Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14549, for James Spilman, Virginia
Page 1

SERVICE Va.
Spilman, James 
or Spelman
NUMBER S 14549
CONTENTS [left blank]
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1541
Kentucky
James Spilman [Spelman]
of Barren in the State of Kentucky
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain [George] Rogers of the Regt commanded 
by Col. Clark [George Rogers Clarke] in the Virginia 
line for 2 years from 1779

Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky 
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum 
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6d day of Nov 
1832-- and sent to C. Tompkins Glasgow, Ky

Arrears to 4th of Sept 1832 120
Semi=anl allowance ending 4. 40
March 1833 
$160

Died June 27, 1840 A.B.
{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk
Book 25 Vol. 9 Page 6?
Page 3

Duplicate certificate issued 11 June 1833 and sent to Honl. Allen. Winchester
1883 Octo History Sent to L. C. Draper

June 27 - 1840 A.B.
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59.56.
James Spilman
from 1779 private
2 years. $80.
look or file of Kentucky rejected cases for James Spilman's papers & discharge which he says is on file
on Roll as 
James Smilman,
C. Tompkin's 
Glasgow
K
Entered
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State of Kentucky, County of Barren Sch

On this 20th day of August 1832 personally appeared before the Justices of the County Court for Barren County in the State aforesaid James Spilman [Spelman], a resident of the town of Glasgow in the County of Barren and 
State of Kentucky, aged 69 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 provisions made by the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832:

That he enlisted in the army of the revolution in the year 1779 with Capt. John Rogers, and served in the Regiment called the Illinois Regiment of the Virginia State line, under the following named officers: Col. George Rogers Clarke commanded the Regiment & Capt. George Rogers the company in which he served- James Meriwether was Lieutenant 
&  John Thurston Cornet of the Company which was raised for a company of Light horse, but, though otherwise equipped for that service, were not furnished with horses.

The said James Spilmen [Spelman] further states, that at the time he enlisted he resided in Culpepper County, Virginia; that he joined the company of Capt. [George] Rogers at Fauquier Court House, Virginia, and marched by the way of Winchester Virginia & Old town, [Oldtown] Maryland, to Pittsburgh (or Fort Pitt) [Pennsylvania] and thence discended [descended] the Ohio River to Louisville [Kentucky], where they joined Col. [George Rogers] Clark, & in the spring of the year 1780, went down the river under the command of said Clark to the Iron Banks [area now near Columbus, Kentucky] on the Mississippi river- 

From  the Iron Banks Capt. [George Rogers] Clark was ordered & including the said James Spilman [Spelman], marched to Kaskaskia in the now State of Illinois., from which place they marched to and were stationed sometime at Cohokia [Cahokia] also in the now state of Illinois - From  Cohokia [Illinois] the said James Spilman [Spelman] & part of Capt [George] Rogers Company went, under the command of the said Capt. [George] Rogers, on an expedition commanded by Capt Montgomery [John Montgomery] against the Indians up the Illinois river - 

They did not encounter the enemy, but destroyed some of their village & returned to Cohokia  [Illinois] The said [James] Spelman [Spilman] & the company of said Capt [George] Rogers afterwards returned to the Iron Banks [Kentucky]  by the way of Kaskia [Kaskaskia, Illinois], from the Iron Banks they returned to Louisville [Kentucky], &
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[page 2]

from this last named place was ordered to Pittsburgh [Pennsylvania] with some artillery.- On their arrival at Pittsburgh [Pa], the term of the said James Spilman [Spelman] enlistment, which was for two years, had expired, & he was set at liberty and directed, with others, to attend at Fredericksburgh, [Fredericksburg]  Virginia, to receive a discharge, which was not given at Pittsburgh [Pa] for want of the proper officer - 

the said Spilman [Spelman] accordingly went to Fredericksburg [Va], but did jot get his discharge until he afterwards went to see Capt [George] Rogers at his fathers, and he then received a discharge, having served two years agreably [agreeably] to his enlistment, signed by the Capt. [George] Rogers. - the said James Spilman [Spelman] further states that he is informed that his said discharge together with other papers which he confided last autumn to Christopher Tompkins, was by him deposited in the pension office at Washington [D.C.].

