Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7240, for Arthur Moseley, Virginia
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Page 1
Service Va. Moseley, Arthur Number S. 7240
Carded
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[illegible] 13 May 1837 Pen Agent
do do [illegible]  R. M Morley
[illegible] 12880
Arthur Moseley
Powhatan in the State of Virginia
Who was a pri: [begin crossed out text] in the [---} commanded 
by Captain [end of crossed out text] [---] of the Regt. commanded
by Col. Holcomb in the Virginia
line for 12 months.

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
At the rate of 40 Dollars [begin crossed out text] Cents [end crossed out text] per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 8th day of June 1833
And sent Wm. S. Dance
Scottsville C.H. Va
Arrears to the 4th of March ’33 – 80
Semi-anl. Allowance ending 4 Sept.” – 20
$100
Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.
Recorded by Wm. Miller Clerk.
Book E.
Vol. 6.
Page 18.
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No. 6397
Arthur Moseley's 
Declaration for a 
Pension

Wm. S. Dance
Powhatan [Illegible]
Va
Page 4

State of Virginia & County of Powhatan to wit:

On this 15th day of August, in the year 1832, personally offered in this Court before the Court of Powhatan before aforesaid, now sitting, Arthur Moseley, a resident of this said County, aged about 70 years, who, being [illegible] duly sworn according to Law, doth, on his [illegible], make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7th 1832.

Arthur Moseley of the said County hereby declares that he does not recollect his exact age, the family record having been lost – but as he was drafted in the year 1780, he supposes that he is about 70 years of age – That he was born & raised in the County of Powhatan aforesaid – That the first actual service in which he was engaged was, when he was called to the South in the early part of the year ’81 – That he was in the engagement at Guilford Courthouse – That on this tour to the South he went under the command of Capt. Robert Hughes – That after the defeat at Guilford, Genl. Greene retreated to the iron mines about ten miles distant – & after this pursued Cornwallis almost as far as Cape Fear - That he, Arthur Moseley, was engaged in all this service – that after this he returned home – That the length of this tour was probably about three months – That in going to the South they crossed the Roanoke at Peyton’s ferry -  That shortly after his return from the South he went, under the command of Capt. Porter, down to City Point on James River, & remained there, at Bermuda Hundred, Ware Bottom Church & other places on James river for a considerable time – The exact time he does not recollect – That after this, he went higher up James River, to the Ferry at Westham, & there General Wayne was set over with his troops.  This ferry is about seven miles above Richmond - That after Wayne was set over the river, they took all the boats & carried them up to Jude’s ferry about ten miles higher up the river, & brought down to the same Ferry all the boats that were at Richeaux’s ferry, which is above the Jude’s, & guarded them at Jude’s ferry during the whole summer.  – That he was called out on many other tours – That he continued to serve from the time he was first called out ‘till the end of the war – That he believes his whole period of service to have been two years at the least – That he has no discharge – That he remembers the names of the following officers, who were engaged in the battle of Guilford – Genl. Greene, General Lawson, Col. Beverley Randolph, Major Tucker & Col. Halcomb –

Arthur Moseley
Page 5

We, Samuel Dorsett, a clergyman, residing in the County of Powhatan & William McGruder, residing in the same County, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Arthur Moseley, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, & that we believe him to be about 70 years of age – that he is respected & believed in the neighbourhood in which he lives to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion. – Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. – 

Samuel Dorsett
Wm McGruder

And the Court do hereby declare their opinion after a full investigation of the matter, & after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department that the aforenamed applicant was a revolutionary soldier, & served as he states.  And the Court further certifies that it appears to them Sam: Dorsett who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, residing in the County of Powhatan & that Wm: McGruder is a resident of the same County & is a credible person, & that his statement is entitled to credit.

Samul [illegible]
B. S. Morrison
Ju. C. Porter
I. Selder

I, William S Dance, Clerk of the Court of Powhatan County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Arthur Moseley for a pension. – In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 15th day of Aug: in the year 1832. -

Wm. S. Dance
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This day personally [personally] appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace for the County of Powhatan, in the state of Virginia, Arthur Moseley, who being duly sworn, deposeth & saith that by reason of old age & consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below & altogether as a private among the militia – He refers to his former declaration for a more detailed account of his different tours, but here notes that on his tour to the South he thinks [illegible crossed out text] he was absent three months at the least – That as to his other service which has been heretofore detailed his memory is so indistinct as that he is wholly unable to distinguish the different periods & their particular length – but that although he has before stated that his whole period of service could not as he believed be less than two years, he has reduced all of his service after his tour to the South to nine months, confident that he has brought it within the limits – He states that he has no documentary evidence by which to substantiate his claim- & moreover that he can be no more particular about the periods of the war during which he served than he has heretofore been – He still further states that there are, as he believes, persons living who have formal knowledge of his services, but their evidence it has been impossible for him to procure – in answer to the 7th question he gives the following names:  John Wooldridge a clergyman, Samuel Dorsett a clergyman, Benjamin Watkins Esq. a Justice of the Peace, & Capt. William McGruder. –

Benjamin Watkins [illegible]
J. P. 

I, John Wooldridge, a clergyman residing in the County of Powhatan and State of Virginia, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with Arthur Moseley who has subscribed & sworn to the above declaration – that I believe him to be about 70 years of age – that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood in which he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that I concur in that opinion – I moreover certify that I believe him to be a man of the strictest veracity. – 

John Wooldridge

State of Virginia & County of Powhatan to wit:

This day personally [personally] appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for the aforesaid County, John Wooldridge, a Clergyman, & made oath to the truth of the aforegoing certificate. – Witness my hand this 1st day of June in the year 1833.
  
