Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 8,980, for Jeremiah Priest, Virginia
Page 1

Va. Priest, Jeremiah S. 8980
carded.
Page 2

Ohio 22720
Jeremiah Priest
of Clarke, Co in the State of Ohio
who was a Pr.  in the Company commanded
by Captain Roberts of the Regt commanded
by Col Taylor in the Virginia
[?] Troops
2Ys Pr $80.00
Inscribed on the Roll of Ohio 
at the rate of 80 Dollars ____ cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 12th day of Dec'r 
and sent to 
1833 Hon. J Vance. Ho of Rep

Arrears to the 4th of Sepr 1833  200.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mch '34  40
[total] $240.00

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832}
Recorded by J. T. Sprague Clerk, 
Book C  Vol. 8 Page 120 [or 20]
Page 3

State of Ohio Clarke County ss.  On this fourth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two personally appeared in open court before George B Holt Esquire president-Judge and his associate Judges of the court of common pleas in and for the county of Clarke aforesaid now sitting Jeremiah Priest a resident and citizen of the said county of Clark aged Seventy three or four 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 act of congress passed June 7th 1832 That he entered the Service of the United States under the following named officers and Served as herein stated namely; John Roberts was captain of the company to which this deponent belonged and John Slaughter was Lieutenant or Ensign. John Roberts was afterwards promoted to the rank of Major and one James Purvuss succeeded  to the captaincy of the company One Taylor whose first name this deponant [sic] thinks, although he is not at all confident, was Frances was colonel of the Regiment to which the said Company was attached and John Roberts named above was major of this same Regiment - that he entered the service in the last of February on the first of March in the year Seventeen hundred and Seventy nine at the county of Culpepper in the State of Virginia in where he then resided - that he was enlisted for the purpose of guarding the prisoners taken from the enemy at the defeat (as the deponent understands the matter) of Genl Burgoine and was to serve as long as the prisoners remained
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at the place where they were then confined in Albemarle County - that he was marched to the place where the prisoners were kept and remained there doing duty for nearly or about two years when the prisoners were marched or removed to Winchester Virginia and this deponent marched with his company with the prisoners to that place where deponent remained doing military duty until March Seventeen hundred and Eighty one that is to say the deponent knows that he served two years and was discharged in --  next preceding the Surrender of the Enemy at York Town which deponent thinks was in the year 1781 This deponent was taken sick at Winchester and returned home on furlough where this deponent remained until the term of his Service expired or until the prisoners were removed from Winchester He this deponent says that he has no documentary evidence of his Service or discharge- that he does not know any person other than John Priest
whose deposition accompanies the application by whom he can prove his Services
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll or the agency of any State
The following statement is made by the applicant in answer to interrogatories propounded to him by the Court namely
1 He says he was born in Shanandoah County Virginia
2  He has no record of his age but believes he is 73 or 74 years old
3  He was living where he entered the Service as
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already stated in the County of Culpepper in the State of Virginia where he resided until he removed to Kentucky where he remained until he removed to this State where he says he has lived for many years but how long precisely cannot state
4 He says he enlisted into the service as before related
5 He says Col Fountain made two visits at the post where deponent was stationed during the time he was there It appeared to deponent that the colonel attended these as a reviewing Officer
6 He says he never received any written discharge from the Service as he was on furlough at the time the Term of his enlistment expired
7 The following named Gentleman may be referred to for testimony as to the character of this deponent for veracity and as to their belief of his serving as a soldier of the revolution namely George Richardson and John Fuller Elnathan Cory & Wm G Leratiss near New Carlise in this County

Jeremiah [his X mark] Priest

Sworn to and duly -- this 4th day of October 1832 
Wm John Fuller Ben. Henkle Dep Clerk George Richardson residing near New Carlisle in the County of Clark hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Jeremiah Priest who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be of the age he has stated himself to be that is to say seventy three or four years old that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that
opinion

Sworn & subscribed the day & year aforesaid
Ben: Henkle Dep. Clerk
George Richyson
Jon Fuller
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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 George Richison and John Fuller who have signed the preceeding [sic] certificate are residents in the county of Clark afors'd and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I Saul Henkle Clerk of the Court of Common pleas of said County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Jeremiah Priest.
In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said Court this 4th day of October A. D. 1832.  Saul Henkle Clk  

13.555 
Jeremiah Priest
Page 7

Affidavit of
John Priest
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The State of Ohio
Licking County 

