Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6760, William Bryan, Va.
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SERVICE
Va.

Bryan, William

NUMBER
S.6760


carded
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2079
Virginia

William Bryan
Rockingham in the State of Virginia who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Baxter of the Regt commanded by Col. Nall in the Virginia for 9 months from 1781

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 30 - Dollars - Cents per annum, comment on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 19th day of Nov. 1832 and sent to H. J. Gambol, Harrisburg, Va.

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832.     45.--
Sem=anl. allowance ending      15.--
4 March 1833                            $60.--

(Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832)

Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk
Book D. Vol. 7 Page 92
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6893
Rev. William Bryans
Declaration
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State of Virginia, and County of Rockingham. To wit.
On this 21st day of August, personally appeared  in open court, before ^David Henton, Joseph Cravens, George Clark and Augustus Waterman 
[crossed out] Justices of the County Court of Rockingham County, now sitting, William Bryan, a resident of the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia, aged 70 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
He was born in Rockingham County Virginia, on the 15th or 16th of May 1762. He has no record of his age but received if from his parent. He has resided in the same county all his life.
In January 1781, early in the month, he substituted for Henry Countryman, who had been drafted as a militia man, and marched to Richmond and thence down through Virginia, to Portsmouth, and was stationed principally in the neighbourhood of Portsmouth, and of a fort in that vicinity which was in possession of the British. During this tour he was engaged in a considerable skirmish with a party of the enemy who made a sally from the fort, and was engaged in another skirmish in Princess Anne County. The militia officers under whom he served during this tour were Col. Nalle Maj. Hamilton [Capt Hamilton, Hardman crossed out] Capt Baxter and Lieut. Hardman. He returned in the spring in April but cannot say the precise day ^and  was out between three and four [days crossed out] months.
Immediately after his return he was drafted, and marched he thinks about the last of April or first of May, and marched
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to [Willi crossed out] the neighbourhood of Williamsburg, and was marched about considerably in that quarter of Virginia, and was in two engagements during this tour, one at a place called Hot Water and the other at Jamestown but [the crossed out] cannot say the particular dates of these two engagements. The Captain under whom he served this tour was George Chrisman and thinks Robert Smith was first, and Peter Bryan second Lieutenant. The general officers under whom he served during this campaign were LaFayette, Wayne and Muhlenburg. He returned in the latter part of summer, after harvest, having been out three months, and upwards, although he cannot recollect the length of time exactly.
In a few days after his return from the previous tour, perhaps about the first of August he was again called out under a draft, and marched to [York crossed out] the neighbourhood, of York and continued principally in that vicinity until after the surrender of Cornwallis - was present and engaged throughout the whole seige at York. After the surrender of Cornwallis he was ]it crossed out] sent with a detachment to guard some prisoners, and marched by way of Fredericksburg, to the Winchester Barracks - and returned home late in the fall but cannot state the time with accuracy. He recollects distinctly however, of passing a farm on his return from Winchester Barracks home where he saw some of his neighbours and acquaintances
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He has no documentary evidence of his services, and believes he never received a written discharge. For his general good character and standing in his neighbourhood, and the general belief in his revolutionary Services, he refers to Capt. David Rolstone, himself a soldier in the Revolution Reuben Harrison, Joseph Barker Esq (High Sheriff) and son of the Captain under whom he served) John Rader, Maj. Wm. Bryan - Dr. Cravens and Dr. Harris.
He hereby 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 and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
William Bryan

We Garrard Morgan a clergyman residing in the County of Rockingham and state of Virginia and Joseph Baxter residing in the same County and State, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Bryan who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 70 years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a Soldier in the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Garrard Morgan
Joseph Baxter
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 Gerrard Morgan, who has signed the proceeding Certificate, is a Clergyman, resident in the County of
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Rockingham, and that Joseph Baxter, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the County of Rockingham, and is a Credible person, and that their statement is entitled to Credit.
I Henry J Gambill Clerk of the Court of Rockingham County, do hereby Certify that the foregoing Contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Bryan for a pension.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of my Office this 28th day of August 1832 and in the 57th year of the Commonwealth
H. J. Gambill Clerk of
Rockingham County Virginia
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6893

