Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R, 929, George Blane, Va.
Page 1

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[3-1776]

SERVICE
Va

Blane, George
           Rachael

NUMBER
R.929

CONTENTS
Page 2

No. 14.372
Rachel Blane
Wid: [Widow] of Geo-
Va.
Act of 7th July 1838.
Page 3

State of Virginia, Nelson County to witt. [To wit]
On this 26 day of March eighteen hundred & fifty one (1851) before me John Horsley a Justice of the peace, in and for said County, personally appeared Mrs. Rachael Blane, a Resident of said County Aged 78 years as she states who being first duly sworn according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the acts of Congress, passed on the 7th of July 1838, March 3d. 1843, June 17th 1844, and Feb’y [February] 2nd 1848 - granting half pay and pensions to widows of Revolutionary officers and soldiers who served during the Revolutionary war. 
That she is the widow of George Blane dec’d [deceased] of said County who enlisted as a regular soldier from the then County of then County of Amherst – now Nelson – under Capt [Captain] Jacob Brown who was a recruiting officer in the County at the time and that he the said Geo. Blane served 18 months at one time to the south; and that he was either in the same company with Hezekiah Hargrove [S5481], or in the same Reg’t. [Regiment] or service with him – as they both went in the service about the same time. That her husband was also in service at the battles of the Cowpens [17 Jan 1781], and at Guilford Court House [15 Mar 1781]; and at one time in the war was a commissary, down about Jamestown in Virginia. That she was married to the aforesaid Geo. Blane in the then County of Amherst on the [blank] day of March 1789 or 90; and that her husband the aforesaid Geo. Blane died in said County of the [blank] day of May 1817: That she was not married to him prior to the expiration of his last term of service; but the marriage took place previous to the 1st day of Jan’y [January] 1794 – and that her maiden name was Demasters – all of which will appear by reference to the proof annexed. 
Rachael [her X mark] Blane {Seal}

as she states - interlined before signed John Horsley J. P. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written –
Before me -        John Horsley J. P.
26th March 1851 
In presence of -
Page 4

State of Virginia, Nelson County to Witt [To Wit]
On this 26th day of March Eighteen hundred & fifty one before me John Horsley a Justice of the peace in and for said County, personally appeared Sarah Teas, a respectable resident of said County, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath say- 
That she is 83 years old and knows the fact, that George Blane decd [deceased] of said County, who was married to Rachael Demasters of the County of Amherst, went in to the service during the Revolutionary War to the south in the same company with Hezekiah Hargrove from the then County of Amherst now Nelson and that while absent from home in said service, she the deponent always understood that said Geo. Blane was at the Battles of the Cowpens and also at the Battle of Guilford Court House. He may also have been in service at other times, and places than the above - but that her memory does not serve as to any other at the present time. That she can not positively who the captain was, that be the said Blane enlisted, or served under - but probably it was Cap. Jacob Brown, who was a Recruiting officer in the County of Amherst during the Revolutionary war. Deponant [Deponent] is satisfied that said Blane must have been some ____ years in service in all. That some few years after the close of the war, said Geo. Blane married Rachael Demasters as aforesaid - and that her husband died in said County some 34 years ago, leaving his widow Rachael, as above, and who is still alive, and close neighbor to deponant. [deponent] 
Sarah [her X mark] Teas {Seal}

Eighteen hundred & fifty one interlined before signed John Horsley J.P. 
Affirmed to and subscribed in the day and year above written - this 26th March 1851 
Before me - John Horsley J.P. 
In presence of – 
Robt H Gray       J.P.
Page 5

State of Virginia, Nelson County to wit: 
On this 25th day of September 1848, before me James S. Dillard a Justice of the peace, in and for said County, personally appeared Charles Purvis, a respectable resident of said County who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath say – That he is 86 years old, and was acquainted with George Blane dec’d [deceased] of said County, who married Rachael Demasters, of then Amherst County some 4 to 6 years after the close of the Revolutionary War – and he knows the fact, that the said George Blane went in to the service during the Revolutionary war – and was in service with Hezekiah Hargrave of said county, who was a United States pensioner – and he the deponant [deponent] is of the opinion, from the best of his recollection, that the said Geo. Blane was [at] the Battle of King’s Mountain [7 Oct 1780] and also the Battle of Guilford – but that he can not say whether it was Cap. Jacob Brown, that he served under or not – nor can he say with any certainty how long he served in all – but that he was in service on the two occasions spoken of above to witt [To Wit], Kings Mountain and Guilford. Said Geo Blane died in said County about 37 years ago and that his widow Rachael – maiden name Demasters – is still alive. she was sometimes called Masters. 
Charles [his X mark] Purvis {Seal}

also the interlined before signed J.P. 
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written- 
Before me -- James S. Dillard J. P. 
presence of –
Robt H. Gray
Page 6

