Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8175, Richard Cawthon, Va.
Page 1

Va.
Cawthon, Richard
number S 8175
carded
Page 2

7154
Virginia
Richard Cawthon
of Fluvanna Co., in the state of Virginia
who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Burnley (?) of the regiment (?) commanded
by Col. Taylor in the Virginia ma(?):
line for 2 years from '79

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 7 day of March
1833 and sent to 
A. Shepherd Esq. Palmyra, VA.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $160.00
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept. 1833 40.00
                                                               $200.00
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by W.L. Williams, Clerk
Book C(?), Vol. (6)? Page 4
Page 3

Office ____ 21st day of August 1832
Abra. Shepherd clk
Richard Cawthon
____________________________?
15387
15387
Page 4

[Declaration page 1]

State of Virginia 
Fluvanna County 
Which on the ___ day of 1832 personally appeared before the Court of said county Richard Cawthon a resident of said County aged Sixty nine 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 1779. for the term of Two years in the Regiment of Guards & he believes on state establishment, that he was enlisted in the county of Amherst Va. at the age of 16 years, that he was enlisted by Lieutenant Woodruff & served in the Company Commanded by  Capt. Garland Burnley, Lieutenant Ambrose Pollars [Pollard], in the Regiment commanded by Col. Francis Taylor, Major [John] Roberts

that he remained nearly or quite 18 months at the Barracks in the County of Albemarle [Virginia] guarding Prisoners taken with Burgoyne [Prisoners from the Battle of Saratoga, NY 1777] that he marched from thence the detachment having under its charge the aforesaid Prisoners, to Fredericktown [Frederick] in the State of Maryland, returned from Fredericktown [Frederick] with the prisoners to Winchester in the State of Va. 

Built Barracks three or Four mile from Winchester  [Virginia], remained there guarding the prisoners aforesaid until his term of Service had expired, after which remained as volunteer in the same service 4 or 5 months, was discharged at Winchester [Virginia] by Col [Francis] Taylor & returned to the county of Albemarle [Va.]

in the Summer of 1781 Volunteered in a Company of Riflemen & served during that Summer in a detachment under the command of Col [Sampson] Mathews was at the Siege of York [Battle of Yorktown, Virginia 1781] & was discharged  after the surrender [Surrender of Cornwallis, Virginia 1781] [General Charles Lord Cornwallis]

He hereby relinquishes every Claim whatever to a pension or an annuity other than the present and he declares that hsis name is not on the Roll of
Page 5

[Declaration page 2]

any agency in any state 
Sworn & subscribed the day and year aforesaid 
Richard Cawthon

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states
Bath G. Parris
Presiding Justice

I Abraham Shepherd Jr Clerk of the Court of Fluvanna County [Va] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Cawthon for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have Set my hand & seal of office this 31st day of August 1832.

Aka Shepherd jr clerk

[illegible seal attached]
Page 6

No. 15387
Richard Cawtthon [Cawthon]
Fluvanna  County Virginia
from 1779 private
2 years Va Role
$80
on Roll

Mr. Shepherd Jr. Clk
Fluvanna County Virginia
Page 7

BRIEF in the case of Richard Cawthon
County of Fluvanna 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? No
3. How old is he? 69 years
4. State his services, as directed in the form annexed.

[column headings: Period/ Duration of Service./ Rank./ Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]

[line 1] 
Entd. in 1779./ 2 Years /As a private /Cap. G Burnley [George] ; Col. F. Taylor [Francis] ; [John] Roberts

[line 2] 
Vol [unteer] / 4 or 5 months / private / [no officers given]

[line 3] 
Volunteer 1781 / duration not stated/  Private / Col. [Sampson] Mathews

5. In what battles was he engaged? York [Battle of Yorktown, Va 1781]
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Amherst County Virginia

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  No

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so in what respect? 
defective

I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in then case above mentioned.
Rich. Keywatts 
Examining Clerk.
Page 8

Rev. and 1812 War Section.

February 18, 1925.

Mrs. R. R. Powell,
Monticello, Ga.

