Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38119, for John Kilby, Maryland
Page 1

Service
Md Sea Service
Navy

Kilby, John

Number
S.38119
Page 2

Left Side Page

2020
Virginia

John Kilby mariner Bon Homme Richard
Capt. Paul Jones
Naval service
& Md Sea Service 1 Year
in the army of the United States during the revolutionary war

Inscribed on the roll of Virginia
at the rate of eight dollars per month to commence on the 28th of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 31 of July 1818 and sent to the care of John Tyler, Esq: Charles City Court Va

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1818 $33.87
4 months 7/30 $33.87

{Revolutionary claim Act 18th March 1818}

Right Side Page

Too light to transcribe
Page 3

The affidavit of John Kilby a citizen of the United States of North America and now of the commonwealth of Virginia deposeth and sayeth that on the 6th day of August in the year 1776 this deponent shipped on board the Brigantine Sturdy Beggar of fourteen guns commanded by Capt. James Cambell in the Town of Vienna, Maryland Dorchester County near the place where he was born, then went to New Bern North Carolina where the Brig then lay; we then sailed on a cruise and on or about the 20th day of November same year we fell in with a Glasgo Brig of 8 double fortified six pounders and after a small action of 3/4 of an hour we captured her and on the 1st December same year we fell in with the ship Smurney Galley of 10 guns and after an action of 1/2 an hour we captured her, the said Kilby was put on board the prize ship & on 9th day of the same month was captured by the Resolution 74 guns commanded by Sir John Chandler Oglesby and carried into it in (England) and after remaining on board the guard ship nearly four months was then carried to Hazel Hospital after going through a pretend trial the then sitting Judge after calling over all of our names pronounced sentences in these words to wit: you are all condemned for piracy and high treason on his majesty's high seas" we the ship's crew were then sent to Fortune Jail under a strong guard of soldiers where we lay in cell sweating. Brick Walls near twenty-two months after which one hundred of us were exchanged over to France, we in the Port of Penleap then went to the city of Nantz where we remained eight days, a letter was drafted and sent by post over to Capt. John P. Jones then lying in the port of Le Orient requesting him to send over an officer, that we wished to ship on board his ship, the letter was sent, & he sent over two officers (the sailing master and gunner) about 33 of us entered and signed the ship Bonhomme Richards articles for twelve months on or about 1st April or May 1779, after which we sailed on a cruise from the Port of Le Orient where the ship then lay, but before we sailed we all received twenty French crowns from Mr. Marlow the Continental Agent. The before named Cruize is well known to the whole world and needs no explanation from me; I will
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only says on 23rd November 1779 we fell in with the sea Rafris of 44 guns commanded by Richard Pearson and after an action of 9 [illegible] four hours of which were side and side, we captured her and. I was an officer first a midshipman and in the action master's mate, then LIeut of which our ship the Bonhomme Richard sank within 24 after the action we took charge of the prize ship and arrived safe in the Tiel (Holland) where we lay a long time, after which our Capt. was by Doct. Benjamin Franklin ordered to take charge of the Alliance Frigate of 36 guns and the then commander Peter Sanders ordered to go to Pearson at length sailed on a cruise went into Oroney (Spain) where we lay some small time, we again sailed on a cruise after which we arrived in the Port of Le Orient where we first sailed from. Our Captain went to Paris and on his return our ship was all ready to sail for the Port of Boston (America) but by some means the former captain of the Alliance Peter Sanders got on board of the ship which Capt. Jones and some of his principal officers were on shore, the reason why it happened was this the two ships were as soon as ones took charge of the alliance altogether and both officers and crew could not endure each other as Sanders was accused of disobeying the order of Jones, the commodore of the squadron and generally called a coward by all the officers and men of the crew of that good ship called Sanders their captain in the ship again, his officers got him on board by still while Jones was on shore, Sanders when on Board way'd anchor and went to sea, we at length arrived safe on Boston where Sanders was tried and broke the [illegible] self-praise I do say that was not a dishonorable one. I still followed the sea in armed ships and off the West Indies was again taken prisoner by a sloop of War of 16 guns commanded by Lieut. Parker with dispatches from New York to Admiral Hood. I was plundered of all my clothes, my discharge and all my papers. I had before obtained from Capt. Jones authorizing my acting as an officer; sometime soon after we fell in with D'Amable frigate of 38 guns Capt. Alexander Hood and was put on board of his ship as a prisoner; some small time after
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I was put on board the Torbay 74 Guns ordered into Kingston Jamaica in which place I remained nearly four months on Parole, further I will say that for all the said services serving my country in Congress service upwards of two long years I never received but the twenty French crowns and one Dutch ducal nine shillings and six pence sterling either in wages or prize money and now from my advanced age and from my reduced circumstances in life, I claim the pension as an officer allowed by act of Congress and as I have received information from the Secretary of War by letter that all the records of the navy during the revolutionary war has been destroyed by fire, which put it out of my power to prove my services before stated in any other way only by a letter from Commodore Richard Dale who was in that ship the Lieutenant, which is hereunto annexed which letter I presume will be satisfactory evidence of the fact and further this deponent saith not.

