Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R 21, Edward Pye Chamberlayne, Va. Sea Service
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(3-1776)
SERVICE Va. Sea Service
Chamberlayne, Edward Pye
NUMBER R21
Va. Half Pay
CONTENTS [blank]
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To John Floyd Governor of Virginia
The Petition of William Byrd Chamberlayne, Lewis W Chamberlayne, Byrd Chamberlayne, James Edward Ruffin, sole heir of Elizabeth B. Ruffin formerly Chamberlayne and Robert B. Williamson & Mary A Williamson only heirs of Lucy Parke Williamson formerly Chamberlayne, which said W. B. Chamberlayne, S. W Chamberlayne, Byrd Chamberlayne, Elizabeth B. Ruffin and Lucy Parke Williamson were children and heirs of Edward Pye Chamberlayne (entered by mistake in the Navy Roll as Edward Chamberlayne) an officer of the rank of Lieutenant in the Navy of the State of Virginia, respectfully sheweth- That their ancestor the said Edw. P. Chamberlayne entered into the service of the State of Virginia as a Midshipman in the year 1776 - served during the war, was promoted to a Lieutenantcy and as such was entitled to such compensation as by law was promised by Virginia, to the officers and soldiers in the land and Naval service- and your petitioners pray of you to grant to them as his heirs, such compensation in land and money as you, on the testimony herewith submitted, shall deem best. And they &c.
Will Byrd Chamberlayne for himself and the other heirs of E. P. Chamberlayne

New Kent County to wit:
This day personally appeared before me a Magistrate of the county aforesaid William Chamberlayne of said County, and made
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oath that he was well acquainted with Edward P. Chamberlayne of the County of King William, from his deponent's infancy, to the day of the death of said Edward P. Chamberlayne, which took place in 1806- that he, the said deponent is now in his seventieth year, and has lived all his life in the said County of New Kent, and that the said Edward P. Chamberlayne was about six years older than this deponent. And further this deponent says, that he has always understood and believes that the said Edward P. Chamberlayne had been in the naval service at different periods of the revolutionary war; and that he was in service in the year 1781, and was present and bore a part during that year in taking two of the Enemies vessels off the coast of South Carolina, and was sent in one of them as Supercargo into some Port of North Carolina. And further, this deponent says that he has no doubt but that the Edward P. Chamberlayne named above, is the same Edward Chamberlayne who he understands is on the Naval Roll now in the Executive Department, of the state of Virginia, as he is the only one that was in the state, as far as he is informed, at that period; and that he has always understood and believed that at the periods to which he refers, that the said Edward P. Chamberlayne was a Lieutenant or acting as such
This deponent further says, that the heirs of the said Edward P. Chamberlayne now are William B. Chamberlayne, James E Ruffin the only remaining child of Elizabeth B. Chamberlayne, who intermarried with Sterling Ruffin, both of whom are now dead; Lewis W Chamberlayne, Robert and Mary A Williamson the only surviving issue of Lucy P.
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Chamberlayne now deceased, who intermarried with Robert C. Williamson, and Byrd Chamberlayne, all of whom now live in the City of Richmond, or County of Henrico. And further, this deponent saith not.
Wm. Chamberlayne

New Kent County, to wit
This day William Chamberlayne personally appeared before me a justice of the peace for said County, and made oath that the above affidavit subscribed by him, is true to the best of belief and recollection.
Given under my hand this 10th of March 1834.
Beverly Crump JP

New Kent County & State of Virginia
This day William H Macon of said County personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace for the said County, and made oath that he is now in the 75th year of his age- that he knew Edward Chamberlayne of King William County, Virginia, for a considerable time before his death; that he frequently stated to him that during the revolutionary war, he was in a vessel belonging to the United States, and in one instance, they took a prize, which as well as he recollected, was for the benefit of the United States - that he has known several persons by the name of Chamberlayne but he never knew any by the name of Edward, but the one above alluded to, who lived in King William County after the Revolutionary war. Given under my hand & seal this 2d day of January 1834. 
Beverly Crump J.P.
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The affidavit of Benjamin Figg of the County of King William aged 65 years taken and made this 27th day of March 1834. This affiant being first duly sworn according to law, by way of questions and answers deposeth and saith as followeth, and has under written.
Question. Were you acquainted with Edward P. Chamberlayne, formerly of this County, and did you know whether he was in the service or not, during the revolutionary war, in what kind of service, and how long he continued in service, and particularly whether he was in service in 1781- and what other years?
Answer. I was well acquainted with Mr Edward P. Chamberlayne, living as I did at the time in the same neighborhood with him, and I perfectly remember his being in the naval service of the state of Virginia in the capacity of a second Lieutenant in the years 1777 & 1778, and that he continued in service up to the year 1781- the time of the siege of Yorktown, and subsequently to that time having seen him in his uniform with other officers belonging to the public vessels lying at Frayzer's Ferry, after the siege of York-
Question- How long were you acquainted with the said Edward P. Chamberlayne?
Answer. I was acquainted with him from the time of my earliest recollection until his death, which took place in 1806- and I lived nearly two years in the same house with him.
Question- Do you know or not of any other man being in the naval service during the revolutionary war, by the name of Edward P Chamberlayne, besides the one herein before named?
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Answer. No I never knew or heard of any other man being in Naval service, by that name, or any other by the name of Chamberlayne, except Byrd Chamberlayne, who was also in the Naval service.
Benjamin Figg

