Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4,840, for James Simms, Virginia
Page 1

SERVICE
Va.

Simms, James

NUMBER
S.4.840

carded
Page 2

[Left side:]
7611
East Tennessee
James Simms
of Blount County in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Sutton of the regiment commanded
by
in the Virginia line
for 10 month 14 days [illegible]
Inscribed on the Roll of East Tennessee
at the rate of 34 Dollars 88Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of May 1833
and sent to Jacob F. Foute Esquire 
Maryville Tennessee
Arrears to the 4th of March [18]33 69.76
Semi annual. allowance ending 4 September “[18]33 17.44
$87.20
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by William Allison
Clerk
Book E. Volume 7 Page 61

[Right side:]
see letter to agent
5 November [18]33
see Robert King’s answer
in [illegible] 7264.
see letter 6 Ap [18]35
to W. B. A. Ramsey
Let to Robert King, April 2. 1835.
Duplicate certificate issued and
forwarded to Robert King, Knoxville, Tennessee July 3. 1835
Page 3

Declaration of James Simms of Blount County and State of Tennessee in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed the 7th of June 1832

State of Tennessee
Blount County

Personally appeared before me William McTeer an acting Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid James Simms a soldier of the revolutionary war aged eighty-one years four months and twnety-six days old and residing in the said County of Blount and State of Tennessee and being duly sworn according to law says that when he was twenty ot twenty-one years old he substituted in the place of a man named George Riddle in the County of Frederic and State of Virginia to perform a tour of duty for the protection of the frontier settlements and was attached to a company of drafted Militia under the command of Captain Sutton or Eaton affiant does not now recollect which, and was marched to the mouth of Wheeling on the Ohio River and was stationed at Fort Henry and remained there in service six months for the protection of said Fort at the expiration of which term he was dismissed by the officer who commanded him having performed the duty of a private soldier during said term of six months This affiant states that he does not now recollect whether he got a written discharge or not for said tour of duty if he got a discharge it is lost or destroyed. The said James Simms further states that afterwards he removed to the County of Washington in the said State of Virginia and in the year 1778 he volunteered to guard the jail of the said County of Washington at Abingdon where a conspicuous and leading Tory was lodged whose name was Kerr. affiant was there under the command of Captain Joseph Black and was in the service two weeks and was dismissed This affiant further states that in the 1779 he volunteered to perform a tour of duty against the hostile Cherokee Indians (but cannot now recol [pages ends with unfinished word]
Page 4

recollect the names of the officers of the company he joined. He rendezvoused at the long island of Holston River where affiant with the Troops got in Canos [canoes] and descended the River to the mouth of Chickamauga Creek in the Cherokee nation and was under the immediate command of Colonel Evan Shelby and was in service two months was marched home and dismissed without receiving and written discharge that he recollects of  The said James Simms further states that in the spring of the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty he volunteered to go to the three forks of New River was under command of lieutenant Samuel Newell and commanded by Colonel Arthur Campbell and was one month in active service and then dismissed without any regular discharge. This affiant further states that in the ^ fall of this same year viz 1780 he volunteered to perform a Tour of duty for the protection of the Carolinas against the Tories and British attached himself to a company under the command of Captain Robert Craig rendezvoused on Watauga River in the County of Sulavan marched from there to South Carolina under command of Colonel William Campbell  and Colonels Levin and Shelby to war in the Battle of Kings Mountain where the Tories and British were defeated and captured and was in service one month that campaign and was dismissed without any written discharge that he recollects of. The said James Simms further states that he performed all of the said Tour of duty as a private soldier during the time of the revolutionary war and against the common enemies of the Country and that the services he performed in the term of said war does amount to ten months and two weeks active service and that he knows of no person he can procure by whom he can prove the whole of said services and that he has no documentary or written evidence to prove the tours of duty he did perform as a soldier in the revolutionary war and the said James Simms hereby relinquishes all claims to pension of annuity whatever except the claim hereby presented and declares that his name is not on the roll of the agency of any State-
Page 5

sworn to and subscribed before me on the 6th day of August 1832_  James Simms
William McTeer Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee
Blount County

