Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,459, Abraham Abshire, Va.
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(3-1776 )
SERVICE | | NUMBER
Va. | Abshire, Abraham | S. 6,459
carded
CONTENTS
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4308
Virginia
Abraham Abshire
of Franklin in the State of Va
who was a pr:- in the compy commanded
by Captain Green - of the Regt commanded
by Col: Cullanday in the Va -
line for 9 mo: from 1779 -
__________
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 30 - Dollars - Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
__________
Certificate of Pension issued the 17th day of Jan: 33
and sent to Hon: N.
H. Claiborne. House of Reps.
__________
Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 | 45 -
Semi=anl. allowance ending 4th Mar:33 | 15 -
| $60 -
{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk
Book D Vol. 7 - Page 90 -
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Paid at the Treasury
under the Act of the 6th
April 1838 from 4th March
to 4 Sept 1840. Agt Notified
25 Sep 1841.
__________
Dead
Paid as above from 4 March
1841. to 28. July 1842. Agt
notified 28 Sept 1844
__________
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Virginia Franklin County Sct
On this 1st day of October 1832 personally appeared in open Court
before the Justice of the County Court of Franklin, now seeing [?]
Abraham Abshire who has no register of his age but believes
himself to be seventy seven years old - a resident of the County
of Franklin Va who being sworn according to Law on his
oath, doth make the following declaration in order to obtain
the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832 that he
entered the service of the United States, under the following
named officers & served as herein stated that early in the
revolutionary war about 1779 he went in a company raised in Bedford
County Va under the command of Captain Moses Greer to the
lead mines & served three months under that officer & others
guarding the said mines from the Indians and Tories -
that at the expiration of the tour he was discharged -
that soon after he was called on by said Capt Greer
to go a second tour of three months to the same place &
for the said object - that he obeyed promply - and served
another three months under the said Moses Greer.
It was at the expiration of his term discharged - the
applicant understood that this service in guarding
the mines was by order of Col James Callaway -
as he believes though it might have been by orders of some others
This applicant performed sundry expeditions or short
terms of service under Capt Moses Greer after the 
tories who had taken shelter in the mountains - but
the number & length of these several expeditions after
the tories he does not now remember. In the year
1780 - or 1781. he does not remember which he marched
from Bedford County Va to Petersburg in Va under said
Greer who had been specially appointed a Leutt [?] in
the company thus called to Petersburg by his excellency
Thomas Jefferson Governor of Va and that the company
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2
was at Petersburg attached to Genl Lawsons Brigade - as was
understood it should be - the officers of the company being
specially commissioned to act with said Genl Lawson -
as he was informed by Capt Greer - and as he has good reason
to believe - the special commission of Greer as Leutt [?] being
that he as such should be attached with the company to
which he belonged to Lawsons brigade - such he has
understood was the purport of Greers commission -
This applicant [crossed out] considered himself a volunteer - in
every [illegibl] he performed - and held himself ready to
march at a moments notice from his officers -
The Capt being absent Green commanded the company -
during the time his company (of which this applicant
was one [crossed out] of the number - ) was attached to Lawsons brigade
This applicant - served this tour out with Greer attached
to Lawsons brigade & was then discharged he [crossed out] thinks [/crossed out]
verily believes it was full three months - Capt Greer who
commanded him in all his tours at the lead
mines and when attached to Lawsons brigade &
when out against the Tories who repeatedly appeared in the mountains
is living - is now and has long been the senior member
and presiding Justice of the County Court of Franklin
and can testify that this applicant did his duty as a
soldier during the revolutionary war - and
to said Greer, he confidently appeals for his character
in every respect, - the said Greer is now as he states
Eighty Eight years old - but he remembers this
applicant well - and has given him an affidavit
of his [crossed out] his [/crossed out] this applicants service - This applicant
on his oath says that he verily believes he
was in actual service at least Eighteen months
This applicants files with pride [?] and pleasure
the affidavit of his gallant and venerable officer -
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3
This applicant has lived in the County of Franklin Va
ever since the war - He does not remember his having
ever received a written discharge if he ever did has
lost or mislaid all of them - He is well known to
my of the principal citizens of Franklin - to Moses
Greer Jr Henry Cooper and other members of the
county Court - also to Col Thomas B. Greer
and others to whom he refers for his character
citizen and as a man - he is very poor - but
has ever maintained the fame of a whig - and
an honest man -, he has no documentary evidence
He relinquishes every claim whatever
to a pension or annuity - except the present, and declares
that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any
state
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Abraham his x mark Abshire
mark
We Moses Greer Jr. a clergyman residing in Franklin
County and State of Virginia & Nathl H Claiborne residing in said
County & state, hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with Abraham Abshire who has sworn to and subscribed to the
above declaration that we believe him to be seventy seven
years old - that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood
where he resides - to have been a soldier of the revolution
and that we concur in that opinion -
Moses Greer Jr
Nathl H Claiborne
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation 
of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories presented
by the War Department that the above named applicant
was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the
Court further certifies that Moses Greer Jr who has signed the
preceding certificate is a Clergyman residing in the said
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County of Franklin, and that Nathaniel H Claiborne
who has also signed the same, is a resident of the same
County, and is a credible person, and that the statement
is entitled to credit.
Virginia [illegible]
I Caleb Tate Clerk of the County Court of Franklin do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original preceedings 
of the said Court, in the matter of the application
of Abraham Abshire for a pension.
[seal]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand, and affixed the seal
of the said Court, the 24th day of
October 1832. in the 57th year of our
Independence.
Caleb Tate ck