State of Virginia, Nelson County to wit: 
At a Court holden in and for said County on the 28th day of April 1851. The declaration of Rachael Blane widow of George Blane deceased of said County was presented in said Court claiming the benefit of the Acts of Congress of July 7th 1838 March 3rd 1843. June 17th 1844. and February 2nd 1848 granting pensions to widows of Revolutionary officers and soldiers and the Court having examined the same do certify to the department of the Interior, that the said Rachael Blane is the widow of the said George Blane dec.d [deceased] of said County, who was by reputation a soldier in the Revolutionary war and who died in said County about the     day of May 1817. leaving a widow the above named declarant whose maiden name was Masters Alias DeMasters, and who was married about the 3rd day of March 1790 as appears by marriage Bond. That Sarah Teas and Charles Purvis are respectable residents of said County, and that their oaths are entitled to full faith and credit and that John Horsley is an acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified as such and that the signatures purporting to be his affixed to the papers in this case are Genuine. 
In testimony whereof I Thomas I Massie Clerk of the County Court of said County do hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of said Court at Lovingston this twenty ninth day of April A.D. 1851 and in the 75th year of the Commonwealth 
Thomas I. Massie Clerk of Nelson County Court
Page 7

Marriage bond}
of Geo. Blain [Blane]
Page 8

Know all men by these presents that we George Blaine and Samuel Hill are held and firmly bound unto Beverly Randolph Esqr, [Esquire] Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and to his successors for the use of the said Commonwealth in the just and full sum of Fifty pounds to be paid to be paid to the said Randolph or his successors for the use of the said Commonwealth we bind ourselves and each of our and each of our heirs, Executors and Administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 3d day of March 1790. 
The Condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is marriage shortly intended to be solemnized between the said George Blaine a Widower and Elis Ster Rachl [Rachael] Masters Spinster both of the County of Amherst, if there be no lawfull [lawful] cause to obstruct the said Marriage then this obligation to be void 
Teste 
F Staples}
Wm Lovingford} 
George Blaine {Seal}
Samuel Hill

A Copy 
Teste Sam M Garland Ck [Clerk] 
The above bond is a true copy of an original bond executed by George Blaine and Saml [Samuel] Hill on the 3d day of March 1790 
In testimony whereof I Sam M Garland Clerk of the County Court of Amherst in the State of Virginia have hereto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 26th day of March 1851 and in the 75th year of the Commonwealth 
Sam M Garland ck [Clerk]
Page 9

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

March 29, 1937. 
BA-J/ILL 
John Upshaw S. 16560 
George Blane R. 929 Own

Mrs. W. M. Sweeny 
126 Franklin Street 
Astoria, Long Island, New York. 

Dear Madam: 

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of John Upshaw, a pensioner of Elbert County, Georgia, also the record of George Blain who served from Amherst, Albemarle or Buckingham County, Virginia. 

The records of these two soldiers are furnished you herein, as found in pension claims based upon their service in the Revolutionary War. 

JOHN UPSHAW-S. 16560. 

John Upshaw was born February 22, 1755 in Essex County, Virginia; the names of his parents were not given. 

While a resident of Amherst County, Virginia, he enlisted and served as private in the Virginia troops on tours shown as follow: sometime in 1780, three months in Captain William Tucker's company, Colonel Dabney's regiment; during the year 1781, one month in Captain Woodruff's company, Colonel Merriwether's regiment, one month in Captain Dawson's company, guarding prisoners at Albemarle Barracks, and one month in Captain Burrow's company, near Yorktown. The specific dates of enlistments and discharges were not stated. 

The soldier moved from Amherst County, Virginia, to Elbert County, Georgia. 

John Upshaw was allowed pension on his application executed July 16, 1833, at which time he resided in Elbert County, Georgia; he
Page 10

[typed form]

had resided in that county about forty-five years. The soldier made no reference to wife or children. 
----------
GEORGE BLANE-R. 929. 

George Blane, the name shown also as Blaine of Amherst County, Virginia, married Rachel Demasters (Masters) of Amherst County; the marriage bond was dated March 3, 1790, at which time he was a widower, and she was shown "Elis Ster Racl [Rachel] Masters, spinster". The name of his former wife was not given. 

He died in May 1817, in Amherst County, Virginia, stated by widow. 