This day personally appeared before me William McTeer an acting Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid John McCroskey who being first duly sworn according to law says that he is well acquainted with James Simms who signed the foregoing declaration and that he served with the said James the campaign to Kings ^Mountain and that he also served with the said James Simms as above written in relation to the said campaign is substantially true and that he has reason to believe the whole of the said James,s declaration true

sworn to and subscribed before me the 6th day of August 1832

I hereby certify that the above John McCroskey is not a citizen of any county and that he were not able to attend and certify as were expected_ 
William McTeer Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee
Blount County

This day personally appeared before me William McTeer an acting Justice of the peace for the County aforesaid Andrew Criswell who being first duly sworn according to law says he is well acquainted with James Simms who signed the foregoing declaration and that he served with the said James Simms as above written in relation to the said campaign is substantially true and he has reason to believe the whole of the said James Simm,s declaration true
Andrew Criswell
sworn to and subscribed before me the 6th day of August 1832
William McTeer
Justice of the peace
Page 6

State of Tennessee
Blount County

We Robert ^H Snoddy a Clergyman residing in Blount County Tennessee and Samuel Bogle residing in the same County do hereby certify that we live in the neighborhood and are well acquainted with James Simms who has sworn to and subscribed the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty-one years four months and twenty-six days old and that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion
Robert H. Snoddy [signature]
Sam-l Bogle [signature]

sworn to and subscribed before me the 6th day of August 1832
William McTeer Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee [stricken through]
Blount County [stricken through]

And the said William McTeer an acting Justice of the peace for the county afforsaid & one of the Justices of the Court of [illegible] and Quarter Sessions for the said County being a Court of record does hereby declare after the investigations of the matter & after [illegible] the investigations prescribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states   I do further certify that by reason of bodily infirmity he cannot conveniently attend the Court of this County   I do also certify that Robert Snoddy who signed the preceding certificate is a Clergyman resident in this county and that Samuel Bogle who signed the same also resides in this county and is a credible person and that their statements is entitled to credit

William McTeer
Justice of the peace
Page 7

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION.
                                              3-525
                              _________________
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
 BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
   Washington, D. C., ................... 19....

     In reply to your request of ......... received ......... for a statement of the military history of James Simms a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his application for pension on file in this Bureau. (handwritten) S 4840
________________________________________________
DATES OF             LENGTH OF    RANK.
ENLISTMENT OR  SERVICE.
APPOINTMENT.
____                           6 mos.          Pvt.
1778                         2 weeks
1779                         2 mos.
Apr 1780                  1 mo.
Fall 178/0                 1 mo.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.                                              STATE
CAPTAIN.                 COLONEL          
Lutton or Eaton                                          Va.
Joseph Black
                                    Evan Shelby
Lemuel or Samuel       Arthur Campbell
                  Newell     
Robert Craig                Wm Campbell  
Battles engaged in, Kings Mountain
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Enl in Fredericksburg, Va.
Date of application for pension, Aug 6, 1832.  His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Blount Co. Tenn.
Age at date of application, 1750 or 1751
Remarks:  There is no family data on file.

                     Respectfully,
                                 Commissioner.
Page 8

Date -  Dec 20. 1916 

Name - James Senuims No. 84840
VA Troop. Reu. 
Photographic copies wanted 2 pieces, consisting of 8 pages. 
Remarks 
Exr. A S Wilson Chief Rev. Warseotiun 
APPROVED : __________
Serial        Chief, Law Division.
No._____
Page 9

BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division

DEC 16 1916

Chief of Rev War Section

Sir:

I have this day received from Mrs Wm Irvin Sims draft No. [draft No. sticken through] Cash for [for stricken through] $1. 45/100 requesting post office address [post office address stricken through] certified copies as per letter herewith.