Abraham Abshire
16864
V

4
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who has also signed the same, is a resident of the same
County, and is a credible person, and that their statement
is entitled to credit.
Virginia [illegible]
I Caleb Tate Clerk of the County Court of Franklin do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original preceedings 
of the said Court, in the matter of the application
of Abraham Abshire for a pension.
[seal]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand, and affixed the seal
of the said Court, the 24th day of
October 1832. in the 57th year of our
Independence.
Caleb Tate ck

Abraham Abshire
16864
V
4
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GIDEON, PRINTER.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE.
Feb'y 5th, 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 widow of Abraham Abshire
dec'd, a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va
Agency, at the rate of - Thirty - Dollars
[crossed out] and Cents [/crossed out] per annum, under the law of the 7th June
1832, has been paid at this Department, from the
4th of March 1841, to the 28th July 1842
Respectfully, yours,
156
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.
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June 5, 1931
Mrs. W. H. Shumaker
Lock Box 430
Three Rivers, Michigan

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
EEL

Dear Madam:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in
the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 6459, that Abraham
Abshire volunteered in Bedford County, Virginia, in 1779,
and served two tours of three months each as a private in
Captain Moses Greer's Company, Colonel William Leftwich's
Virginia Regiment, and was stationed at the lead mines to
guard them from the Indians.
He enlisted in 1780 or 1781, and served 2 or three months' tours
in Captain Moses Greer's Company, or
Virginia Regiment.
He also served several other tours under Captain
Greer and was out against the Indians and Tories, length
of these services not given.
He was allowed/pension on his application executed
October 15, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-seven
years and resided in Franklin County, Virginia, where he
had resided ever since the Revolutionary War.
He died July 28, 1842, leaving a widow, whose name
is not given and there is no reference to children.
Due to the very large number of requests similar to
yours and the lack of a clerical force available for the
purpose, only two histories are furnished each inquirer.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN
Acting Commissioner.
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[page 1]
1916 Apr 21: history to Mrs
W. H. Shumaker Letter in claim
S.7973 David Wray M. B. H
__________
Feb. 7. 1928. Photos to
Mrs. Jessie W. Casanove [?]
See Jacob Hartzell R. 14891 W.C.L. [?]
__________
1931 - June 5 - Hist. to
Mrs W. H Shoemaker - EEL

[page 2]

