Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31513, James Akin, Va.
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SERVICE: Va.
Akin, James
NUMBER: S. 31513
CONTENTS:
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See letter to C. W. Brinkley, October 1834.  
Duplicate issued 23 January 1835.  
Suit: C. W. Buckley, Newman, Georgia.  
See letter, April 1836, T. Glascock A.R.  
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of 6 April 1838, from 4 March 1837 to 4 March 1838.  
Agent notified 4 June 1829.  

Letter to Hon. J. Calfred, February 21, 1840.  
Letter to Sec. of War, May 21, 1840.  

James Alkin, Fayette County, in the State of Georgia,  
who was a private in the company of Captain Money of the Regiment,  
Col. Godwin, for 14 months.  
Described on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of $47.10 per annum.  
Commenced on the 4th day of March, 1831.  
Certificate of Pension issued 13 September.  

Arrears to 4th of March 1833: $94.20.  
Semi-annual allowance ending September: $23.55.  
Total: $117.75.  

Revolutionary Claim, Act of June 7, 1832.  
Recorded by W. L. Williams, Clerk.  
Book A, Vol. 2, Page 85.
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Here’s a formatted and cleaned-up version of the text, structured as a clear affidavit from James Akins, likely for a pension application under the 1832 Act of Congress. I’ve organized it for readability while preserving the original intent:



State of Georgia
Fayette County

On this seventeenth day of June, eighteen hundred and thirty-three (June 17, 1833), personally appeared in Open Court before Samuel Swanson, William Pace, and Finlay G. Stewart, Justices of the Inferior Court for said County, now sitting, James Akins, a resident of the County of Fayette, State of Georgia, aged seventy-four years. Being first duly sworn according to law, he doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7, 1832:

James Akins declares:  
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated:  

1. In the year 1778, while residing in Chesterfield County, State of Virginia, he enrolled in Captain Mosely’s Company under the command of Captain Mosely (whose Christian name he does not now remember) in Colonel Goode’s Regiment. He was marched from Chesterfield County to Petersburg, Virginia, where he served three months.  

2. Shortly after his return, in the same year (he thinks), he served again in the same company, now under the impression it was commanded by Lieutenant Levi Newley, who had been promoted to Captain. He was marched from Chesterfield County, Virginia, to Petersburg, and from Petersburg to Hoods below Cabin Point on the James River, where he served three months.  

3. In the same company, afterwards under the command of Captain Levi Newley, he was marched across the Appomattox River to Dinwiddie Court House, thence to Petersburg, and was there discharged, having served not less than six weeks, or a month and a half, on this tour.  

4. In Captain Newley’s Company, at this time under the command of Lieutenant Elam, he was again marched with said company to Petersburg, thence down the river and below—possibly 30 or 40 miles to Suffolk (though he is not certain of the name of the place)—where he had been stationed on a previous tour.  



This version organizes Akins’ military service into distinct tours, improving clarity while keeping the historical tone intact. Let me know if you’d like further refinements! Also, I’m curious—did you want to tie this back to our gaming discussion, or is this a separate interest you’re exploring?
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From which place he returned to his father’s, having received a furlough to do so six or eight days before the expiration of three months, and who then resided in Chesterfield County, Virginia. That said company, at the expiration of the month, which was the time of the service stated, returned to their homes in Chesterfield, and within a few miles of home, at Sudbury. We, all except three, were killed or taken prisoners by Colonel Titton and Mary. All the prisoners died with the smallpox.  

That in the month of July, he believes in the year 1780, in the County of Chesterfield, State of Virginia, under the command of Captain Patterson in Colonel Tucker's Regiment of the Virginia Militia, he was called into service and was marched by way of Petersburg to Little York. He was present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and his army, who surrendered on the 19th day of October of the same year (1781 or 1782). Due to the circumstances, he is of the opinion that he was detained several days after his three-month tour of service had expired before being discharged. He served no less than three months.  

That he was born in Cumberland County, Virginia, and although he has no record of his age, he is certain of the information his parents gave him. After the Revolutionary War, he settled in Granville County, North Carolina, and later in the State of Georgia, where he now resides in Fayette County, Georgia. He has no documentary evidence and knows of no person he can procure to testify to his service.  

The Reverend Thomas H. Cleate and Mary Sparks relinquish every claim whatsoever to a pension or annuity except the present and declare that his name is not on the pension roll of any State agency.

Sworn to and subscribed this day, year aforesaid.  
James Akin (mark)

Thomas H. Cleate, a clergyman residing in Fayette County, Georgia, and Mary Sparks, residing in the same county and state, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Akin.
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Who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be seventy years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.  
**Thomas H. Chitt, Clergyman**  
**Robert Sully**

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. The Court further certifies that it appears to them that **[name]**, who signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman resident in the County of Fayette and State of Georgia, and that **[name]**, who also signed the same, is a resident in the same County and State, and is a credible person. The statement is entitled to credit.

**Samuel Swanson, J.J.C.**  
**William Pace, J.C.**  
**Finlay G. Stuart, J.S.**  

**William McBride**, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Fayette County and State of Georgia, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application for a pension.
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Proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Akin for a pension. 

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 17th day of June, Eighteen hundred and thirty-three. 

**William McBride**  
Clerk of Court
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James Aken
Georgia
No. 21746 -

Admit as private
14 mo. 4 days
$47.10/100

Pr

46 66
44
17.10

obj. e. c. m.

Finlay G. Stewart
Fayettville
Ga.