Madam;
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 8175, it appears that Richard Cawthon enlisted in Amherst County, Virginia in 1779 and served in Captain Garland Burnley's Company, Colonel Francis Taylor's Virginia Regiment of Guards, and served two years and four or five months.
In the summer of 1781, he joined a company of Riflemen and served under Colonel Mathews, was in the siege of Yorktown and was discharged in the fall of 1781.
He was allowed pension on his application executed August 30, 1832, while a resident of Fluvanna County, Virginia, aged sixty-nine years.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 9

[left hand page]
Bldg

[middle page] 
8175
Revwar
INVALID. 
File No. 8175
Richard Cawthon
Priv Rev War
Act. June 7th 32 [1832] 
Index:- Vol. 1st, Page 58
[Arrangement of 1870.]

[right hand page] 
Apr 26 "99
G.W. Baird supt state War, Navy
1915 Nov. 4 Hist to Mrs. Albert 
Sidney Parry c/
1925 Feb 18 Hist to Mrs. R.R. Powell aug
1925 Oct 1 Hist to Mrs. H. S. Nortleington aug
Page 10

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which these answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of  Richard Cawthorn which require further proof of explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the decelarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes
III. If the applicatnt did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned 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 definate 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 reliquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1882?  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 no, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes
Page 11

2
XI.  Has the applicant obtained the evidences of a clergyman and other respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? NO
XII.  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  NO
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?  NO
XIV.  (Cross) If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a withness or witnesses as to his service?
  If he produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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. (double cross)  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  Yes
XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered? None
EXPLANATORY NOTES
QUERE V.   In a case where the the applicant cannot, by reason of loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration  by making a 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 his age, and consequent to loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollecion he served no less that the periods mentioned below, and in the folloing 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.
Page 12

3
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"(italicized) is too indefinte, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 shewn 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 the 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.
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 he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official charachter 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 authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the cetificate 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
(Pointing hand) In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.
Page 13

L W Boody (Rev pennsion
(Office of Superintendent,
Stat, War, and Navy Department Building
Washington, D. C.   24 Apr 49
Can you, kindly, put me in comminication with Mr Dalton, who is familiar with the Revolutionary pensions?  I must have script of record of Richard Cawthorn, private in Virginia Continentals, placed on pension rolls 7th March 1833 & pension covered(?) 4th March 1831, at which
Page 14

time he was 71 years old.  As this is for my personal information, and as part of the official duties of any Govt. employee, I think it eminently proper  I should pay for the service.  Some weeks ago I wrote you abouth Rev. pension of G. W. Pralin(?)  Essax Co. VA.  If you will kindly turn those over to someone who will look it up, out of hours, in his own time, I will be profoundly obliged. 
Your, GW Baird
Page 15

Box 15
Suffolk Va
Aug 10, 1925
(seal) U. S. PENSION OFFICE 
AUG 12 1925
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington
D. C.
Dear Sir:
     Any information concerning the Revolutionary War Record of Ludy Cawthorn will be greatly appreciated.  I want to find out in what
Page 16

capacity and dates as well as location they fought
Respectfully
Mrs. H. S. Northington
Page 17

History to

Mrs. Albert Pidney Parry
1801 Wyoming Ave
Wash. D. C.
on personal inquiry
Nov 3, 1915
Page 18

(seal)  U. S. PENSION OFFICE JAN 26 125
Monticello, Ga., January 24, 1925.
Commissioner of Pensions, 
Washington, D, C.
Sir:
     Will you send me a statement of the military history of Richard Cawthorn, Sr., Revolutionary Pensioner in Fluvanna County, Virginia, in 1840?

Respectfully, 
Mrs. R. R. Powell.(hand written signature)
Page 19

November 4, 1915
Mrs. Albert Sidney Parry,
1801 Wyoming Avenue.
Washington, D. C.
Madam:
     In response to your personal request on the third instant, you are advised that the papers in the claim of Richard Cawton sur. File No. 8,175. Rev. War, show that he was allowed pension on his application executed August 30, 1832, while a resident of Fluvanna County, Virginia, and sisty-nine years of age.
     He stated that he enlisted in Amhurst County, in Captain Garland Burnley's company, Colonel Francis Taylor's regiment of Guards: that he guarded prisoners at the barracks in Albemarle County, Virginia and near Winchester, Virginia.  where he was discharged having served two years  and four or five months.
     Vonunteered in the summer of 1781, joined a company of Riflemen (captain not stated) and served in a detachment under Colon el Matthews; was in the siege of Yorktown and was discharged after the surrender.
Page 20

of Cornwallis, in the Fall of 1781.
     The dates and places of soldier's birth and death are not shown, nor is there any family data whatever on file.  

Very respectfully, 
GMSlatzgaber