John Kilby
28 April 1818
Page 6

Affidavit of 
John Kilby 
Application 
for a pension
under the late
act of congress

Virginia to wit

This day personally appeared before me a Judge of the General Court of Virginia, John Kilby of Hanover County who made oath to the truth of the facts contained in this affidavit - and I do certify that the said Kilby is by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, in need of assistance from his country for support - the evidence to that effect produced by him being satisfactory to me.

Given under my hand this 28th April 1818 

Wm Brockenbrough
Page 7

John Kilby's Certificate
2020

Enclose my certificate by
mail to Hanover Town, Virg'a
to me
John Kilby
Page 8

On this 28th day of April 1821 personally appeared in open court being a court of record for the County of Hanover, John Kilby who was born on the 15th day of Sept. 1758 aged near sixty three years a resident in the county of Hanover in the District of Virginia who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath declare that the served in the revolutionary war as follows: that on the 6th day of August 1776 he entered and sailed on board the Brig Sturdy Beggar of fourteen guns commanded by Capt. James Cambell that on the 23rd day of October of the same year fell in with the Brig Glasgo from Port Glasgo bound to St. Johns (Newfoundland) mounting sixteen carriage guns which we captured after an action of one hour and a quarter: that on the 1st day of December following we fell in with an captured after an action of three quarters of an hour the ships Smincey Gully of eighteen guns bound from Smyrna to London that on the 9th day of the same month he was captured on board the same ship by the resolution of seventy-four guns commanded by Sir John Chandley Oglesby and carried to England; that he was committed to Hazelly Hospital then removed as a rebel to Fortune Jail in which place he remained with about three hundred men (to wit, Capt. John Harris, Capt. Alexander Dick and many more men of note from Virginia and the other states) on Rebels allowance until sometime in August 1779 when one hundred of us were exchanged and sent to the city of Hautes (France) where thirty-three including myself who had been thus long confined entered on board the Bonhomme Richard commanded by John Paul Jones then in Congress service (say we entered on the aforesaid day of Sept 1779. The ships then lay in the Port of L'Orient and mounted forty guns that he served on board of that ship and the Alliance Frigate of thirty-six guns until the Alliance arrived in Boston in the year 1781 when Capt. Peter Sanders her commander was arrested, tried and cashiered and he John Kilby with the rest of her crew dispersed without receiving any discharge; that while he sailed with John Paul Jones he acted first as midshipman second as Master's Mate and third as Lieutenant in the action with the [illegible]; that he has papers from said Jones to show these facts but being afterwards taken in an armed vessel by the L'Amicable Frigate of thirty-eight guns commanded by Alexander Hood and sent
Page 9

