Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38,301, for John Phelps, Virginia
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Va

Phelps, John

NUMBER
S. 38,301

CONTENTS
Page 2

26801

Kentucky

John Phelps 
of Grayson in the State of Kentucky
who was a Sergeant in the Company commanded by Captain Franklin  of the ____ commanded by  ______ in the Virginia line for 2 years.


Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 120 Dollars ____ cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.


Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of June 1834 and sent to Hon. T. Chilton House of Representatives

Arrears to the 4th of March 1834  $360.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept. 1834  $60.00


$420.00


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

Recorded by D.D. Addison Clerk
Book C2 Vol. 7 Page 38


Death not in G.B.

42
Page 3

No 28.606
John Phelps's Declaration for a pension

Hon. Th. Chilton
H R
Page 4

State of Kentucky
Grayson County 

On this 8th day of November 1833 personally appeared before Eli Bozorth a Justice of the Peac in and for Grayson County State of Kentucky John Phelps aged Eighty one years who being first sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States in the  revolutionary war in the fall of the year 1776, that he enlisted as an orderly sergeant under Captain James Franklin for the term of three years - that he enlisted in Buckingham County in the State of Virginia in the regular service as an orderly sergeant and rendezvoused at Amherst Courthouse in Virginia and marched from thence to Baltimore and the the smallpox being in the army the whole company which he was in was inoculated for the small pox and before the whole of the men got well Regimental orders came on from General Washington for all the men that could be had; and all the men fit for service were sent off, and I being orderly sergeant was left with the sick men with order as soon as they were fit for service to bring them on to Philadelphia which I did, at which place, I was ordered to draw clothing and blankets for the soldiers from the country stores, and then I was ordered to march the men to Burlington and there I was met by Baggage waggons to carry on the blankets
Page 5

and clothing which I had drawn for the soldiers and then we marched on to head quarters and joined the main army at Bonbrook, near the Big Bridge, he thinks in the state of New York, and after he joined the main army at Bonbrook he being orderly sergeant he was ordered to go to an hospital about two miles from the main army to draw provisions and attend on the sick under the direction of the Doctors at which place he continued several months. The British being too strong for our army General Washington retreated through the State of New Jersey into the State of Pennsylvania. That he marched to and fro through the Northern States until the end of his service. and that he served out the full terms of three years in the service which was three years during the time of his service. he was not in any battles, he was generally left with the sick as he was orderly sergeant, he thinks the regiment he was in was the 10th Virginia Regiment, but as the this he is not certain it being so long ago he has forgotten, he being kept from the main body of the army prevented him from getting acquainted with he has forgotten their names, he recollects very well of seeing General Washington.
That he has no documentary evidence and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service except the deposition of Nicholas Phelps hereto annexed and made part hereof - He hereby relinquished every claim whatever
Page 6

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.
Interrogatories ? by the Justice of the Peace to the applicant

1st - Where and in what year were you born?

Answer - I was born in Cumberland County State of Virginia on the 20th day of June 1752

2nd - Have you any record of your age and where is it?

Answer - I have a register kept by my father and is now in my possession

3rd - Where were you living when called into service where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where are you now live?

Answer - I lived in Buckingham County State of Virginia when called into service , and have lived in Virginia, Kentucky, and Indiana since the revolutionary war and I now live in Grayson County State of Kentucky. 

4th - How were you called into service. were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute -

Answer - I enlisted for three years and served out the full term of three years. 

5th -  State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such as continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service?

Answer - I recollect the names of Captain Franklin under whom I enlisted, General Washington the other officers' names I have forgotten, and the general 

Answer -
Page 7

circumstances of my service in the service as already stated - 

6 - Did you ever receive a discharge from the service if so by whom was it given and what has become of it - 

Answer - at the end of my Term of my service of three years I received a discharge but do not now recollect by whom it was given -which I have lost 

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?

