Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 9319, Thomas Clay, Va.
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(8-1776) SERVICE Va. Clay, Thomas NUMBER S.9319 CONTENTS carded
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Letter to E. Barksdale J 17.
May 1842
Barksdale $17.
[unintelligible] Certificate issued
June 1842 and sent to R. P. Waller, 
Halifax C.H. Va.

Virginia No 23.236
Thomas Clay
Halifax Co. in the State of Virginia
who was a Pr. V. Sergt. in the company command of Captain Gerald of the Regt. command of Col. Mason in the Virginia Troops
for 4 months & 10 days Pr. $14.44
16 months 5 days Sargt. $80.83
$95.27
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 9.5 Dollars 27 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Decr.
1833 and sent to Woodson Hughes, Halifax C. H. V.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833 238.17
Semi-anl. allowance ending March 34 47.63
$286.80 
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by D. Brown, Clerk
Book E.  Vol. 6 1/2 Page 6
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Virginia
Halifax County [SssB]
On this 28th day of August 1833
personally appeared in open court before the justices of the county court of Halifax now sitting.  Thomas Clay a resident of the the state and county aforesaid age 73 years, who being first duly sworn according, did on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress dated June 7th 1832 that was drafted and entered the services of the United States on the 1st day of February 1779 he was promoted to 1st Sargeant directly he entered the service and in which capacity he started from Blue  Church in the county of [Sollaway] in company of militia commanded by Capt. William Gerald and which belonged to a Regiment commanded by [illegible] David Mason he marched to [Richmond] court house, thence to the town of Halifax in the state of North Carolina at which place he remained about two months.  From thence he march to Hilsborough, thence to Salisburg at which place he marched to Camden, thence to a place called North Corner in the state of South Carolina. There to [illegible] bridge, there to Stone River, where the troops had made their head quarters. There he remained until sometime towards the following July, he then received his discharge on the 11th of August 1779 from Capt. William Jerald. The precise length of time which he served this tour was six months and eleven days.
He remained at home but few days when he was again drafted and received the same appointment of Sargeant and entered the service the 2nd of the following September. He marched from Amelia Court house in a company commanded by a Captain [Aaron] and which belonged to a Brigade commanded by General Lawson. He marched directly to Richmond. After remaining there some time  he marched to Hanover Court house thence to [Surry] old court house. From thence to Portsmouth, thence to Nofolk, thence to Smithfield, thence to Petersburg, thence to a place called Point Norfolk.  After remaining at
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most of the said places some length of time, he got a discharge at the the last mentioned place on the first of the ensuing march from whom he does not now recalled [sic] the  length of time that he served. This term was five months and eleven days.
The 10th of the following (1780) he marched as a substitute for Burwell Coleman from [illegible] run church in the county of Amelia in a company commanded by Captain William Finny in a regiment commanded by Cole Dicky.  He marched to Richmond at which place he was put under the command of General Lafayette.  He  then marched to New Castle on Pamunkey river fifteen miles from Richmond, thence to the  Rocky mills in Hanover county, thence to the [burnt] [ordinary], thence to Allen's [ordinary] at which place he met the British and had to retreat back to the [burnt] [ordinary], from thence we returned to Richmond, thence to Fluvanna, thence to Williamsburg. There he received a discharge from Capt. Thomas Jones on the 20th of October.  The time he was on this tour was a private was four months and ten days.
On the first of June of the next year (1781) he marched a s substitute for Charles Wilson in a company commanded by the said Capt. Finny from Amelia court house.  About the time he marched his company had to appoint a  seargeant [sic], and which appointment was given to him [illegible] the Chesterfield county and on to  Little York and remained there and about there until Cornwallis was besieged. Thre in the month of October 1781, he remained there until the siege commenced but was discharged a few days previous to the surrender of Cornwallis.  He receive [sic] his discharge on the 13th of October 1781.  The time of this tour was four months and thirteen days.  Then the time that he served in the war as a seargeant [sic] was sixteen months and five days, and the time he served as private was four months and ten days.
Answers to questions prescribed by the war department.
I regularly received discharges at the termination of each tour of service as above mentioned but not believing that they could ever be of any service to me if [sic] did not preserve them.  They are therefore lost and cannot be found.