Dec 21, 1916 Finance Div as to dispostion of money  PWB Law

Very respectfully,

W.N. Campbell JJC
Chief od Division.
Page 10

Law
cw

Received of Mrs Wm Irvin Sims 314 Am. Bank & Trust Bldg Savannah, Ga. $1.45 for certified copy of papers on file in cash of James Simms 
Va Troops Rev War

S4840.

PWB Law

Dec 19, 1916

Copies sent to Law D W for [illegible] mailing
Dec. 20, 1916

Evv

Finance Division
DEC 16 1916
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
[ink stamped]
Page 11

James Simms. Va. Troops Rev. S 4840.
photo copies of 8 sheets. certified copies

7 sheets decla.
1 " admitted jacket.

for Mrs. Wm. Irvin Sims_
314 American Bank & Trust Bldg_
Savannah Ga_

personal inquiry
Dec. 16, 1916

CHIEF'S DESK
Mail & Supplier
DEC 16 1916
Division
U. S. BUREAU OF PENSIONS [inked stamp]

Evv

Finance Division
DEC 16 1916
BUREAU OF PENSIONS [inked stamp]
Page 12

1914. Jan. 13: List to Mr. E. B. Sims. 
M. H. B.

Rev War

4840

INVALID.

File No. 4840
James Simms
Prv't Rev War

Act: June 7" 1832.
Index: - Vol. M, Page 342

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 13

KNOXVILLE
PR
16
TEN.
[ink stamp]

Apl. 25

FREE [ink stamp]

James L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of pensions
Washington City
Page 14

Knoxville East Tennessee
pension Agency April 13 18353.

Sir

In the Care of James Simms Suspended Claim returned to me, with the following viz- copy of certificate incorrect in respect to rate of pension, Sufficient time haveing(sic) elapsed to enable the agents to comply with the instructions of the war Department 3th Auditors office [illegible] year 1834. this is the endorsement [sic] on the papers . I answer its true I have had Sufficient time to Correct all errors in the papers - but in the absence of the original certificate of pension I am unable to examine the face of the certificate haveing(sic) forwarded it to you on the 7 day of March 1834 as per your instructions for correction, since which time James Simms have [sic] called on me often to know whether his paper had been returned to me from the war office corrected_ I presumed to think that the certificate has miscarried either to you from me or else it has miscarried from you to me it has not been received at this office and the pensioner Mr Simms is quite restless owing to the failure. will you please say to me how the matter is on the receipt of this_ I will retain the voucher for further instructions

I am respectfully your obedient Servant
R.T. King Agent

James L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of pensions
Page 15

Maryville Tennessee
April 24

Honorable Lewis Cass, Secretary of War
Pension Office
Washington City
D C

$34:88 per annum
Page 16

Law Division  
[Handwritten initials PWB]
 December 21, 1916.

Mrs William Irvin Sims,
314 American Bank & Trust Building,
Savannah, Georgia.

 Madam:

In compliance with your personal request of the sixteenth instant, there is inclosed a certified copy of certain papers on file in this Bureau in the case of James Simms,  Virginia Troops, 
Revolutionary War, S. 4840.
Respectfully, 
G.M. SALTZGABER
Commissioner,

RWB/eoa
Page 17

The American Necropolis Company
700 National Bank of Commerce Building
BROADWAY AND OLIVE ST.
St. Louis, Mo.
Removed to 603 LaSalle Bldg:

C. B. SIMS, Pres.
I. A. SIMS, Vice-Pres.
ERNESTO BRUMN, Gen'l Sup't
THEO. WIDELL, Engineer

Properties Established By
Mr. Sims and Associates

PINE CREST  ........... MOBILE, ALA.
GREENWOOD ............. MONTGOMERY, ALA.
LINCOLN .......... MONTGOMERY, ALA.
PEACH TREE HILLS PLACE  ....  ATLANTA, GA.
VALHALLA ............ ST. LOUIS, MO.
MOUNT HOPE .......... ST. LOUIS, MO.
FAIRLAWN ........ DECATUR, ILL.