Answer - Isaac Goff, Leroy Madison, Thomas Bratcher, Thomas Elder, Michael Rainer, George B. Green, Thomas G. Green, Welcome Ashley, James Smith, William Anderson, William Brotcher  

John Phelps

Sworn and subscribed

Jacob Miller a clergyman residing in Grayson County, and Isaac Goff, residing in the same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Phelps who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 81 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 day and year aforesaid.

Jacob Miller
Isaac Goff
Page 8

And he said Eli Bozorth Justice of the peace in [and?] for the county and the state afraid do hereby declare his opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department  [that?] [was?] above named 


Eli Bozorth
State of Kentucky 
Grayson county 
November 1833
Page 9

No 28.606.
John Phelps
Ken

from 1776 Sergt
2 yrs. $120.

Admd
&

Hon T. Chilton
H R

much of his time as a nurse to the sick and his name not appearing on the rolls renders the case rather a doubtful one May 9. 1834
Page 10

The [illegible] [illegible] in this case
have not been [illegible] in
the best manner. When the
first examination had place,
all the objections [illegible] have
been [illegible] that they maybe
all have been obviated at
the same time, if in the power
of the applicant. [illegible] of
this are [illegible] was then made
and the evidence suggests [illegible]
[illegible]. Another [illegible] is
now made and such a freeman
are work as lease long [illegible]
and to the [illegible] [illegible] of the
[illegible] under the [illegible]
of the case, let it be allowed.
L.C.
Page 11

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,

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 shew 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 compling with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.

A Statement, shewing the service of John Phelps
Period when the service was rendered. 1776
Duration of the claimant's service.
3 Years. (no Months or Days)
Rank of the claimant.  Segt
Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Cap Franklin
Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.  81 Va
Proof by which the declaration is supported.

The testimony of two witnesses is required in
this case. They should prove his service as a Sergeant:  see note:

The testimony is still unsatisfactory.  It was not usual for an orderly Sergeant to be employed the greater part of his time in attending the sick, and he gives no detail of the services performed after the retreat of the army through N. Jersey in 1776.

It should be shown that he was appointed an orderly sergeant and also what services he performed in that capacity, by the testimony, of one or more witnesses who had a personal knowledge of his services. His having been employed so much of his time as a nurse to the sick and his name not appearing on the 
rolls renders the case rather a doubtful one
May 9. 1834

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,


JAMES L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 12

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
Page 13

3
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person 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 expected. 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.
Page 14

State of Kentucky 
Butler County [Del?]
Be it known that on this [?] day of april 1834 personally personally appeared before me Jacob Romans a Justice of the peace in [for?] Butler County in the State of Kentucky [?] [?] aged 81 years a credible witness and being only sworn agreably to law [?] and [?] on oath that [?] in well acquainted with John Phelps who is named in a declaration for a pension for which declaration was made on the 8th day of November 1833 and numbered 28.606 which declaration is now here [?] to her, that she is well acquainted with the paid John Phelps and has been during her life for  he is her brother that she knows perfectly well that she said John Phelps, about the year 1776 {in Buckingham county Virginia} enlisted in the [?] of the united states in the revolutionary war as a seargent for the [length?] of three years and that she [knows?], he served his full term of three years, that she helped to fix his clothing and
Page 15

the letters for the family, that she always heard the said John Phelps and all the family say that he served as sergeant when he was in the army that the said John Phelps is one year & five months older than her - that she made clothing and sent to her brother the said John Phelps when he was in the army.

Sworn and Subscribed this 21st day of April 1834
Nancy (her X mark) Webb

The above affidavit of Nancy Webb sworn and Subscribed this 21st day of April 1834
Jacob Romans J.P. B. C.

State of Kentucky
Butler County Sct
I Robert Morrison clerk of the county court of the county aforesaid do certify that Jacob Romans
before whom the foregoing affidavit of Nancy Webb was made is and was at the time of signing the same above affidavit a Justice of the peace for the county aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified as such as that his signature to said affidavit is genuine, to whose official acts due faith and credit is due

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 21st day of April 1834
Robt Morrison clerk
of Butler County Court
Page 16

March 15, 1939.