Rev W. Bryan

from 1781 nine months, private

$30
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6893
BRIEF in the case of Revd. William Bryan
County of Rockingham in the State of Virginia
Act 7th June, 1832.
1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?
3. How old is he? 70
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period.
Jany In 1781 Subs:
April or May drftd
Augt. drafted
Duration of Service. Years, Months, Days.
between 3 & 4 months
upwards 3 months
till late in the fall after surrender of Cornwallis-
Rank. As a
private
"
"
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Gen.
Capt. Baxter, Col. Nalle
"Geo Chrisman, Lafayette, Wayne
Gen. Washington &c

5. In what battles was he engaged? H of water & James Town. York.
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Rockingham Cty Va.
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
F. Waugh Examining Clerk.
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February 10, 1931.

Captain C. G. Porcher
U.S. Coast Guard.
Curtis Bay, Maryland.

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
ILL

Dear Sirs
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim. S. 6760. that William Bryan was born May 15 or 16, 1762 in Rockingham County, Virginia.

While a resident of Rockingham County, Virginia, he enlisted early in January, 1781, as a private in Captain Baxter's Company, Colonel 
Nalle's Virginia Regiment, was in skirmishes at a fort near Portsmouth and in Princess Anne County in Virginia and served until some time 
in April: after an interval of a few days, he re-enlisted and served about three months in Captain George Chrisman's Virginia company, was in engagements at Hotwater and at Jamestown: in a few days, he again enlisted, officers names not stated, was in the siege at Yorktown and at the surrender of Cornwallis, following which he guarded prisoners to Winchester Barracks and served until about November 1, 1781.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 21, 1832, while a resident of Rockingham County, Virginia, where he had always lived.

There are no family data.

Very Truly yours,
E. W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner.
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Revd. William Bryan which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
yes
III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason as signed for his not doing so?
-
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
yes
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 amount of pension he is entitled?
No
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
yes
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?
yes
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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?  And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?

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 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 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 piece of tap 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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6936

Sept 19, 1832

Pension claim

The Secretary of War

Washington City
Page 15

Rev. War Section

Dec. 28, 1918

Miss L. B. Ewing,
473 South Main St.
Harrisonburg, Va.

Madam:

In reply to your letter of the 18" instant, You are advisted that a careful search of the records of this Bureau fails to identify a Revolutionary War claim for a John Cain who married Virginia Mabey or Mabry of Culpeper County, Va.

In the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 17875, of John Cain of Lewis Couty, Va. whose pension certificate was issued Oct. 19, 1835, it appears that his pension was fraudulently obtained, so upon examination by the U. S. District Attorney it was discovered that he was not born until Feb. 28, 1769, and was not old enough to have served in the Revolution and his name was dropped from then pension roll. It is not known whether he was married.

In the Revolutionary War pension claim S.6760, of William Bryan of Rockingham County, Va. it is not stated that he rendered any service in the War of 1813 and the pension records fail to afford any information in regard to Major William Bryan of Rockingham County, Va. in that War. If you desire the record of the Revolutionary War pensioner William Bryan S.6760, please so state and it will be sent you.

Very respectfully, 
[signature] G. M. Saltzgaber
Commissioner.

[written in left margin vertically with line to address for Miss L. B. Ewing]
see her letter in John Cain S17873

[written in left margin vertically with line to word "record" in last paragraph]
see 1812 negative slip in neg files
This Rev pensioner refers to a Major Wm Bryan as to his standing in the community but does not say what he is major of or why he has title
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION 

3-525

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
WASHINGTON, D.C., [EMPTY FIELD], 19 [EMPTY FIELD]

In reply to your request of [empty field], received [empty field] for a statement of the military history of William Bryan a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ([begin strike-through] or his widow's [end strike-through]) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

S.F. 6760

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT | LENGTH OF SERVICE | RANK || OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED|| CAPTAIN | COLONEL | STATE |

Jan 1781 | Apr 1781 | Pvt. | Baxter | Nalle | VA
Apr or May 1781 | 3 mos. | [blank] | George Chrisman | V | [blank]
Aug 1781 | Nov 1 1781 | [blank] | officers not stated | V | [blank]

Battles engaged in, Hot Water, Jamestown
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Rockingham Co. VA
Date of application for pension, Aug 21st 1832. His claim was allowed
Age at date of application, b. Rockingham Co. Va., May 15 or 16, 1762
Remarks: There is no family data on file.