January 9, 1914:

Bureau of Pension,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:--

Will you have the kindness to furnish me what information you may  have with reference to JAMES SIMMES or SIMES who served in the Revolutionary War and whose pension checks were sent to Knoxville, Tennessee or Blount County, and oblige,

Yous very truly,
CB Sims [signature]

Simmes
Simes

CBS/FS
Page 18

Pension 
    D 
U.     S. 
Jan 12 1914 
  OFFICE.
Page 19

The American Necropolis Company
700 National Bank of Commerce Building
BROADWAY AND OLIVE ST.
St. Louis, Mo.
Removed to 603 LaSalle Bldg:

C. B. SIMS, Pres.
I. A. SIMS, Vice-Pres.
ERNESTO BRUMN, Gen'l Sup't
THEO. WIDELL, Engineer

Properties Established By
Mr. Sims and Associates

PINE CREST ........... MOBILE, ALA.
GREENWOOD ............. MONTGOMERY, ALA.
LINCOLN .......... MONTGOMERY, ALA.
PEACH TREE HILLS PLACE .... ATLANTA, GA.
VALHALLA ............ ST. LOUIS, MO.
MOUNT HOPE .......... ST. LOUIS, MO.
FAIRLAWN ........ DECATUR, ILL.

January 5, 1914:

Pension Department,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen: --

Will you have the kindness to furnish me what information of record you have with reference to James Sims or William Gray sims of Knoxville, Tenness(sic) or Blount County, Tennessee.

The pension to James Sims was either for the Revolutionary War or the War of 1812 and for William Gray Sims it would be for the War of 1812.

It is my understanding that the name was spelled Simms at that time.

Thanking you for your early reply,
I remain,
Yours very sincerely,
CB Sims [signature]

CBS/FS
Page 20

PENSION
U. S. 
OFFICE
JAN
7
1914
[ink stamped]
Page 21

Treasurer's Office
John Campbell
Tr Un. States

WASHINGTON
FEB
25
[ink stamped]

Robert King Esq-
Knoxville - Tennessee
Page 22

KNOXVILLE
TEN.
JUN
18
[ink stamp]

FREE [ink stamp]

June 27

Wm. Burdine

James L, Edwards Esq..
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
Page 23

Col. J. L. Edwards
Page 24

Knoxville March 23rd 1835
Sir,
 Some months ago I addressed you a letter in relation to the certificate of James Simms who had been placed on the pension roll under the law of 1832 -but on account of some mistake which had occurred in your department, a certificate had issued to him for a greater pension than, upon a subsequent examination, he was entitled to - on being informed of this fact, 
Mr Simms sent his certificate to you more than a year ago and has not since had any information from you concerning it - he wishes you to forward a certificate to him, for whatever sum he may be entitled to
or to receive some information in regard to the steps which it may be proper for him to pursue - any letter directed to me at this place will reach Mr. Simms at an early day
Yours etc.
W.B. Ramsey

colonel  J. L. Edwards,
Page 25

James Simms

E Ten.
----------
Lost cert
Page 26

State of Tennessee
Knox County

On this 17th day of June 1835, before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Knox personally appeared James Simms who on his oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the company commanded by Captain Robert Craigh in the regiment commanded by Col. William Campbell in the service of the United States; that his name was placed on the pension roll of the state of Tennessee & that he received a certificate of that fact under the signature and seal of the secretary of war; which certificate on or about the February 1834 he placed in the hands of Robert King the pension agent at Knoxville, to be by him transmitted to the Pension Department at Washington City, for the purpose of procuring another and more correct one, and which certificate the department has never since seen or heard of, nor has he ever received one in lieu thereof

James Simms
James Simms [signature]

Sworn and subscribed to before me the day and year aforesaid
Michael Davis
Justice of the peace for said County

State of Tennessee
Knox County

Personally appears before me Michael Davis - a Justice of the Peace for said county Robert King who made oath that he is acquainted with James Simms who subscribed the foregoing affidavit, and that he knows him to be the same person therein described_  He further states that he is the agent for paying pensions in East Tennessee, and that he was informed by the Pension Department at Washington City, that there was some error in the certificate of the above named James Simms, and was requested to have the said certificate returned to the said department_ he accordingly demanded and received from the said James Simms his certificate and immediately transmitted it
Page 27

to the Pension Department at Washington

R.T. King

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 17th June 1835
Michael Davis Justice of the Peace of said county

State of Tennessee
Knox County

I Michael Davis the Justice of the Peace before whom the foregoing affidavit was subscribed do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the above named Robert King and that he is a man of veracity.