Personally appeared before me the undersigned
an acting Justice of the Peace within and for
the County aforesaid John Priest of lawful
age, who being duly sworn deposeth and saith
that some time in the year 1781 and he believes
in the latter part of the month of February or the
first of March in said year, Jeremiah Priest
then a resident of Culpepper County in the State of Virginia was originally enlisted into the
Revolutionary service in the Virginia Line
in a Company commanded at the time of the
enlistment, by Captain John Roberts who was
in a short time promoted, and 2d company
was commanded by Capt. James Purviss thereafter
that said Jeremiah Priest continued in the service in said Line and company until the year 1783 he believes about the Month of March in said year, where he was taken sick and obtained a furlough to return home before he became able to return to the service his time expired for which he had enlisted as he believes the said Jeremiah Priest 
never obtained a regular discharge, the Regiment in which he was enlisted was commanded
by Colonel Taylor

John [his X mark] Priest

Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of April in the year of our lord 1832
Nathan Weekly  Justice of the peace for said Court
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State of Ohio
Licking County

I do hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the within named John Priest, and believe him to be a man of undoubted veracity Given under
my hand this 19th day of April AD. 1832
Nathan Weekly

The State of Ohio
Licking County --

I Amos D Coffee Clerk of the Court of common pleas of said County of Licking; do certify that Nathan Weekly sig above named and who subscribed and -- made the foregoing deposition; was at the day of the date thereof in acting justice of the peace within and for said County duly commissioned and qualified, and to whose official acts full faith and credit are due and that his signatures above and within are genuine -
Witness my hand & Seal of office this 19th day of April A.D. 1832.
A.H. Coffee ck
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13.555
Jeremiah Priest

look again
Not
look on Va Role

An [?]
Return 14

Adm 2 years $80

[marked out:  
[?]
Springfield
Clarke
Ohio ]

Hon. J. Vance

Ho of Rep.
Page 11


BRIEF in the case of Jeremiah Priest County of Clark in the State of Ohio (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?  73
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

Period.
Enlisted Feby-March In 1779 & performed military
duty until March 1781

Duration of Service.
Years, 2
Months, -
Days. -

Rank.
As a private

Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen.
Col Taylor       
Capt John Roberts  } Virginia troops

5. In what battles was he engaged?

6. Where did he reside when he entered the service?  Culpepper Co, Virginia

7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary

8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication?  and if so, in what respect?   No

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

Chas. G Wilcox Examining Clerk.
23d Feby 1833
Page 12


May 20, 1938.

Mr. Elijah A. Arthur
709 South Water Street
Crawfordsville, Indiana

BA-J/ady
Jeremiah Priest
S.8980

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter relative to
Jeremiah Priest, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein were obtained from
the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S. 8980, based upon the military service of Jeremiah Priest in that war.

Jeremiah Priest was born in Shenandoah County,
Virginia, date, and the names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Culpeper County, Virginia,
Jeremiah Priest enlisted in February or March 1779,
served two years as private in Captains John Roberts' and James Purvis' Companies, Colonel Francis Taylor's Virginia Regiment, and guarded prisoners in Albemarle County and in Winchester, Virginia.

He moved to Kentucky, place not stated, and then
moved to Ohio.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 4, 1832, at which time he was seventy-three or seventy-four years old, and a resident of Clark County, Ohio, in which state he had lived for many years.

In 1832 one John Priest made affidavit in Licking
County, Ohio, his age or relationship to soldier not
stated. There are no further family data.
Page 13

This is the record of the only Jeremiah
Priest that is found on the Revolutionary War records of this office, all spellings of the names searched.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

Date of death not on    
AB
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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. Jeremiah Priest 
Ser. File 8980

DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT.
Feby or Mch 1779

LENGTH OF SERVICE.  2 years

RANK.  Pvt.

OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED.
CAPTAIN. John Roberts,  James Purviss
COLONEL. Taylor

STATE.  Va

guarded prisoners in Albermarle Co. and Winchester

Battles engaged in,
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Culpepper Co. Va
Date of application for pension, Oct. 4, 1832 --
Residence at date of application, Clark Co. Ohio
Age at date of application, 73 or 74 born in  Shenandoah Co. Va
Remarks: No data as to family
Page 15


8980
INVALID.
Rev War
File No. 8980
Jeremiah Priest
Priv. Rev. War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: - Vol. ---, Page 303
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1909 Mch. 29 Hist. to Hon. Geo. W. Rauch V.L.M.
1920 Aug.16. Hist. to F. A. Priest AW
1938 May 20. Hist. to Elijah A. Arthur
AWY
Page 16

Jeremiah Priest
Application for a 
Pension
Page 17

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Jeremiah Priest 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

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?  Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, 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
Page 18

2
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?   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?   Yes

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? No #

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

XVI. 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?  Yes

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 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.
Page 19

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
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.
Page 20


March 29, 1909.

Hon. George W. Rauch,
House of Representatives.