Rev War
6459
INVALID.
__________
File No. 6.459
Abraham Abshire
Priv. Rev. War
__________
Act: June 7th /32
Index: - Vol. A, Page 1
[brackets] [Arrangement of 1870.] [/brackets]
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State of Virginia Franklin County (to wit)
this day Moses Greer Sen'r. (Aged Eighty Eight years)
personally appeared before me Moses Greer Jr. a
Justice of the peace in the County aforesaid and made
oath that Abraham Abshire. Surveyed [?] two, three month
Tours as a privit Militia man at the Lead
mine to guard the same and also one tour at
Petersburgh and Several tours after the Torys
which he seposes has amounted in all to twelve
or Eighteen months, as he was a good solider and
a true Whig and was always ridy to serve
his cuntry when Cald on the tour to Lead mines
was in the year 1779 as he believe from the date
of sum papers in his possession and the trip to
Petersburgh in the year 1780 or 1781 and the two
after the Torys was before and after the above tours
to the Lead mines and Petersburgh, and that the said
Moses Greer Sen'r. Commanded a Company at the said
Lead mines and William Leftwich and as a
Lutenant [inserted line crossed out, illegible] Petersburgh under Col'o Charles -
Lynch all which tours we served as Volunteers
[crossed out] Given under my hand this 31st day of August 1832 [/crossed out]
# but the Captain of the said Company was missing
and the said Command was given to the said Greer
[entire line crossed out, illegible]
Given under my hand this 31st day of August 1832
Moses Greer Jur
Sworn to and subscribed for me
Moses Greer Jr
[last line missing/illegible]
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I certify that Moses Greer Sen'r is too blind to
write - that he son appears to have signed for
him - that Moses Greer Jr is a Justice of peace
and member of a court of Record I certify that
Moses Greer Sen'r is a man of first rate
character for South & patriotism
Nath H Claiborne
M. C
14th Jany 1833

Abshire
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I certify that Moses Greer Sen'r is too blind to
write - that he son appears to have signed for
him - that Moses Greer Jr is a Justice of peace
and member of a court of Record I certify that
Moses Greer Sen'r is a man of first rate
character for South & patriotism
Nath H Claiborne
M. C
14th Jany 1833

Abshire
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Abraham Abshire
from 1779 private
9 months,
$30.
ad't.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these
answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Abraham Abshire which require
further proof or explanation.
1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
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?
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 of pension
he is entitled?
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of
June 7, 1832?
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
11
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?
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2
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?
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 has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who
administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility?
Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under
his seal of office? [handwritten] No. [/handwritten]
No.
XV. 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?
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And,
if not, which of them is not so answered?
__________
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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3
It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the 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.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 be 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 authenticated 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 end 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.
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TREASURY DEPARTMENT.
Second Comptroller's Office,
September 8th 1841.
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," Abraham Abshire-
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va Agency, at
the rate of Thirty - Dollars and [crossed out] Cents [/crossed out]
per annum, under the law of the 7 June 1832, has
been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March,
to the 4 Sept 1840
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
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Mrs. Wm. H. Shumaker
Three Rivers, Michigan
Lock Box 420
April 14, 1931
Commissioner of Pensions
Dept. of Revolution Rolls
Washington, D. C.
My dear Sir:
Will you kindly send me any information
concerning the Revolutionary soldier Abraham
✓Abshire, Franklin Co. Virginia ? Following his
name in the list of Revolutionary Soldiers of Virginia 
is the notation " S/of W. 1835, Pen 2, 136
[inserted] Only 2 hist. etc [/inserted]
✓Also any information you may have concerning✓
James Ray, Franklin County, Virginia and Benjamin
Ray, Franklin County, Following both of these
names is the notation S. of W. 1835, Pensions 2,
137
My father's parents both came from Franklin
county Virginia and it seems very difficult to
secure any information from there. Will appreciate
very much any information you may be able
to give me.
Please find enclosed stamped envelope for
reply. Thanking you in advance, I remain
Very truly yours
Mrs. W. H. Shumaker
[stamped] REVOLUTIONARY & 1812 WARS
SECTION
APR 13 1931
BUREAU OF PENSIONS [/stamped]
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., [blank], 19 [blank]
In reply to your request of [blank], received [blank]
a statement of the military history of Abraham Abshire
a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his ([crossed out] or his widow's [/crossed out]) application for pension
on file in this Bureau. S. 6459.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. | LENGTH OF SERVICE. | RANK. | OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. COLONOL. | STATE.
1779 | 3 mos. | Pvt | [CAPTAIN.] Moses Greer | [COLONOL.] William Leftwich | Va.
Some after | 3 mos. | ' | [CAPTAIN.] Moses Greer | [COLONOL.] William Leftwich | 
1780 or 1781 | 3 mos. |  | [CAPTAIN.] Moses Greer | [COLONOL.] Charles Lynch | 
✓ | ✓ |  | [CAPTAIN.] Moses Greer, several [illegible] | against the Tories | 
Battles engaged in, none stated.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Bedford Co. Va.
Date of application for pension, Oct. 1. 1832. His claim was allowed
Residence at date of application, Franklin Co, va.
Age at date of application, 77 yrs.
Remarks: he died July 28, 1842 leaving a widow name not stated
there is no further family data on file.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
6-2856