into Jaimaica a British Island where he was confined for four - months and was robed(sic) of all his papers and cloths and treated worse than he was treated in England for it appeared to him that no treatment was bad enough for one who had served under John Paul Jones; that he was in the Island of St Thomas when peace was made since which time he has resided in the County of Hanover in the State of Virginia; that when he entered on board the Bonhomme Richard he received twenty French Crowns; in Holland he received one Ducat of nine shillings & six pence Sterling and never one cent more either of prize money or wages, so that the balance of prize money and wages is still due to him; that the date of his original declaration is the day of [blank] and the number of his pension certificate is [blank] And in pursuance of the Act of the first of May 1820 I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818; that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any other manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress Entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service "of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18th day of March 1818: that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me any - property or securities contracts or debts except  [inserted next 3 words] the debts due from James A. Neal, John Pond, Richard E. Armstrong, Alexander Cockburn and the estate of Samuel Earnest dec'd all of which debts I have paid as security and from whom I never expect to get one Cent the whole of them long since - having proved insolvent [inserted] all of which Debts has long since been assigned & [illegible] for money [illegible] - nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed, to wit, no property whatever clothing excepted; that I have been bred to the sea, but have quitted that calling for near thirty years & am now unable to do much labor: that I have a wife who is about forty three years old who has two children living with me by her former husband, William Augustus Talley aged about eight years and George Washington Talley aged about six years and that I now stand in need of assistance from my Country for support which I faithfully served nearly through the whole war, and I hope the Secretary of war will order that I shall receive my
Page 10

pension from the time I was last paid
John Kilby

Sworn to in open Court the 28th day of April 1821
Tho Tinsley Presiding Magistrate

Virginia Hanover County to wit, I do hereby certify that the foregoing Transcript is a true Copy from the records of the Court of the said County & I do further Certify that the said Court was of opinion that the value of the property contained in the Schedule in the said Transcript set forth was nothing. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said County the second day of May 1821.
[seal]  William Pollard Clerk of the 
County Court of Hanover
Page 11

[illegible initials]
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section. 

November 23, 1926.

Mrs. Alva T. Holman,
1807 Royster Building,
Norfolk, Va.

Madam:
I have to advise you, that from the papers in the pension claim, S. 38119, it appears that John Kilby was born September 15, 1758, near Vienna, Dorchester County, Maryland and shipped there, August 6, 1776, on the Brigantine, "Sturdy Beggar", Captain James Campbell; in October, or November 1776 they were in an engagement with the Brig, "Glasgow", and on December 1, 1776, in one with the Galley "Smyrna", both of which were captured; He was placed on the last named vessel, which was captured December 9, 1776, by the "Resolution", he was imprisoned in England until August 1779, when exchanged and sent to France. 
While in France, he entered September 2. 1779, on the ship "Bon Homme Richard", Captain John Paul Jones , on that vessel he served as a Midshipman, Master's Mate and Lieutenant. He was in the engagement with the "Serapis". After remaining in Europe for some time, he sailed on the "Alliance" and arrived in Boston in 1781.
Page 12

He continued to serve on armed ships, no details of service given, was captured off the West Indies, was paroled in Jamaica and remained there four months.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 28, 1818, while living in Hanover County, Virginia. 
In 1823, he referred to his wife, aged forty-three years, she was the widow of William Augustus Talley [question mark above this name], but he did not give her name, and it is not stated whether he had any children.
Respectfully, 
WINFIELD SCOTT, Commissioner.
Page 13

1926 Nov 23. Hist. to Mrs. A.T. Holman AW
1927 Apr 13. photos to Admr H.P. Huse AW
1928 Apr 4-Photos to Rodney Dutcher (MM&F) See corres. in cl. of Thos. Cunningham, N.4166.

Invalid
Navy
File No. 38119
John Kilby
Naval Service
Revolutionary 
Act March 18,1818
Index: Vol ___, Page ___
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 14

6769
3-2233
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division
Apr 1 1927
Chief Rev War Sect. Division. 

I have this day received from Rear Admiral H P Huse cash No ___ for $2.20, requesting photostat copy} as per letter herewith.

1927 Apr 13 photos mailed & Finance Div Notf AW

O.J. RANDALL
Chief Finance Division.
HCL. CV 312
Page 15

April 1, 1927
Commissioner of Pensions:
Please furnish photostat copies of 13 pages certified from the Revolutionary War pension claim S.38119 John Kilby.