My dear Mr Rauch:

In reply to your letter dated the 26" and received the 27" instant, I have the honor to advise you that from the papers in the claim Sur. File No. 8,980, War of the Revolution, it appears that Jeremiah Priest who was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, enlisted while a
resident of Culpeper County, Virginia, February or March 1779 and served two years as a Private in the Virginia Line, under Captains John Roberts, and James Purvis and Colonel Francis Taylor, and guarded prisoners in Albemarle County, and at Winchester.
He was allowed pension on an application executed October 4, 1832 while a resident of Clark County, Ohio, aged seventy three or seventy four years. There is no data as to family on file.

Very respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 21

INDIANA SOCIETY SONS AMERICAN REVOLUTION
PRESIDENT
REV. ELIJAH A. ARTHUR
CRAWFORDSVILLE

VICE-PRESIDENT
CHARLES A. BREECE
INDIANAPOLIS

VICE-PRESIDENT
CLARENCE H. SMITH
NEW CASTLE

VICE-PRESIDENT
BYRON H. LEWIS
VINCENNES

VICE-PRESIDENT
FRED I. WILLIS
INDIANAPOLIS

REGISTRAR-GENEALOGIST
NEWTON H. KEISTER
INDIANAPOLIS

CHAPLAIN
REV. LEWIS BROWN
INDIANAPOLIS

HISTORIAN
JOHN L. SCHRUM
CRAWFORDSVILLE

NATIONAL TRUSTEE
CLARENCE A. COOK
INDIANAPOLIS

BOARD OF MANAGERS
REV. CARLTON W. ATWATER
INDIANAPOLIS

JUDGE CHARLES L. BARRY
INDIANAPOLIS

PAUL BENSON
NEW CASTLE

JOHN B. CAMPBELL
SOUTH BEND

JUDGE HARRY O. CHAMBERLAIN
INDIANAPOLIS

JUDGE THOMAS A DAILY
INDIANAPOLIS

DR. FRANCIS J. DENBO
TERRE HAUTE

GEORGE O. DIX
TERRE HAUTE

ROY P. ELDER
INDIANAPOLIS

FRANK B. FOWLER
INDIANAPOLIS

A.M. GLOSSBRENNER
INDIANAPOLIS

HENRY P. HABERLY
FORT WAYNE

DR. FLETCHER HODGES
INDIANAPOLIS

ELLIS A. HOPKINS
RENSSELAER

WM. H. McKITTRICK
INDIANAPOLIS

COL. ROBERT L. MOORHEAD
INDIANAPOLIS

CORNELIUS F. POSSON
INDIANAPOLIS

MARK H. REASONER
INDIANAPOLIS

HERBERT E. REDDING
INDIANAPOLIS

JUDGE CHARLES F. REMY
INDIANAPOLIS

GEORGE A. SCOTT
TERRE HAUTE

GEORGE SHAAL
TERRE HAUTE

HARRY B. SIMPSON
VINCENNES

REV. JOSEPH V. SOMES
INDIANAPOLIS

OSCAR L. WATKINS
INDIANAPOLIS

GEORGE H. WHEELOCK
SOUTH BEND

Office of Secretary-Treasurer
HARRY O. GARMAN
219 North Pennsylvania St.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

Crawfordsville, Ind.

May 5, 1938

Chief of Pension Bureau-
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir - Dr. Charles A. Priest of Marion, Indiana has referred me to you for the pension number of Jeremiah Priest, a Revolutionary Soldier, now deceased, who was a pensioner on the lists of that war.
This information is required for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution, for which Dr. Priest has made application.
I am writing you as president of the Indiana Society, S.A.R. Thanking you, I am,

Very truly yours,
Elijah A Arthur
Elijah A. Arthur
709 S. Water St.,
Crawfordsville, Ind. 

RECEIVED
MAY 7 1938
MAIL SUB-DIV
---26
Page 22


F. A. PRIEST, M. D.
MARION, INDIANA

July 21, 1920.

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir: -
My grandfather, Jeremiah Priest, was a soldier
in the War of the Revolution.
He enlisted while a resident of Va. and afterwards
drew a pension from the Goverment while a resident of Clark County, Ohio.
My daughter, Bernice, who is 19 yrs. desires to
join the D. A. R. and they require a statement from the pension department to verify his war record. Will you be so kind as to send such a statement to me?
Very Truly,
F.A. Priest
F. A. PRIEST.

U.S. PENSION OFFICE 
D
JUL 23 1920
Page 23

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WASHINGTON

March 26th., 1909.

Hon. Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.

Sir:
I am in receipt of the enclosed communication
from the War Department, relating to the military record of one Jeremiah (or Jerry) Priest. As suggested by that Department, I wish to ask for any additional information that may be available in your Department.
Kindly return the enclosure with your answer
to me.

Respectfully,
Geo. W. Rauch

DIC