Michael Davis
Justice of the Peace for Knox County

State of Tennessee
Knox County

I George M. White clerk of the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions for said county do hereby certify that I am acquainted with the hand writing of the above named Michael Davis before whom the foregoing affidavit and certificate were made, that the said Michael Davis is an acting Justice of the Peace for said county and the above signatures purporting to be his I believe to be genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and official seal this 17th day of June 1835

George M White clerk
Page 28

James Simms
Blount County - Tenn.

10 months 2 weeks

No. 6515.

[illegible] address Jacob F. Foute
Maryville
Blount County
Tennessee
Page 29

State of Tennessee scilicet

I Jacob F. Foute clerk of the Court of pleas and quarter sessions of Blount County State aforesaid, Do hereby certify that William McTeer esquire, before whom the foregoing and annoted declaration and certificate, seem to have been sworn to and subscribed and whose signature of attestation appears thereto in his own proper name and hand writing, was at the times of the several dates thereof and now is an acting justice of the peace duly commissioned sworn in and and for the County & State aforesaid, and that full faith and credit are due to his official acts as such_

Given under my hand and seal of office at office in Maryville County and State aforesaid this 10 day of August 1832.
J. F. Foute clerk

The Honorable Secretary of War
Will please address any communication on the subject of this application to the subscriber at Maryville Blount County Tennessee

Very respectfully your obedient and humble servant
Jacob F. Foute

August 10, 1832
Page 30

State of Tennessee
County of Blount

On this 2nd day of April AD 1833 personally appeared before me William McTeer an acting justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, James Simms a resident of the County and State aforesaid aged Eighty Two  - years who have first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in addition to and amendment of the annexed original declaration dated the 6th day of August 1832 made before William McTeer a justice of the peace of said County and State and returned  to the War Department Pension office numbered 6575 in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832 [illegible]_ That in my present neighborhood he is known to Reverend Robert H. Snoddy, Samuel Bogle, John McCrosky and [illegible] Bronwell, whose certificates and signatures are annexed to the original declaration, that he is also known to William McTeer, Hugh Bogle, and James Upton esquire, also to James Dunlap, Evan Creswell, and William Malcom Elder of the [illegible] congregation and most of the members of that congregation, to which applicant has belonged and of which he has been a member for more than thirty years_ All these above named and many other said congregation will testify as to my character for veracity, and their belief of my services as a soldier of the Revolution - 

in what County and State ware(sic) you born
Answer. I was  born in frederick County in the State of Virginia
Page 31

In what year were you born
An,sr I believe I ware(sic) born in the year 1750 or 1751 or thereabouts but I have no record of my age and is obliged to depend on the information of my friends and aquintences(sic) when I ware(ic) young and also when old Some of which knew thare(sic) age and upon which information I form my belief respecting my age
James Simms [signature]

State of Tennessee Blount County

this day came James Simms the above applicent(sic) ^before me William McTeer and after being dewly(sic) sworn answer the foregoing questions as aboved stated and also signed as appears in his own hand wrighting(sic)

Given under my hand and seal April 2nd 1833
William McTeer
Justice of the peace

State of Tennessee cost

I Jacob F. Foute clerk of the court officar [sic] and quarter sessions of Blount County do hereby certify that William McTeer Esquire whose signature appears in his own proper name and hand writing to the above certificate of attestation was at the date thereof and acting justice of the peace duly commissioned and sworn in aforesaid County, and authorized to administer oaths, that the above foregoing seven pages contain the original papers of the original and amended declaration of James Simms in the matter of his application for a pension_

Given under my hand and seal of office at office in Maryville the 17 day of April 1833

Jacob F. Foute clerk