[Vertical]
James Akin
Page 8

Sir:
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
Apl 13 1833
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } )

You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

A statement, showing the service of James Akin

Period when the Service was rendered.
Thinks in early part of 1778
July thinks 1781

Duration of the claimant's service.
Months 
3
3
1 ┃12 Days
3 got a furlough
6 8 days  
before expiration
2 months | 22 Days
3
______
14.04
Rank of
the
claimant.
Pri
Pri
"
"
Names and Rank ┃
of the Company
officers under
whom he served.
Capt
Mosely
Capt Newby
Capt. Patterson

Names and Rank
of the General
and Field officers.
Col. Goodes
Col. Tucker

Battles in which
the applicant was
engaged.
was at the
taking of
Lord 
Corn Wallis

Country through
which he marched.


Place of abode
when he entered
the service, and age ┃
at the present
period-

74 years

Chesterfield
Co. VA

Evidence by
which the declaration
is supported.

Traditionary

I am, respectfully
Your obedient servant

J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of
Pensions.
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2
REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.
of
On this
DECLARATION.
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of
County of
On this  day of  personally appeared (a) before

A.B. a resident (b) of  in the county of
and State, Territory or District of  aged (c)  
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 provion made by the act of Congress, passed June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d)  with     and served in the
(e) regiment of the     line, under the following named officers:

[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under
more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the
town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I
of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of
& c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:

(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the  
and C. D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with   ,
who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be  
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
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 it appears to them that A. B. who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I. Clerk of the Court of
do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this day of   & c.

Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.  
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
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3
will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition,, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
4. How were you called into service' were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?
5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
6. To a soldier: Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
6. To an Officer: Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these [persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other person, giving such certificates.
The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party, And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court of County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.

(a) The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
(b) The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
(c) The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
(d) The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[THE FOLLOWING (e) IS {BRACKETED} FOR MORE INFORMATION NECESSARY]
(e) Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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. [Et cetera] . A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by 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 [blank] year [blank] months, and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] . For [blank] months and [blank] days, I served as a [blank] ; and for such service I claim a pension."
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 that they served two years in the militia, &c. [Et cetera] 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 shown 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.
(f) The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
(g) The opinion of the Court is always required.
(h) The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[THE FOLLOWING (i) IS {BRACKETED} FOR MORE INFORMATION NECESSARY]
(i) The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.

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 papers 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.

Proof of Service.
(j) 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 claimant's 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.
The notes from (a) to (i) are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
(l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[THE FOLLOWING (m) IS {BRACKETED} FOR MORE INFORMATION NECESSARY]
(m) The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 11

In reply to your request of        ,
received       
for a statement of the military history of James Akin a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
formation as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
S. File 31513

DATES OF
ENLISTMENT OR
APPOINTMENT.
1778
1778 (strikethrough)
"
"
July 1781
LENGTH OF
SERVICE.
3 mos
6 mos 6 wks (3 mos strikethrough)
6 wks (strikethrough)
3 mos (strikethrough)
RANK.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN.
Moseley
Levi Newby
hereby
Patterson
COLONEL.
Goode
Tucker
STATE.
Va
Battles engaged in, taking of Cornwallis
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Chesterfield Co. Va.
Date of application for pension, June 17 1833 - Allowed
Residence at date of application, Fayette Co. GA -
Age at date of application, born
1759 in Cumberland Co. Va.
Remarks: After the Rev. he settled in Greenville Co, N.C. and removed from there to Ga.
Page 12

31513
Ray INVALID.
File No. 31,513
James Akin
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7n 32n
Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 4
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1909 Sept. 22. Hist. to Miss H. M.
Prescott letter in S. File 37812
James Buchanan
Page 13


Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office
December 22 1838
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States, James Akin,
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Savannah, Georgia, Agency, at the rate of Forty seven Dollars and ten --Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1837 to the 4th March, 1838.

Respectfully, yours
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.
1837,

To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present.
Page 14

To what time was James Akin, of Georgia, act
7 June 1832, last paid?

April 8, 1836
J L Edwards

To the 4th Sept 1835.
Resp-
S. H. Hill
Page 15

A duplicate
certificate was
improperly issued
in this cate See
papers in the case 
of James Akens
of Coweta Co. Geo.
& letter to Hon.
J. Glascock H
R 8 Apl 1836-
Page 16

Fayette Co
James Akin
Wm. Morrell
1st Nov. 1833, to Sept '33.
Ditto &c &c
22d March '34 to 4 March '34.
Ditto &c &c
14th Oct. '34 to 4 Sept. '34
Ditto &c
24 March '35 to 4 March '35
Ditto &c &c
12 Sept '35 to 4 Sept. '35
Ditto &c &c
14 March '36 to 4 March '36.
3d Auditor's Office
S. H. Hill
Page 17

James Akin, of Georgia act 1832

1. In what County does he aside?
2. How is the name written -
   Akin or Akens?
3. Who received the money?
4. And at what periods?
Page 18

**May 21, 1840**  
**Hon. J.R. Poinsett**  
Secretary of War  

**Sir,**

In the case of James Akins of Coweta County, Georgia, who complains that he cannot obtain any pay on the enclosed pension certificate, I have to state that it was issued for James Akins of Fayette County, Georgia, under the impression that the original certificate had never reached him. 

By reference to the papers in both cases, it appears that Akins of Coweta County has not yet substantiated his claim. The letter written to the Hon. W. Ford on the 21st of February last had reference to the case of Akins of Fayette County, not knowing at that time that there was a duplicate sent to Akins of Coweta County.

Akins of Coweta County, who has made the enclosed affidavit, may receive a pension for 6 months of service, but his claim for more than that period cannot be admitted unless he can prove longer service by the testimony of credible witnesses.

Sincerely,