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I was born in the the county of Amelia in the month of November 1760.  I have no record of my age, but have all my life been informed that I was born at the time stated.
I lived in the county of Amelia when I entered the service of the United States and until the end of the war and also until I removed to the county of Halifax where I now reside which was about 25 years ago.
I was drafted and entered the service twice and entered it one [sic] as the substitute of Burwall Coleman and one [sic] as the substitute of Charles Wilson. I served three tours as a seargeant [sic] and one as a private.
I was with general Lafayette, General [Dawson], and Cole Mason, and saw General Washington and General Mecklenburg while in the services of the United States.  The circumstances of my services are particularly detailed in my declaration.
I received four discharges, one at Camden from Capt. Jerald, one at Williamsburg from Capt. Tho. Jones, one from Capt. William Finny near Little York, and I do not recollect from whom I received the other discharge.
I know of no person now living by whom I can prove my services and have no documenting of the same. Joel Tucker and Joel Cole can testify as to my character for veracity, and their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution.
I hereby relinquish any claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state.
Thomas Clay
Sworn to and inscribed the day and year aforesaid.
We Joel Tucker, a clergyman, and Joel Cole residing in the county of Halifax in the state of Virginia, do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Thomas Clay who has inscribed and sworn to the above declaration, that we believe him to be seventy three
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years of age, that he is [reputed?] and believed in the neighbourhood [sic] where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and to have served in the states and that we concur in that opinion.
Joel Tucker
Joel Cole
Sworn and subscribed the 28th day of August 1833 in open court.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after the [illegible] the interrogataries [sic] prescribed by the war department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and the court do further certify that Joel Tucker and Joel Cole who have signed and sworn to the proceeding certificate are residents of the county of the said county of Halifax that they are esteemed to be men of worth and that their statements are entitled to credit.
I Samuel Williams clerk of the county court of Halifax County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Thomas Clay for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office the 28th day of August 1833.
Samuel Williams
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Virginia
Halifax County
On this 13th day of 
November 1833 personally appeared before
me a Justice of the Peace in and for the 
County aforesaid aged 73 years who being
first duly sworn according to law doth on
his oath make the following amended decleration
in order to obtain the benefit of
the Act of Congress passed the 7th June
1832. That the length of time which he
served in the Revolutionary War as states in 
his declaration dates the 28th day of August 
1833 and members of the pension office
of the united States 27.405 and which has
been returned by the commissioner of pensions
is to the best of his knowledge and belief true, 
but that either through the mistake of him in
detailing his services to the gentleman who or a 
fled his declaration or mistake in the gentleman
who drafted it- the word "drafted" is as 
used when it should have been volunteered. 
He therefore corrects it now by saying that he 
volunteered on his own record in the two first
towns of only mentions in said declaration and
that he was a substitute for 
for [Robe?] who had
volunteered and engaged to go in the two last mentioned towns and got him this
applicant to take their places.  Given under my hand this 13th day of November 1833.
John L Lewellen
I Samuel Williams clerk of the county court of Halifax do hereby certify that John L Lewellen before whom the above amended declaration was taken and who has signed to same, was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid and as such duly empowered to administer oaths and [illegible] the signature to said amended declaration purporting to be his is genuine. In testimony whereof I have my and and seal of office this 13th day of November 1833.
Samuel Williams
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Halifax Court Virginia
[Free?]
May 10
May 14 1848
Notary 
J L Edwards Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Mail
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Halifax County to with: 
This day Thomas Clay a 
prisoner of the United States personally appeared
before me a Justice of the Peace for Halifax County 
Virginia and made oath that his original
certificate was either lost oor mislaid that it can
not be found. 
Thomas Clay
Sworn + subscribed before me this 7th day of May 
1842 at Halifax Co Ho. 
[illegible] Elisha Barksdale JP
RW Pate
R P Waller 