Respectfully,

Commissioner

6-2856
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Rev. War Section.
Mr. Raymond E. Van Syckle
1729 Ford Building,
Detroit, Michigan.

July 8, 1915.

Sir:

In response to your letters of the 24 and 26
ultimo, you are advised that the names of the witnesses in the pension claim of Magdalene and Adam Bible, Wid. File No. 18,596, Rev. War, are Catharine Lamb, Jacob Trumbo and Henry Shoemaker; they do not claim any relationship to the soldier, nor state that they served in the Revolution.

The name of the only witness in the pension claim of William Bryan, Sur. File No. 6,760, Rev. War, is the Rev. Gerard Morgan, he does not claim relationship to the soldier.

You are further advised that anybody designated
by you may examine and copy the papers in a reasonable number of Revolutionary War claims by calling at this Bureau. Owing to lack of a clerical force available for the purpose, it has not been the practice of the Bureau to undertake to furnish the histories of witnesses
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in connection with reports of Revolutionary War pensioners, which give all tours of military service and the data relative to lineal ancestors and descendants as stated in the claims and also state whether or not the claim has been allowed, the last fact being accepted as proof that service was rendered. This has been done after careful consideration of the require ments of patriotic societies.

Very respectfully,
[Signature]
E. C. Tieman
Acting Commissioner.

Report of service returned

-2-
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6760
Rev War
INVALID.

File No 6760
William Bryan
Pri Rev War

Act June 7th "32
Index:-Vol. [Illegible], Page 45
[Arrangement of 1870]

1915: June 25: History to Mr. Raymond E. Van Syckle- 
[Initials] M.B.H

1915: July 8. data about witnesses to above.

1916 Apr 8: History to LT. C.G. Porcher [Initials] M.B.H

1916 Dec 28 L. B. Ewing advised no service in 1812, is no pension for a Major WM Bryan 1812 [Initials] AW

1914 Mar 20 Hist to L. B. Ewing

1922 Sept 12 Hist to F. N. Millspough

1923 Feb 6 Hist to Mrs. Bernis Brien [Illegible]

1931 - Feb 10 - Hist to Capt C. G. Porcher 
[Initials] SLL
Page 20

The Michigan Society Sons of the American Revolution

Officers

Albert M. Henry
President

Gen. Charles A. Coolidge
Vice-President

Raymond E. Van Syckle
Secretary

Franklin S. Dewey
Registrar

Rev. Joseph A. Vance, D. D.
Chaplain

Clarence M. Burton
Historian

Enoch Smith
Treasurer

Office of the Secretary
1729 Ford Building
Detroit, Michigan

June 19, 1915

Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.

Sir:-

Kindly advise me particulars contained in application for pension granted William Bryan of Rockingham County, VA., 1833, for Revolutionary service, including the names of any children mentioned. 

Thomas, Peter, John, and Morgan Bryan were listing in Rockingham Co., Va., in 1784. Did any of these apply for a pension?

Yours respectfully,

[signature]Raymond E. Van Syckle
Secretary
Page 21

The Michigan Society Sons of the American Revolution

Officers

Albert M. Henry
President

Gen. Charles A. Coolidge
Vice-President

Raymond E. Van Syckle
Secretary

Franklin S. Dewey
Registrar

Rev. Joseph A. Vance, D. D.
Chaplain

Clarence M. Burton
Historian

Enoch Smith
Treasurer

Office of the Secretary
1729 Ford Building
Detroit, Michigan

June 26th, 1915.

E.C. Tieman
Acting Commissioner,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.

Sir: 

In re enclosed Statement of Military History of William Bryan, Rev. War S.F. 6760, may I ask you to state thereon and return the names of those filing supporting affidavits in behalf of this applicant and whether their affidavit shows them to be related to applicant in any way.