Benjn Watkins
J. P.
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Virginia: Powhatan County, to wit;

I William S. Dance Clerk of the County Court of Powhatan in the state of Virginia, do hereby certify that Benjamin Watkins, whose signature is affixed to the within affidavit of Arthur Moseley and John Wooldridge [crossed out text] was at the date of the said affidavit an acting Justice of the peace in and for the county of Powhatan aforesaid, duly commissioned and qualified, and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all his acts and certificates as such:  In Testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the seal of the said County Court, this 6th day of June 1833. in the 57th year of American Independence. –

Wm. S. Dance
Page 8

Arthur Moseley
Va.
[illegible] as private
12 mo  $ 40
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WAR DEPARTMENT,

Pension Office,

183

Sir:

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 [show] what is necessary to be done.  These points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked 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 Arthur Moseley

[column headings:  Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant’s service. Years. Months. Days. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.]

1780 drafted. about 3. --.  Pri:  Cols. Holcomb & Randolph. About 70 years Virginia. Traditionary.

Says served from the time he was first called out to the end of the war, believes in all two years [preceding text appears to the right of a brace]

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards, 
Commissioner of Pensions
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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., [etcetera] Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. [etcetera]  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 the 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, mucicians [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.
 
DECLARATION,

In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.

State, Territory, or District of 

Count of                                          ss.

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 provision 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 lhe 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. [etcetera]

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. [etcetera]

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. [etcetera]

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
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3

alleged service, as they are known at the Department.  A very full account of the services of each person 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?
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 the 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 persons, 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 or 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 go by reason of bodily infirmity ; in which ease 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.
[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. ln 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. [etcetera] 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.”
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, it 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. [etcetera] 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.
[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 that 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.

[the first paragraph labeled j is placed within hand drawn brackets] 
[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.
[beginning of text with hand drawn underline] The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the [end of hand drawn underlined text] 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 this case 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.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
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Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

August 8, 1927

Mrs. J. D. Plummer
502 Garrison
Carthage, Mo.

Madam:

I have to advise that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 7240, that ARTHUR MOSELEY was born in Powhatan County, Virginia, date not given.

While a resident of said county he enlisted and served as a private with the Virginia troops as follows:

From early in 1781 for about three months in Captain Robert Hughes’ Company; he was in the battle of Guilford Court House.

Soon afterward he enlisted and served at various times until the close of the Revolution, amounting to at least nine months, under Captain Porter.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 15, 1832, at which time he was about 70 years of age and was a resident of Powhatan County, Virginia.

There are no data on file relative to his family.
Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner
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1927. Aug. 8. Hist. to
Mrs. J. D. Plummer

7240
Rev War
Invalid

File No. 7240
Arthur Mosely [Moseley]
U.S.A.
Pri Rev War
Act:  June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. [illegible], Page 263
[Arrangement of 1870]
Page 14

[illegible] May [illegible]
R. H. Moseley
G C
Record [illegible] Page 212
Page 15

War Department
Pension Office
15th May 1837.

Sir

The Pension Agent at Richmond has this day been instructed to pay the amount due Arthur Moseley, a pensioner under the act of the 7th June 1832, on the production of the proper vouchers, whose vouchers are herewith enclosed.  

I am Sir
Very Respectfully 
Your [illegible] Servt.

R.H. Moseley Esq
Hallsboro
Chesterfield County
Virginia
Page 16

Hallsboro
Free
May 7
Mr. J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City D.C.
May 12
Arthur Moseley
VA [illegible]
12,880
Page 17

Powhatan County May 6th. 1837

Dear Sir,

I have made application for the money due Arthur Moseley and was informed that an order from you is necessary before payment can be made.  Therefore, I would be thankful to you to order the payment of the pension. 
Yours respectfully [respectfully]

Robert M. Moseley

P.S. direct your order with the inclosed [enclosed] to Chesterfield County Hallsboro Post office

R. M. Moseley
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Carthage, Mo

June, 26, 1927.

Dept. of Interior,

Washington D.C.

Dear Sirs: -

I am tracing the history of my Moseley Family and I need the Pension record of the following

(1)	Arthur Moseley
Private Va. Militia
Powhatan Co
Listed in 1831 – age 74

(2)	John Moaxey
Private Va Militia
Powhatan Co
Listed 1831, age 70,
Pension list, Senate Doc-

[round seal at bottom right of document] 
U. S. PENSION OFFICE
R
JUN
29
1927
Page 19

Of Powhatoan Co. Va. Pg. 187

Will you be so kind as to send these verified lists at your [begin underline] earliest [end underline] convenience.

Very truly

Mrs. Maye Moseley Plummer.
502 Garrison Ave.
Carthage, Mo.

[round seal at bottom right of document}
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
R
June 
29
1927
Page 20

Carthage Mo.
Aug. 2, 1927,

Pension Bureau,
Dept of Interior,
Washington D.C.
Dr. Sir: -

Over a month ago I wrote to your Dept. asking for the Pension Records of

(1)	Arthur Moseley
Pvt, Va. Militia
Powhatan Co.
Put on list at age of 74 in yr 1831, also
(2)	John Maxey
Privt Va. Militia
Powhatan Co. Va.
Put on list at age of 70 in 1831

[round seal at bottom right of document]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
Aug
4
1927
Page 21

These names can be found on Pension list, No 2 of Powhatan Co. Va. Pg 187.  Senate Document.

Now I am very anxious to get these records as I need them in a history I getting traced, will you not please send them to me at as early a date as is possible.

Very truly,

Mrs. J.D. Plummer
502 Garrison
Carthage Mo.