I William Holt Clerk of the County Court for the 
County of Halifax in the state of Virginia do hereby
certify that Elisha Barksdale Jr is in a Justice of the Peace for the said county duly commissioned and
sworn and that the signature above [illegible]
to be his is genuine. 
In testimony where of I have
hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the
said county this 7 day of May
1852. 
W. Holt CK
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Halifax C H VA
May 7, 1842
Mr. S L Edwards
Dear sir,
Mr. Thomas Clay a very respectable old revolutionary soldier and pension has lost or mislaid his pension certificate and wishes to get a duplicate. Please send it to him or if this paper now sent is not satisfactory let me know what is necessary that it may be attended to.
Very Respectfully,
Elisha [Barkdahf?]
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Rev War
9319
INVALID
File No. 9319
Thomas Clay
Serg. in Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index:-Vol. / Page 69
[Arrangement of 1870]
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S
Admit as Sergeant
16 mos 5 days             80.83
4 m 10 [d?] Private      14.44 
                                   $95.27

J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
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Halifax Co. Ho. VA
November 14th 1833

Dear Sir
I received old Mr. Tho:
Clay declaration together
with your letter. I saw
the old man yesterday on the 
subject and he says that it
was a mistake to say that he
was drafted- that he volunteered
as you will [illegible] by his 
amended declaration herewith that
which will probably satisfy the 
department. 
I am with great respect
 yr. [illegible]
Woodson Hughes
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Halifax C H VA
[Free?]
June [illegible]
June 4 1842
Mr [illegible]
Mail
J. S. Edwards Esq.
Com. of Pensions
Washington City
D.C.
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Halifax C.H. Virginia
29th May 1842

Sir
Enclosed I send you the papers
necessary to secure to Mr (?) Thomas Clay
a copy of his original pension certificate, which he says he 
has lost or mislaid, you will please
enclose it to me by return mail. 
Very Respectfully (?)
R. P. Waller (?)

J.L. Edward Esp
Com Pension
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Halifax County to writ
I John L Lewellan a justice of the peace in court for Halifax County Virginia do hereby certify that Thomas Clay this day finally appeared before the [illegible] this County of Halifax and made oath that he [illegible] some time  about the 6th September last lost his pension certificate and I further certify that I am well acquainted with the said Thomas Clay and that he is entitled to full credit [illegible] oath and I further certify that he in my opinion is too old and infirm to make a [illegible] statement of his commanding in the Revolutionary War. I know that he has been in the habit of of[sic] receiving a pension for services rendered in the United States service during the revolutionary and have no doubt that he has lost or mislaid his pension certificate. Given under my hand this 27th day May 1842
John L Lewellen JP

Halifax County to Writ
I hereby certify that Thomas clay a Revolutionary pensioner has been in the habit of receiving a pension from the United States for
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Services rendered during the Revolutionary War
that I have had the preparing of his papers 
for the last three or four years + that after
he drew his pay in September last. I either
gave him his original certificate or laid it 
away to keep for him + that I have been 
able to find it + believe that it is lost. Given 
under my hand this 27 May 1862. 
Elisha Barkscalf (?)

Halifax County to with
This day Elisha Barkscalf (?)
personally appears before me + made oath
that the foregoing certificate contained the
truth + nothing but the truth + I further certify
that the said Earl Barkscalf (?) is a improbable 
man + is [illegible] to free [illegible] for any statement
he may make. Given under my hand
this 27th May 1862. 
John S. Lewellen 

Virginia Halifax County, [illegible]
William Holt clerk of the 
Court of Halifax County certify that John L. Lewellen is a Justice of the Peace for said
County duly commissioned and sworn and that
the
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Foregoing signatures purporting to be his are
genuine. In testimony whereof I have here unto
affixed my seal of office and
subscribed my name this 28th day 
of May 1842. -
Wm Holt CK