To Rear Admiral H P Huse
2400 16th St N.W.
Washington, D.C.

rec'd payment
$2.20
A E Wilson
Chief Rev & 1812 Wars Section

Bureau of Pensions Stamp Apr 1, 1927
Page 16

SUBMIT IN DUPLICATE   1-681  PHONE Branch 476
All inquiries regarding this job should refer to Requisition No. 14061 
Requisition for Duplicating, Addressograph, Photostat, and Blue Print Work.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [initials]
WASHINGTON
CHIEF, Division of Publications,
Room G 137     ____192__
Please furnish work specified below.
Bureau ordering Pension   Deliver to Room No. 5033
(ALL COPY FOR DUPLICATING WORK SHOULD BE PLAIN AND WRITTEN IN ELITE TYPE, EXACTLY LINE FOR LINE AS IT IS TO APPEAR ON FINISHED JOB.)
Title and description of job  Photostat copies of 13 pages from the [illegible] No. 38119, John Kilby.
No. of copies ___  Shall form be kept standing? ___ days
For further information see [illegible]
Approved: O.L. Gambon
Chief Clerk of Bureau Reed
Room No.  Phone No. 
A.E. Wilson  Chief of Branch ['or Division' crossed out]
NOTE: No order made "SPECIAL" unless statement showing necessity is written below and approved by Chief Clerk of Bureau ordering
[oval stamp] DIVISION OF PUBLICATIONS DEPT. OF THE INTERIOR RECEIVED APR 5 1927

CHECK WORK DESIRED
Duplicate
Multigraph  single or double space?  Facsimile signature?
Mimeograph  one side or both sides?  Facsimile signature?
Folding  once or twice?
Assembling
Stapling  Once?  Twice?  Side?  End?
Electric typewriter  Fill in addresses?  Dated?

Addressograph from lists
Envelopes, size... Cards, size...
Proof list...  Pay rolls...
Labels (submit sample)...  Corrections...
Fill in letters...  Tabulation sheets...

Photostat x Size Actual  Official use?... Repay? yes $1.95
Blue Print  Size  Official use?  Repay?... $...
Remarks
(OVER)
Page 17

NOTE: Routine changes of addresses may be made on this blank without formal reference through or initialing of chiefs of branches or chief clerks of bureaus.  ....192...
(Date)
INDICATE BY AN X IN PROPER SQUARE ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
[box] Make new addressograph plate
[box] Change present addressograph plate
[box] Destroy present addressograph plate
}on list....
as follows:
Now reads 1.... 2.... 3.... 4.... 5....
Should read 1.... 2.... 3.... 4.... 5....
FOR USE OF DUPLICATING AND ADDRESSING SECTION
ADDRESSOGRAPH
The above change was made .... 192....
Operator ....
MULTIGRAPH
Operator ....  Date.... Type set by....
Remarks:....
MIMEOGRAPH
Operator... Date... Cut by...
Remarks:....
Page 18

[vertically in left margin] See receipt & Corres in Cl. of Thos. Cunningham, N. 4166

SUBMIT IN DUPLICATE   1-681  [initials] PHONE Branch 476
All inquiries regarding this job should refer to Requisition No. 22134
Requisition for Duplicating, Addressograph, Photostat, and Blue Print Work.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [initials]
WASHINGTON
CHIEF, Division of Publications,
Room G 137    March 24, 1928..192...
Please furnish work specified below.
Bureau ordering PENSION   Deliver to Room No. 5033
(ALL COPY FOR DUPLICATING WORK SHOULD BE PLAIN AND WRITTEN IN ELITE TYPE, EXACTLY LINE FOR LINE AS IT IS TO APPEAR ON FINISHED JOB.)
Title and description of job  Photostatic copies of 3 pages from Rev. War pension claim of John Kilby, S. 38119
No. of copies 1 of each  Shall form be kept standing? ___ days
For further information see M.M.H. Finch  5033   541
Room No.    Phone No. 
Approved: [illegible]
Actg. Chief Clerk of Bureau G
Margaret M.H. Finch  Chief of Branch ['or Division' crossed out]
NOTE: No order made "SPECIAL" unless statement showing necessity is written below and approved by Chief Clerk of Bureau ordering
[oval stamp illegible]

CHECK WORK DESIRED
Duplicate
Multigraph  single or double space?  Facsimile signature?
Mimeograph  one side or both sides?  Facsimile signature?
Folding  once or twice?
Assembling
Stapling  Once?  Twice?  Side?  End?
Electric typewriter  Fill in addresses?  Dated?