Respectfully yours,
[signature] Raymond E. Van Syckle
Secretary

Statement retrieved

US Pension Office
JUN 28 1916
Page 22

Treasury Department
United States Coast Guard
Key West, Florida.

Coast Guard Cutter Tallapoosa

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

Sir:

Will you kindly give me the Revolutionary War record, and any other data, such as dates etc, that are on file at the Bureau, of William Bryan, who in 1833 was receiving a pension for services in the Revolutionary War. He was from Virginia.

Respectfully,
[signature]C. G. Porcher
1st. Lieutenant of Engineers,
U. S. Coast Guard.
Page 23

473 South Main Street
Harrisonburg, Virginia
March 7th, 1917

Commissioner of Pensions

My dear Sir:

In a former letter of inquiry to your department, I wished to establish the Revolutionary [Illegible] of my great-grandfather, William Bryan, of Rockingham County, Virginia.
Page 24

In making this inquiry, I referred to the act of June 7, 1832, under which William Bryan, of Rockingham County, Virginia Militia, age 72, is listed as a pensioner.

You stated in your explicit and polite answer that "if I desired the record of the revo-
Page 25

Revolutionary War Pensioner
William Bryan, S. 6760
it would be sent
Please do this, as I have found in the County-Court-record of Wm Bryan, Deeds and elsewhere, dated that may establish his identity with this pensioner.

Very Truly Yours
(Miss) Lucy Barbour Ewing
473 South Main Street
Harrisburg, Virginia
Page 26

The Tennessee Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

Organized December, 1889

President
W. K. Boardman
Nashville, Tenn.

Vice-President
WM. Lawson Wilhoite
Memphis, Tenn.

Vice-President
C. K. Hill
Harriman, Tenn.

Vice-President
J. C. Rhea
Pulaski, Tenn.

Executive Committee
Chas. S. Martin
Leland Hume
J. Tyree Fain

Secretary
F. E. Millspaugh
Nashville, Tenn.

Treasurer
Carey A. Folk
Nashville, Tenn.

Registrar
John C. Brown
Nashville, Tenn.

Chaplain
Rev. Jas. I. Vance, D. D.
Nashville, Tenn

Surgeon
Dr. Paul DeWitt
Nashville, Tenn.

Nashville, Tenn., July 27, 1922

Commissioner, Bureau of Pensions, 

Department of the Interior,

Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:-

In connection with application for membership in S.A.R. being made by Mr. J. Dillard Goodpasture, of Nashville, wont you kindly furnish me with transcript of pension papers of William Bryan, Rockingham County, Virginia, Revolutionary War.

Thanking you for your courtesy, I remain, 

Cordially yours,

[Signature]F. W. Millspaugh 
Secretary

US Pension Office
JUL 29 1922
Page 27

1-2 CL Enclosed 

Mrs. Bernis Brien
223 Volusia Avenue
Dayton, Ohio

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir,

Some time ago the State Librarian of VA. advised me that I might obtain further information from your department regarding a Revolutionary Soldier William Bryan - of Rockingham Co. Va. 

The Liberian sayst hat William Bryan's name appears on your pension list of 1840.

Thanking you for any information you may send. I am.

Very truly,
Lindsay M. Brien

(address above)

US Pension Office
JAN 18 1923
Page 28

Treasure Department
United States Coast Guard
Curtis Bay MD

Coast Guard Depot

23 January, 1931

Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D.C.

Sir:-

OK to send Miss Ford

Will you kindly give me any information that you can about William Bryan (or Bryans) of Botetourt County (or Augusta County) Virginia.

He is mentioned in list of Revolutionart Soldiers, in Virginia State Library report 1909-1911, Botetourt Militia H.D. May, 1777. 

A notation of a family paper is as follows: -

S. of W., 1835, Pen. 2.44 ....../James Bryans, (not William)

This may refer to a pension.

I would like to know whether or not he received a pension and any data or dates that apply to him.

Thanking you for your trouble,

Yours truly,

C.G. Porcher,
Captain, U.S.Coast Guard.

US Pension Office Jan 24 1931

RW