King William County, to wit.
The foregoing affidavit subscribed by and sworn to by Benjamin Figg before me Edward Pollard a justice of the peace for the said County, this 27th day of March 1834. In testimony ["Given under" crossed out] whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal.
Edwd. Pollard Seal

City of Richmond to wit
Personally appeared before me and Justice of the peace of the said City, Baylor Temple of the County of King and Queen who says and deposes that he lives within ten miles of Benjamin Figg the person whose affidavit was sworn to before Edward Pollard, and is on this paper, and that he has known him for fifteen years - and believes him to be a man of respectability, and that he is so regarded by all who know him - and that he is a man of truth, whose oath should be taken as soon as that of any other person.
Given under my hand this 27th day of March 1834.
Nathl. Charter, J.P.
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City of Richmond to wit
This day Joseph Mayo of the said City personally appeared before me, and being by me first sworn, made oath, that he knows well Benjamin Figg of King William, and that he has been acquainted with him for the last fifteen years, and that the said Figg is entirely worthy of credit; that the said Mayo has seen the said Figg write, and that he believes that the signature on the other side of this sheet, to be his.
Given under my hand this 27th day of March 1834.
Wm Allison J.P.

Petition for Bounty Land
The Heirs of Edward P. Chamberlayne.
In the printed List No 5 which was some time past reported to your Excellency, I reported Edward Chamberlayne entitled to land as Midshipman, for a service of three years.
The witnesses who testify in behalf of this claim say that he was a Lieutenant in the Navy, and was in service from 1777 to the fall of 1781.
If your Excellency should think the proof of his being Lieutenant satisfactory, he ought to be allowed bounty land land as a Lieutenant in the Navy, for a service of three years- otherwise he ought to be allowed bounty land as Midshipman- there is abundant proof that he was Midshipman.
Respectfully submitted
John H Smith Comr. &c.
March 21 1834

To his Excellency Governor Floyd
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Executive Department
February 18th 1850
I certify that the six pages preceding contain true copies of papers on file in this Department.
Henry Richardson
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Thursday the 21st November 1776
Edward Chamberlaine is recommended to Capt Harris of the Brig Musquetto as a proper person to serve as Midshipman on Board the said Brig.
From page 113.
Friday October the 10th 1777
Letters from Capt Harris of the Brig Musquetto dated Point Peter 16th May last, and from Robert Smith at Edenton 28th Sept last were received read & filed-
From page 296.
Wednesday the 15th of April 1778.
Ordered that the keeper of the publick Store deliver to William Plume as many necessaries not exceeding thirty pounds in value for the use of Amelia the daughter of Captain John Harris late of the Musquetto, who is now a prisoner, on his paying for the same.
From page 383.
The above entries are truly copied from the Naval Journal, which end the 5th March 1779.
Given under my hand at the Auditors Office Richmond this 13th day of March 1850.
Ro Johnston First Auditor
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Saturday June 14th 1806
Also a commission issue ["to" crossed out] appointing John Roane Jr. Sheriff of King William county in the room of Edward P. Chamberlaine deceased

Executive Department
Richmond Va Feby 23d 1850
I hereby certify the foregoing to be a true copy from the Council Journal of date above
Wm H Richardson SC

Virginia: At a Court of monthly Session held for King William County, at the Courthouse, on Monday, the 22d. day of September, 1806:
On the motion of William B Chamberlayne a certificate is granted him for obtaining letters of administration on the Estate of Edward P. Chamberlayne decd. he having taken the oath of an admor and with William Chamberlayne and William Dandridge his securities entered into and acknowledged a bond according to law, which bond is ordered to be recorded.
In testimony of the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand and annexed the seal of the said County, this 28th day of February, A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Ro. Pollard, Clerk King Wm County Court
[seal illegible]
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Washington 25th March 1850
Dear Sir/
By the request of W. B. Chamberlayne, I present his claim for half pay, due to him, as administrator of his father, who was an officer in the Virginia State Navy 
His heirs have recieved the bounty land, and now claim his half pay. Mr Chamberlayne was taken in the Musquetto, with Capt. Harris, was exchanged; entered again, in the service; was again taken, and confined in the Jersey, prison ship, at New York.
When you shall have examined the claim, you will plese, communicate with W. B. Chamberlayne, Richmond, Virginia
I salute you respectfully
Richard Randolph
J. L. Edwards.
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I, Robert Pollard, Clerk of the Court of King William County, in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify, that on Thursday, May the 29th 1806, a judgment was rendered in the Court of said County in the name of Benjamin Oliver Jun. against Edward B. Chamberlayne, admor of Byrd Chamberlayne decd.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and annexed the seal of the said County, this 12th day of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifty.
Ro. Pollard, Clerk of King William County Court
[seal illegible]
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No. 21 [check]
["ACT OF JULY 14, 1862." crossed out]
3056
Heirs of Edward Chamberlayne Midshipman Va Navy Revolution
Discharged [blank], 186[blank].
3056
11-0
H'f Pay - Act '32
Received [blank], 187[blank]
21
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May 21/50
Wm B. Chamberlayne
Comr
Rejected. See letter to W. B. Chamberlayne, June 26. 1850
[written sideways bottom to top] For/ Col. J. L. Edwards, Pension Office