page 4

WAR DEPARTMENT
Pension Office
183

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned.  The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form.  On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive  that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed.  The notes and the regulations will show what is necessary to be done.  Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus } ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A STATEMENT, showing the service of Royall Lockett, Mecklenburg Co., Virginia

Period when the service was rendered
1776

Duration of the claimant's service 
2 years

Rank of the claimant
Priv

Names and rank of the Field Officers under whom he served
Col.
Capt. Fleming
Lieu. Moseley

Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service
81 years
Cumberland County
Virga

Proof by which the declaration is supported
Traditionary

I am, respectfully,
your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 5

2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia" and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c., Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of private armed vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval Service.
4. Indian Spies.
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons claiming
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, mucicians or privates, will, in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.

DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of ___ } ss.
County of ____ }
On this ____ day of ____personally appeared (a)
before _____ A.B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) ____ 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 provision made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) ___,  with ____ and served in the ____(e) regiment of the _____line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched.  >>This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid. ____________ A.B. 

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____of the Court of_______do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of ______for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this _____ day of _____ &c.

If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia.
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with ______, who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier
of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the days and year aforesaid.

[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A.B. who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the  ______ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, ______  Clerk of the Court of _______ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of ______ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this  ____ day of _____
&c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission;  but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.

If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 6

3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County in which they reside, and
there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you 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?
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 recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. {To a Soldier. {Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
{To  an Officer. {Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court,
without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.
If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify to the character and standing of other persons giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct
proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court, by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record,
or by a Justice of the Peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper
Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not
conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the
claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, with precision, the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language
definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled. 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."
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 that 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 shown 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.

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 papers 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.

Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
>> The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in
note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.

Joseph Rowen
Page 7

Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office

Sept. 27th, 1844

Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April 1838, entitled "An 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," and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pension agents, The children of Royall Luckett, deceased, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va. Agency, at the rate of Eighty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March to the 1st July 1842.

Respectfully, yours, 

Albion K. Parris
Comptroller


To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present
Page 8

State of Virginia
Mecklenburg County
S.S.

On this 4th day of April 1833, personally appeared before the John S. Jeffries a Justice of the peace Royall Lockett a resident of the said County aged eighty one years on the 5th day of August 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 provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776, for the term of two years, with William Morley, and served in the 7th Regiment of the Virginia line the commanding officers of which he cannot recollect so as to state on oath, that he served in a company commanded by Capt Charles Fleming and first Leutenant Wm Morley to whom he looked for his order not knowing with whom the orders originated. That he served in the capacity of a common soldier or private and received his discharge near Philadelphia, after the
expiration of the term of his enlistment in the year 1788. That his discharge has long since been distroyed or lost not calculating that it would ever be of service to him.
That he resided in the County of
Cumberland in the State of Virginia at the time of his enlistment and entering into the service, Thence he marched from that County to Fredericksburg in Virginia, Thence to Baltimore, Thence to Philadelphia. That he was marching to & fro through the Country in Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey during the two years of his service. That he has now in his possession an original letter written by himself to a friend on the 16th day of May 1777 dated from the army at that time in New Jersey which enables him to state where he was at that date: That he was in the battle at Brandywine and saw Genl Lafayeth when he received wound from the enemy in that engagement. That at the
expiration of his term of service in 1788 he returned to the County of Cumberland where he had marched when he first enlisted & continued to reside there until the year 1785 when he removed
to the County of Mecklenburg aforesaid where he has resided ever since. That he has no documentary evidence of his
service and knows of no living witness by whom he can prove it.
Page 9

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any State.

Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid.

Royall Lockett


Mecklenburg Co. To Wit

This is to certify that the above declaration was subscribed and duly sworn to before me a Justice of the Peace for said County and that the course of his making oath to the said declaration before me, was that he is unable to walk from age and infirmity to ride to the Court house of said County.

Given under my hand and seal 4th April 1833.

John S. Jeffries
Justice of the Peace


This is to certify that I have been acquainted with Royall Lockett for upwards of twenty years and have often during that time heard him speak of serving as a Soldier in the Revolutionary War and believe his word is not doubted by any person who is acquainted with him.

Given under my hand 4th of April 1833.

John S. Jeffries J.P.


I John G. Baptist Clerk of the  (faded) County Court of Mecklenburg County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of John S. Jeffries Esq. one of the Justices of the peace for the County aforesaid and a Justice of our said Court in the matter of the application of Royall Lockett for a pension and that the aforesaid signature of John S. Jeffries Esq is genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of Office this 9th day of April 1833.

John. G. Baptist
Clerk
Page 10

(faded and illegible)
Page 11

Rev. and 1812
War Section.



July 23, 1928



Mrs. A.B. Montgomery
14 Montrose Ave. R.F.D. 11,
Richmond, Va.

Madam:

I advise you from papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 6799, it appears that Royall Lockett was born August 5, 1752, place not stated.

While residing in Cumberland County, Virginia, he enlisted in 1777 and was a private in Captain Charles Fleming's Company in the Seventh Virginia Regiment, he was in the battle of Brandywine, and served two years.

He was allowed pension on his application executed April 4, 1833, at which time he was living in Mecklenburg County, Virginia.

He died July 1, 1842, leaving children, their names are not given, nor is the name of his wife shown.

Respectfully,


Winfield Scott
Commissioner
Page 12

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
Nov. 24, 1838.


Sir:

Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An 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,"  Royall Lockett
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond Va. Agency, at the rate of Eighty Dollars 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
Comptroller


To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present
Page 13

6799

INVALID.

Revy War

File No. 6799

Royall Lockett
Priv. Rev. War


Act:  June 7th 1832

Index:-Vol. 1st, Page 99

[Arrangement of 1870]

Royall Lockett, June 
Records corrected


1928 July 23 - Hist. to Mrs. A.B. Montgomery
Page 14

14 Montrose Ave., R.F.D. 11,
Richmond, Virginia,
September 29th, 1927.


Dept. of Interior
Pension Department,
Washington, D.C.



Gentlemen,

From the Census of Pensioners, Archives Department, Virginia State Library, I quote the following:

"Royall Lockett, Sen. 88 - Royall Lockett, 1840.
Mecklenburg County, Virginia."


I am anxious to obtain the completed record of Royall Lockett, my ancestor, and have been informed by the Archives Department, Virginia State Library, that you will furnish same upon request.

If there are any charges in connection with this service, kindly advise me.

Thanking you in anticipation of your kind attention, I am 

Yours very truly,


Mrs. A.B. Montgomery (signature)

Mrs. A.B. Montgomery