Anne Burnside Brown
Lancaster
Kentucky.

BA-J/ILL aw
John Phelps
S. 38301

Dear Madam:

The data which follow are found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 38301, based upon service of John Phelps in the Revolutionary War. 

John Phelps was born June 20, 1752 in Cumberland County, Virginia; the names of his parents are not shown. At the time of the Revolutionary War, he lived at home with his father in Buckingham County, Virginia.

John Phelps enlisted in the fall of 1776, in Buckingham County, Virginia, served as orderly sergeant in Captain James Franklin's company, 10"" Virginia regiment, marched to Baltimore,
thence to New Jersey where he joined the main army under General Washington, marched into the Northern states also and was discharged
after serving three years.

After his service, the soldier resided in Buckingham County, Virginia, moved afterwards to Kentucky, thence to Indiana, afterwards returned to Kentucky.

He was allowed pension on his application executed November 8, 1833, at which time he resided in Grayson County, Kentucky. The soldier made no reference to wife or children.

In 1834, Nancy Webb, the soldier's sister, of Butler County, Kentucky, stated that she was at home when he left Buckingham County, Virginia, for service in the Revolutionary War. She
was one year and five months younger than her brother John Phelps; the name of her husband was not given.

In 1833, Nicholas Phelps was a resident of Grayson County, Ky.,
Page 17

aged seventy-four years. He was in Buckingham County, Virginia, in 1776, when John Phelps entered service in the Revolutionary War. No relationship between Nicholas and the soldier was stated.

In order to obtain the date of the last payment of pension, name of person paid, and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and cite the following data:

John Phelps
Certificate #26801
Issued June 6, 1934
Rate $120 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act of June 7, 1832
Kentucky Agency, 

Very truly yours, 
A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator.
Page 18

38301
INVALID.
Revy

File No. 38,301
John Phelps
Serg Rev War

Act: 18" March 18
Index: - Vol. D? L.?, Page 322

[Arrangement of 1870.]

1925 Mar. 12. Hist to Hon Herbert J. Drane aw
1939 - March 15-- Hist. to Anne Burnside Brown I.L.L.
Page 19

War Department
Pension Office
May 14th 1834

Sir
I herewith again return to you the papers in the case of John Phelps. Before a pension can be allowed he should prove his service, as required in note of the enclosed printed sheet. If he served three years in the regular army, it is very extraordinary that his name cannot be found on the rolls. In all such cases we require proof of
service as above directed.
I have the honor to be
Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servant
J. L. Edwards

Hon Thomas Chilton
House of Representatives
Page 20

State of Kentucky
Grayson County Sct
Be it known that on this 8th day of November 1833 personally appeared before me Eli Bozorth a Justice of the peace in & for Grayson County State of Kentucky Nicholas Philps aged 74 years a credible witness and being duly sworn according to law, deposeth and saith on oath that he is well acquainted with John Phelps and has been acquainted with him before and since the Revolutionary are & until this time that he recollects that he saw the said John Phelps enlist in the service of the United States in the revolutionary war in the county of Buckingham State of Virginia in the year 1776 and that he saw him start to his place of rendavous and that  he knows he served out his full term of three years.

Sworn and subscribed this day year aforesaid
Nicholas (his X mark) Philps

The above affidavit sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me
Eli Bozorth J.P. G. C.
Page 21

State of Kentucky
Grayson County Sct
I Jack Thomas clerk of the county court of the 
county aforesaid do certify that Eli Bozorth before whom the within affidavit of Nicholas Phelps was made is and was at the time of signing the within affidavit Justice of the peace in & for the county aforesaid aforesaid duly commissioned and qulified as such and that his signature to said affidavit is genuine, to whose official acts due faith and credit is due.

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 7th day
of November 1833
Jack Thomas c. g. c. c.
Page 22

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS

Veterans Administration.
Washington, D.C.