Addressograph from lists
Envelopes, size... Cards, size...
Proof list...  Pay rolls...
Labels (submit sample)...  Corrections...
Fill in letters...  Tabulation sheets...

Photostat x Size actual  Official use?... Repay? yes $ .45
Blue Print  Size  Official use?  Repay?... $...
Remarks
(OVER)
Page 19

NOTE: Routine changes of addresses may be made on this blank without formal reference through or initialing of chiefs of branches or chief clerks of bureaus.  ....192...
(Date)
INDICATE BY AN X IN PROPER SQUARE ACTION TO BE TAKEN.
[box] Make new addressograph plate
[box] Change present addressograph plate
[box] Destroy present addressograph plate
}on list....
as follows:
Now reads 1.... 2.... 3.... 4.... 5....
Should read 1.... 2.... 3.... 4.... 5....
FOR USE OF DUPLICATING AND ADDRESSING SECTION
ADDRESSOGRAPH
The above change was made .... 192....
Operator ....
MULTIGRAPH
Operator ....  Date.... Type set by....
Remarks:....
MIMEOGRAPH
Operator... Date... Cut by...
Remarks:....
Page 20

Norfolk, Virginia, September 22nd 1926
1207 Royster Building

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.

I am writing to ask if you can give me the Revolutionary War record of my third great-grandfather John Kilby whose Virginia State Record is as follows:

Secretary of War 1835 Pen 2 p, 67 (Va.)
Archives Dept Va State Library
John Kilby of Hanover County, Mariner
placed on Pension Rolls 31 July 1818,
Pension to commence as of 28 April 1818.
The aged 73 years. For services as a
Mariner in the Navy of the United States.
He received $96 per annum, and at that time
(1835) has received $705.86

Any information that you can give me will be greatly appreciated as I am preparing application for entrance into the Society of Daughters of American Revolution.

Yours very truly
Alva Turrentine Holman

(Mrs.) Alva Turrentine Holman
1207 Royster Building
Norfolk, VA

US PENSION OFFICE STAMP - Sept 23, 1926
Page 21

John Brockenbrough Esq
Judge
General Court of Virginia

John Kilby
Mariner
Bon Homme Richard
Revolutionary Claim
dated April 28, 1818

Admitted
Page 22

Inclose the Certificate to John Kilby either to Hanover Courthouse or Hanover Town, Virginia
Page 23

Hanover County To wit.
On this 24th day of Sept. 1821 - 
Before me the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for the said County of Hanover Personally appeared John Kilby. Who, on his Oath declares that he is the same person who formerly belonged to the Bonne homme Richard, Commanded by Capt. John Paul Jones in the service of the United States of America, that his name was placed on the Pension Roll of the United States, that he Received a Certificate of that Fact under the signature and seal of the secretary of War, Which Certificate on the first Monday of Dec'r 1820 was put into the hands of Charles Hill Esquire, a senator of the Assembly of Virginia, and by him put into the hands of the Clerk of S'd Senate, Which Certificate have since never been able to git, and I have good Reasons to beleave It is Either Lost or Miss laid - John Kilby
Sworn and subscribed to before me, the day & year aforesaid - Philip B. Winston

Virginia Hanover County, to wit. I William Pollard Clerk of the Court of the said County do hereby certify that Philip B. Winston who hath subscribed his name as above, was at the time of  [illegible] and still is, a Justice of the Peace in & for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and sworn according to the laws and assizes of the Commonwealth.
[seal] In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said County on the twenty fifth day of September 1821
William Pollard
Page 24

