Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6242, for George Timmons, Georgia
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Ga. Timmons, George S.6242
Va.
carded
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Virginia 16.213
George Timmons
of Dinwiddie in the State of Virginia who was a pvt in the company commanded by Captain  Epps of the Regt commanded by Col. Jones in the Virginia line for 8 months.

Va. and Ga. June 13/04.
Records completed. R.

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issues the 18th day of July '33 and sent Hon: M. Alexander Lombardy Grove Va.
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 - 53.32
Semi-anl allowance ending 4 Sept" - 13.33
66.65
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk,
Book E. Vol. 6 Page 28
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15,393
George Timmons
26 Feb '33
{illegible} 5:16
{illegible} 2 of 3
Admitted as a private
8 mo- 26.16
Hon
Mr. Alexander
H. R.
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BRIEF in the case of George Timmons of Dinwiddie County 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? 75

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. drafted in 1777 or 1778 drafted soon after the British invaded Georgia
Duration of Service. little more than 2 months
Rank. As a private.
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.  Capt. Stephen Dickerson duty Georgia

Period.  Georgia (1780)
Duration of Service about 15 days
Rank as a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Capt. Stephen Dickerson Georgia

Period.  [illegible] 1780
Duration of Service 3 months
Rank as a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Col. Joseph Jones Virginia [illegible]

Period.  drafted 1787
Duration of Service 3 months
Rank as a private
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served. Capt Peter Epps
Col Faulkner

5.  In what battles was he engaged?
Not any

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service?
Sunbury, Georgia - Dinwiddie Co, Virginia

7.  Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  By traditionary evidence, and by living  [illegible] as to his last [illegible]

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

CERTIFY that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with evidence in the case above mentioned.

[illegible]
Examining Clerk
26th July 1833
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State of Virgina
County of Dinwiddie
On this 20th day of August 1832 personally appeared in {illegible} court, before the Justices of the County Court of Dinwiddie County now sitting, George Timmons a resident of the County and State aforesaid, aged 75 years 30th of May last who being first being 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 the 7th 1802.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following officers, and served as herein stated; to wit, that in the year 1777 or 1778 he is not certain {illegible} the great Capn of {illegible} which & while he was residing near Sunbury in Georgia he was drafted as a private in a company of militia, commanded by Capt. Stephen Dickenson under whom they sailed from Sunbury to St. Mary's. That some dispute having occurred between the Governor of Georgia and the officers who commanded the American troops, as to who should commanded after he crossed the line, the Governor discharged the militia after he had been in service a little more than two months but he does not recollect the precise time. The expeditions had been planned against St. Augustine which was held at that time by the British under the officer whose name he thinks was Prevort but the expedition fell through as aforesaid.
2. That soon after that the British invaded Georgia under the same officer Prevort when he was again called out under the same Captain Dickenson with whom he served in Fort Morris in the little town of Sunbury before spoken of. That the profile of the town evacuated it's retired into the Fort & the British advanced and took possession of the town. It was believed
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he recollected that the plan of the enemy was for this fleet from the North to bring troops around to Savannah that this force {illegible} to penetrate the state at Sunbury & then to form a junction but being disappointed in the failure of the fleet to arrive, the party at Sunbury withdrew, without attacking the Fort. That after that some time and when the Northern troops did arrive before Savannah, this same force returned & took Sunbury & the Fort. That this declarant however had been discharged in the interval between the first and second visit of the enemy after having remained only about two weeks in service.
3. After the British took Georgia in 1780 he removed to Virginia & settled married in the County of Dinwiddie, where he has ever since resided. That he had not been here many months before (when British {illegible} invaded Virginia) he readmitted as a private in the militia and served a tour of duty. A general call as it was called was made on the occasion & many readmitted at this time. He recollects that Col. {illegible} commanded the Regt. to which he was attached but is entirely unable to recal {recall} in his recollection the name of the company officer. He marched to different points in {illegible} River below Petersburg & was ultimately discharged at Cabin Paul on the expiration of his {illegible} tour of service.
4. That subsequently in the year 1781 he was drafted as a militia man & served a three months tour of duty under Capt. Peter Eppes who commanded the company from that County & was marched as before to different points on {illegible} River until the expiration of the time for which he was bound. That his Col. during that tour was Faulkner. That Capt. Eppes still living - is a resident of this County & can testify as to this last tour. That it is impossible to procure testimony from Georgia, even if any who could have testified for him are now alive which is improbable.
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{illegible}, but that any of his friends neighbors can defend as to the general understanding & belief of his revolutionary services. He does not know certainly that any body is alive who served either of the two last tours with him except Capt. Eppes whose certificate he includes. That the only clergyman who resided in his neighborhood has died some years since. That he has seen a {illegible} of his age in his father's family bible but whatever became of it he knows not but that he believes it to be correct & as he has above represented. That he was born in South Carolina but moved to Georgia with an uncle when about 18 or 19. That he never had any written discharge, nor has he any documentary evidence.
He the {illegible} George Timmons hereby relinquishes every claim whatever, to a pension, or annuity except the preasant, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state whatever.
Sworn to and declared the day and year aforesaid.
George Timmons
J Boswell Hutchings formerly a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and at present a planter residing in the said County of Dinwiddie do hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the Declarant George {illegible} & and have been so from about the close of the revolutionary war. That he does not recollect ever to have served in the same tour with him but that it is generally {illegible} & believed in the neighborhood in which he resides that he was a revolutionary soldier and that believed he was so.
Boswell Hutchings
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I, Tad Sturdisant a planter residing in the County hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Geo. Timmons who subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that I believe him to be 75 years of age; that he is reported, and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that I concur in that opinion.
Sworn and declared the day and year aforesaid.
Tad Sturdisant
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 aforesaid are residents of Dinwiddie County and are credible respectible persons, to whose statement full credit is justly due. Capt. Peter Eppes who has also signed the same is also a resident of the same County was  {illegible} officer in the revolutionary war and that they are credible, respectable persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit, & that we believe no clergyman living in the neighborhood of the Declarant.
I John I {illegible} Clerk of the County Court of Dinwiddie County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Geo. Timmons for a pension.
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REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 
3 - 525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
S.F. 6242  WASHINGTON, D. C. , 19