LANCASTER, KY.
MAR 4
1939
5:30 PM

RECEIVED
MAR 6 1939
MAIL SUB-DIV
VETS ADM
---- 8
Page 23

Lancaster, Ky.
3-4-1939.

Would like to call your attention to a letter I wrote asking for John Phelps and Stapp records. I cannot continue my work until I have a report from you.

Thank you very much for your past kindness, and trusting that I may have an early reply.

Yours truly,
Anne Burnside Brown
Page 24

HERBERT J. DRANE
1ST DIST. FLORIDA
NAVAL AFFAIRS

GEORGE W. SAFFORD
SECRETARY

House of Representatives U. S.
Washington, D. C.

March 10, 1925.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Pension Bureau,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Mr. Commissioner:
Dr. John W. Phelps of 908 Candler Building, Atlanta, Georgia, has requested me to secure the service records of the men named in the inclosed letter.  For that reason I am taking the liberty of asking you to give me the information which Dr. Phelps has written me for.

Thanking you in advance for so doing, and for returning the inclosure with your reply, I am

Yours very truly, 
H. J. Drane
M. C.
Page 25

MRS. ANNE BURNSIDE BROWN-  GENEALOGIST - LANCASTER, KENTUCKY
FEBRUARY 6th, 1939.
The Veterans Adminstration,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs: -
Do you have any record of a Revolutionary service of a John Phelps of Albemarle County, Va., who settled in Madison County, Kentucky. I know that he was in the Indian seiges at Fort Boonesborough.

What records do you have of Step, or Stapp of
Kentucky? I do not know if they came from N.C. or Va. Would like any records that you have bearing that name. Especially a Reuben Stapp, or Step.

I would like the record of Norman Roberts of
Madison County, Kentucky.

I can't turn a wheel until I get this report. You do not know who much it would mean to me if you
can reply as quickly as possible.

Thank you a million times for your promptness.
I shall await your reply with interest.
Yours truly,
Anne B. Brown
(Mrs)

John } Stipp
Moses } Kippen
Stapp or Stepp

RECEIVED 
[illegible]
Page 26

March 15, 1939.

Mrs. Anne Burnside Brown
Lancaster
Kentucky

(Mrs French)
BA-J/ ILL 
John Phelps-  (See letter)
S. 38301
Achilles Stapp
W. 599
(aw)

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letters in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John Phelps, of Norman Roberts of Madison County, Kentucky, and the records of soldiers with the surname Stapp or Step, Reuben being designated by you.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Reuben Stapp, under any spelling of that surname.  The record of an Achilles Stapp and the record of the only John Phelps of any southern state are furnished you herewith.

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is impossible to comply in full with each request for Revolutionary War data.

Very truly yours, 
A. D. HILLER 
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator.
Page 27

aw

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section 

March 12, 1925.

Hon. Herbert J. Drane,
House of Representatives.

My dear Mr. Drane:
In response to your letter of the tenth instant, and the enclosed letter of Dr. John W. Phelps of 908 Candler Building, Atlanta, Ga., I have the honor to advise you, that this Bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolution, unless a claim for pension, or bounty land has been made on account of his services and a careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file on account of the services of Matthew Freeman (none), Richard Philips (none as- of  Goochland Co Va), Samuel Philips (7" Va. Regt. none as des) Samuel Phelps (6 Va Reg none as des.) and David Philips, (of Va Regt none as des.) described by Dr. Phelps.  

From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 38301, it appears that John Phelps was born in Cumberland County, Va., June 20, 1752 and while residing in Buckingham County, Va., enlisted in the Fall of 1776, as Orderly Sergeant, in Captain James Franklin's Company, Tenth Virginia Regiment and served three years. 

(Ink additions are office memorandum only)
Page 28

He was allowed pension on his application executed November 8, 1833, while living in Grayson County, Kentucky.

It is not stated whether he was married.

Very truly yours,

Hays Haymaker
Acting Commissioner.