Rachel Blane, or Blaine, his widow, applied March 26, 1851, for the pension which might have been due on account of his service in the Revolutionary War. She was then aged seventy-eight years and resided in Nelson (formerly Amherst County, Virginia; the date and place of her birth and the names of her parents were not given. It was stated then that George Blane, or Blaine, was enlisted by Captain Jacob Brown, recruiting officer in Amherst County, Virginia, that he served eighteen months in the South, that he was in the battle of King's Mountain, at Cowpens, and in the battle of Guilford Court House, also that he was in a campaign near Jamestown, Virginia: the specific dates of enlistment and discharge were not given, nor the regiments in which he rendered the alleged service. 

The claim for pension was not allowed as she failed to furnish proof of the alleged service of George Blane, or Blaine, as required by the pension law under which she applied. 

There are no further data regarding the soldier's family, in this claim. 

Very truly yours, 

A. D. HILLER, 
Executive Assistant 
to the Administrator.
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No 14.372 

Rachel Blane 
widow of George 
Va. 

Act of 7th July 1838 

To S. Godwin July 22nd 1851

929
Page 12

May 5 1851 

Decl. [Declaration] of Rachel Blane wid. of Geo:
Original Robt & Gray Lynchburg 
Mr. Bassett
Let S. Godwin July 22 /57 [1851]. 

[circular stamp] LYNCHBURG

[written sideways] [stamped] FREE
Ja. E. Heath Esq.
Comr [Commissioner] of Pensions
Washn [Washington] City D. C.
Page 13

[typed form]

COPY- 

Pension Office 
July 22, 1851

S. Goodwin, Esq. 

Sir: 

The declaration under the Act of July 7, 1838 of Rachel Blane, widow of George, of Virginia, transmitted to this office by Robert A. Gray, of Lynchburg, has been examined. 

The marriage is admitted, but the service remains to be proved. She asserts that her husband served 18 months or 2 years at the South in the Virginia Continental Line, but does not state the Regiment in which he served on the date of his service; she does not appear to know when he enlisted or when discharged; consequently we cannot ascertain from the records here what length of time he served or whether indeed he served at all. The usual proof of service, as pointed out by the enclosed rules and regulations, is required. 

Signed -- F. S. Evans, for Comm.

Old Correspondence/ ILL 
March 26, 1937.
Page 14

[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side written sideways]
1937 – Mar. 29 – Hist. to Mrs. W. M. Sweeny ILL

[right side] [crossed out – Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.] 929

P. O. Rachel Blane

Service: _________

Enlisted: ____ ,18
Discharged: _____ ,18

Application filed: _____ ,18

Alleges: ______

Re-enlisted: ______

Attorney: ____
P. O. ____
___Recognized.  _____ Contract.
___Cert. of Dis.  Searched for ____, 18.
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declaration of Mrs. Rachael Blanc 
Act July 7, 1832 [Illegible] 

Robt H. Gray Att
Page 16

Lynchburg May 2d 1851 

Sir, 

Enclosed is the declrn [declaration] of Rachael Blane widow of Geo. Blane decd [deceased] a soldr [soldier] and Commissy [Commissary] in the Rev. War - and was under cap [Captain] Jacob Brown of the Va. Contl [Continental] line for 18 mo [months] at the south at one time - and I would respectfully suggest that search should be particularly for his name made for his name in connection with the services of said Brown in the south. There is no doubt of his place; having been for 18 or 2 years in the service - and should I obtain any further information in regard to his services it shall be forwarded without delay. 

I should have forwarded this case much sooner, but was delayed, waiting for an afft [affidavit] which has not yet come to hand-- wishing to make the case as strong as possible before I submitted it. yours respectfully – 
Robt H Gray

Note - you will recognize Mr. Samuel Godwin as my Sub. Att. in this case. 
Yours- R H G
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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

2 Mar

126 Franklin Street, 
Astoria, Long Island, N. Y.,
March 11, 1937. 

Veterans Administration, 
Washington, D.C.,

Dear Sir: - 
Kindly send me the record of the military services in the War of the Revolution of John Upshaw [^ Ok – IL], a soldier who applied for a pension from Elbert County, Georgia, March 15, 1833; also the Revolutionary record of George Blain who served in the Virginia militia either from Amherst, Albemarle or Buckingham County. 

Yours very respectfully, 
Lena Higginbotham Sweeny 
(Mrs. W. M. Sweeny) 

Blain Plain

[circular stamp with Numbers 1 -12 around the outside] RECEIVED MAR 12 1937 MAIL SUB-DIV, VETS. ADM. READER #34