In reply to your request of       , received         for a statement of the military history of George Timmons a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT 1777 OR 1778
LENGTH OF SERVICE 2 mos.
RANK Pvt.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED CAPTAIN.  Stepen Dickerson
COLONEL.
STATE Ga.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT 1779 OR 1780
LENGTH OF SERVICE 2 weeks
RANK 
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED CAPTAIN.  Stepen Dickerson
COLONEL.
STATE "

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT 1780
LENGTH OF SERVICE 3 mos.
RANK 
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED CAPTAIN.  
COLONEL. Joseph Jones
STATE Va.

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT 1781
LENGTH OF SERVICE 3 mos.
RANK 
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED CAPTAIN. Peter Epps 
COLONEL. Faulkner
STATE "

Battles engaged in, None stated.
Residence of soldier at 1st enlistment, Near Sunbery Ga.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 20, 1832  Fli Cl was al
Residence at date of application, Dinwiddie County, Va.
Age at date of application, born May 30. 1757, in South Carolina
1832+75 =1757
Remarks:  Soldier moved to Dinwiddie county Va in 1780 where he married, name of wife is not stated and there is no other data on file as to his family

Respectfully,

Commissioner.

6-2856
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6242           1921 Jan'y 26 Hist Lt E. H. Sutherland
Rev War
INVALID.
File No. 6242
George Timmons
Pei  Rev War
Act. June 7th "32
Index: Vol. M, Page 375
[Arrangement of 1870]
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State of Virginia, Dinwiddie County Sc;
Personally appeared before me the undersigned a Justice of the Peace for the said county on the; 19th day of June 1833, George Timmons, who being first duly sworn, in addition to his former declaration hereto appended deponeth and fouth that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he can not swear positively as to the precise length of his service, more [illegible] than he has already done but according to the best of his recollection he served as a private: in all, no less than eight months and two weeks, for which service he claims a pension. He states further that he is unable to procure the prescribed certificate of any clergymen in his favour, because none living in his neighborhood or know anything on the subject, and he refers to the former certificate of the court itself as to this fact. From the same defect of memory he is unable to the state the names of any other regular officer, or mention any other centennial or militia regiments with which he served, other or further than he has already done in his declaration and for evidence of his present neighbors, he can only refer to the these which per the these which per whore testimony the court has already taken. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid:
Given under my hand the same day and year aforesaid
I. E. Hargrave,
I J. P. Crasup clerk of the county court of Dinwiddie County in the State of Virginia do hereby certify Ishmer E. Hargrave is a magistrate as above and that the foregoing
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signature purporting to be his, is genuine:
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, this 20th day of June 1833, in the 57th year of the Commonwealth.
J/P. C [illegible] D.C.
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George Timmon's.
Declaration &c
for a Pension.
1832 August 20th
15393
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In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and the seal of my office, the 20th day of August in the year of our Lord 1832 and of our Independence of the 57th.
J. P. Crasup C. D. C.
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George Timmons.

1832
1757
75


33.50
6
22 501
5
10.06
33
10.399
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I do certify that George Timmons a private under my command in the Virginia malitia did searve a tower in the year seventeen hundred and eighty one at the time this country was invaded by the Brittish, commanded; by Phillips, and Cirwald, Given from under my hand this 18th of June in the year eighteen hundred and thirty two Peter Epps 
Teste
Capt in the 39th VA Malitia

From To in open court by Peter Epps
J. P. Crasup C.D.B.
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George Timmons
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B R I E F objections to the admissions of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of George Timmons 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 assigned for his not doing so? 

IV.  Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? Yes

X  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  [illegable] see Queve [illegible]

VI.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he serviced, 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
X   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? 
No

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 
Yes

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's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? 
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  Yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?  Yes

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?  Yes for 3 [illegible]

X  XVI.  Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? 
No.   No see December 1 [illegible]

X XVII.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 
[illegible]

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 the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by the 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 a pension.
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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 is too indefinite, 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 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 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 authenticates 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 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. 
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.
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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

1210 S. Lincoln, Urbana, Ill.
Dec. 16, 1920.

Commissioners of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly send me a certificate that George Timmons was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, on the basis of the fact that he was inscribed on the pension list under the Act of Congress of 1832.  (See Report from Secretary of War in Relation to the Pension Establishment of the United States, 1835. Vol. 2. Virginia, page 130.)
Very truly yours,
Mrs. E. H. Sutherland.


PENSION
U. DEC 18 S.
1920
OFFICE
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RECORD
DEC 20 1920
DIVISION