Palas French Frigate in Congress’ service, Texel(Holland) Oct. 6th 1779
Sir:
You will be pleased to inform the Lord Commissioner of the admiralty that on the 23 Sept., being close in with Seaborough (on the coast of Yorkshire, England) about Eleven O’Clock, a [illegible] came on board with a letter from the bailiff of that Corporation, giving information of a flying squadron of the Enemy’s ships being on His east and of a part of the said squadron having been leaving from thence the day before, standing by their south ward. As soon as I Received this intelligence I made the signal for this convoy to bear down under [illegible], and Repeated it with two guns; notwithstanding which, the [illegible] of the convoy kept their wind with idle sail stretching out to the southward from under Flamborough braced till between twelve and one, when the headmast of them got sight of this Enemy’s ships which were then in chase of them. They then tacked and made the best of their way under the shore for Searborough & calling fly them top gallon sheets, and firing guns; upon which I made all the sails I could to windward to get between the Enemy’s ships and the convoy, which I sawd(sic) Effected at one o'clock we got sight of the Enemy’s ships from the mast head and about four we made them plain from the Deck to be three large ships and a Brig; upon which I made the [Comity?] of Seaborough’s signals to join me, she being in shore with this Convoy; at the same time I made the signal for the convoy to make the best of their way, and Repeated the signal with two guns; I then Brought to (meaning halting the ship by setting sails against each other's action), to let the [Comity?] of Seaborough come out and cleared ships for action at half past five the [Comitys] of Seaborough joined [illegible] the convoy’s ships then bearing down upon us with a light brees at S.S.W. [south southwest] at six tack5, and laid our [] in shore, in order to keep our [] the better between the Enemy's ships and the Convoy; soon after which we perceived the ships bearing down upon us to be a two deck ship and two Frigates, but from their keeping end one upon us and bearing down, we could not discern what Coulours(sic) they were under; at a [illegible] twenty [illegible] part [ilegible] the [illegible] ship
Page 25

of the three brought by on our starboard bow, within musquit [musket?] shot, I halted firing and asked what ship it was; they answered in English the Princess Royal; I then asked where they belonged to they answered Evasively; on which I told him if they do not answer directly I would fire into them; they then answered with a shot which was instantly returned with a broad side; and after Exchanging two or three Broad sides, he backed his topsails (meaning turned so wind hits sail on its forward side) and raked upon our quarter within pistol shot, then fired again, put his helm (meaning steering mechanism) a-weather (meaning turned toward windward side of ship) and run us on board upon our weather quarter (meaning rear of ship on windward side) and attempted to board us, but being repulsed, he sheared off. Upon which I tacked our top sails in order to get square with him again, which as soon as he answered he then fired, but his [] a weather, and laid us []; His mizen shrouds took our jib beam, which [] hi for some time, till that last gave way and we were alon side of Each other, head and stern when the Flecher of our square anchor hacking his quarter, we became so [] fore and aft. That the muzzels of our guns touched each others [] in this positon we ingaged from  half past Eight till half past ten; during which time, from the great quatity and variety of combustible matters which they threw in upon our decks, [] and in short into very part of the ship e were on fire no less. About ten or twelve times in different parts of the ship, and it was with the greatest efficiency and exertion imaginable at times that we were able to get it Extinguished, at the same time the [] of the two Frigates kept sailing ram’d us the whole action, and raking in fore and aft by which means they killed or wounded almost every man on the quarter decs, about half past nine, Either from a hand grenade being thrown in at one of our lower deck parts, or from some other accident, a cartridge of power was set on fire, the flames of which running from cartridge to cartridge all the way aft, blew up the whole of the people and officers that were quartered aft the main mast, from which unfortunate circumstances all those guns were rendered useless for the remainder of the action and I fear the quarter part of the [] will lose their lives at ten oclock they called for quarters from the shop alongside and [] they had attack; hearing this I called upon the captain. to know if they had attack as if he asked for quarters, but no
Page 26

no answer being made, after Repeating my words [illegible] their [illegible], I called for the boarders, and ordered them to board, which they did; but the moment they were on board her they discovered a superior number laying under cover with pikes in their hands Ready to Receive them on which our people Retreated Instantly into our own ship, and Returned to their guns again till past ten, when the Frigate coming a crop our stern, and pausing for Broadside into us again, without our being able to bring a gun to bear on her I found it in vain, and in short impracticable, from the situation we were in, to [illegible] cut any longer with the least prospect of success. Therefore struck our main mast at the same time by the board, this first Lieut and myself were immediately escorted into the ship on side, when we found her to be an American Ship of war, Called the Bonhomme Richard of 40 guns and 35 men, commanded by Capt. Paul Jones; this [illegible] frigate which engaged us, to be the alliance, of 40 guns and 300 men, and the [illegible] frigate, which engaged and took the Comity of Seaborough, after two hours of action, to be the Pal[l]as a French Frigate of 32 guns and 275 men, the Vengeance, an armed Brig of 12 guns and 70 men, all in Congress’ service, and and(sic) in the command of [], fitted out and sailed from Port L’Orient the latter end of July, and came north about; they have on board 300 English prisoners, which they have taken in different Vessels in their way Round, since they left France and have Removed some others, and my going on board the Bonhomme Richard, I found being the greatest distress; in quarters and [illegible] on the [illegible] deck entirely drove in, and the whole of her lower deck [illegible] dismantled, she was also on fire in two places, and six or seven feet water in her hold, which kept increasing up on them all night and the next day, till they were obliged to quit her, and she sank; with a great number of her wounded people on board, had 206 men killed and wounded in the action, our [Illegible] in the [illegible] was the very [illegible]; my officers and people in general behaved well, and [I] should be very remiss in any attention to their need were I to omit recommending the remains of them to his Lordship’s favior(sic) that [the] least Remiss in his duty, he having given me every assistance in his power, and as much as could be expected for such a ship, in Engaging the attention of the Pal[l]as at Texel.
Page 27

32 guns during the whole action, I am Extremely long for the misfortune that has happened, that of losing his Majesty’s ship I had the Honor to Command; but at the same time, I flatter myself with the hope that their Lordships will be convinced that she has not been [illegible] away; but on the contrary that every Exertion has been used to defend her; and that two Essential pieces of [illegible] to our Country have [illegible] from it; the one in wholly [illegible] the [illegible] and intentions of this Flying Squadron; the other in Receiving the whole of a valuable Convoy from falling into the hands of the Enemy which must have been the case had I acted any otherwise than I did, we have been sailing a Boat in the south seas ever since the action, entertaining to reach any part we possibly could but have not been able to get into any place till today we arrived in the Talas herewith I inclose you the most Exact list of the killed and wounded I have as yet been able to procure, from my people being displaced amongst the different ships, and having been refused permission to muster them; there are I find many more hath killed and wounded, then appears on the Talas’ list, but their names as yet I find impossible to ascertain; as soon as I possible can I shall give their Lordship a full account of the whole, I am [illegible] your most obedient and most Humble servant. 
R. Pearson
P.S. I am refused permission to wait on [illegible] and [illegible] to get on shore. Abstract of the list of Killed and wounded, Killed 49—wounded 68.
For the purpose of this letter, I by leave to Refer the Honorable Seceretary of war to my [illegible] 1779
John Kilby
Page 28

Hanover C H Va
25th Sept

FREE

The Secretary at War

Washington

14
9
-----
$23

36
20
10
10
4
-----
$90
Page 29

Mr. John Kilby
Hanover County, Hanover, Town
Virginia
Page 30

Sir
Philadelphia Jany 28th 1818
Your favour of the 19th Inst is before me I take due
notice of its content, I have not the pleasure of acquaintance
nor do I recolect you, it is not supposing that I do not, when you
effect on the length of time that has elapsed, but from the many
the
circumstances that you state which passed under my notice
should have has no doubt in my mind of your being on
board of the Bonhomme Richard but having your name
on the list of the other parts the quation at rest, that you was
on board when you come into the service, or when you
left it, I cannot say-- I should be very sorry to think, that the
present will before meets your situation, if I understand
the Bill, it is to assist those that cannot help themselves you
may say paries. I hope that is not your situation if it is not
I advise you not to trouble yourself about it
I am Sir
with respect your Obt Sert
Ri Dale
Page 31

The National Archives
Form Vam-51
12-5-41

Bounty Land Warrant Record Card*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

Name: Kilby, John
Grade: Corporal
Line: Pennsylvania
Warrant Number: 9741
Acreage: 100
Issued: June 20, 1779
To ~ not shown

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolution of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.
Page 32

The National Archives
Form Vam-51
12-5-41

Bounty Land Warrant Record Card*

Division of Veterans' Administration Archives

Name: Kile, John
Grade: Private
Line: Massachusetts
Warrant Number: 4537
Acreage: 100
Issued: May 22, 1790
To John Ramsey

*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolution of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.