The said James Spilman [Spelman] hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
James Spilman [Spelman]

And the said Court hereby declare their opinion that the above named James Spilman [Spelman] was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states

I William Logan clerk of the County Court for the County of Barren in  the state of Kentucky do hereby certify, that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James Spilman [Spelman] for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 20th day of August 1832
WM. Logan Clerk

[illegible seal attached]
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Affidavit
& discharge
of
Jas. Spilman
Page 8

James Spilman [Spelman] aged 55 years this 28th day of April 1818 personally appears in the county Court of Greene County [Kentucky] and designing to take the benefit of the law of the Congress of the United States makes oath that in the year 1779 in Culpepper state of Virginia he enlisted for two years as a soldier in the Cavalry in the American continental army in  the revolutionary war with Great Britain, in the Company of Captain John Rogers, and under the command and in the regiment of Colo. George Rogers Clark, and of the Virginia line

He was marched in the first place after his enlistment to Fort Pitt [Pennsylvania] and from there to the Illinois country and there he was employed until not long before the expiration of the said two years 

he was marched back to Fort Pitt [Pa] where he was discharged by the Lieutenant his captain not being present. This was at the end or expiration of the term of his enlistment

afterwards he obtained his discharge in writing herewith filed marked on the back 
"[illegible] James Spilman [Spelman] dated August 18th 1781
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He further makes Oath that he is now a citizen of Green County State of Kentucky and that from his reduced circumstances he stands in need of the assistance of his Country for support
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April 12, 1937.
Copied A.W.F. away.
BA-J/AWF/ILL
Reverend Vernon P. Martin James Spilman
601 South Main Street S. 14549
Georgetown, Ohio.

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of James Rice whose daughter, Nancy, married in 1789 in Virginia, Benjamin F. Spliman, moved to Kentucky, thence to Illinois where they are buried, also, James Spilman, father of the above Benjamin F. Spilman, and James Spilman who served from Culpeper County, Virginia.

Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is not possible to comply in full with each request for Revolutionary War data. The record of James Spilman is furnished you herein as found in pension claim, S. 14549, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

James Spilman was born April 28, 1753; the place of his birth and the names of his parents were not given.

While residing in Culpeper County, Virginia, he enlisted in 1779 and served as private two years in Captain John Rogers' company in Colonel George Rogers Clark's Illinois regiment in the Virginia troops, marched to Fort Pill (Pittsburgh), to Louisville, and then to Kaskaskia, was in an expedition under Colonel Montgomery against the Indians on the Illinois River and destroyed some of their towns.

He was living in 1818 in Green County, Kentucky.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832, then a resident of Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky. He died June 27, 1840.

There is no reference to wife or children.
Very truly yours,

A. D. HILLER,
Executive Assistant,
to the Administrator.
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Payments to be made
at Lexington
by the Predt. U S. Branch
Bank
Agent for paying Pensioners, in the Agency of Kentucky.
This certificate is issued in lieu of one dated 6th Nov: 1832, supposed to be lost or destroyed, which should it hereafter be presented for payment the Agent will please to transmit to this office
Recorded in the Pension Office, in Book D Vol. 9 Page 80 by
Nathan Rice Clerk

This pension is claimed by James Spillman of Barren County and has been drawn by him for 18 Months on the Original Certificate of which this is Duplicate -
Cancelled
See James Spillman's papers No. 6027
& letter to Hon. C. Allan
Oct. 2d 1833
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WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revolutionary Claim.
Duplicate
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, James Spilman of the State of Kentucky who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution
is entitled to receive Eighty dollars and - cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831, and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September, in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this eleventh day of June - one thousand eight hundred and thirty=three.
John Robb
Acting Secretary of War.
Examined, and Countersigned.
J L Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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Glasgow, Ky, 31st. Augt. 1832
Sir
At the request of the applicant, I enclose five declarations made under the late law granting pensions to revolutionary soldiers, & as was intended, in conformity with the regulations adopted by the War Department. It is requested that the pension certificates be forwarded to me or to the applicants respectively at this place, if the declarations should be found sufficient - if not please to inform me of the particulars wherein they are defective.
The Declaration of Thomas Coleman, also enclosed, has not been sworn to. It was purposed according to his directions, but he was afterwards taken ill & died before the commencement of the next Court. - He states that he served in the Virginia State line, & if he be correct, it is presumable his name will be found on the rolls. - The object of forwarding his declaration is, to obtain directions how his widow is to proceed to obtain his pension from March 1831 to the time of his death.
Respectfuly
Your Obt. Servt.
Christopher Tompkins
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James Sherrel & James Spilmans
Affidavits
James Sherrill
Private
Cont. Samuel Hawes
Reg. Virginia Line
1771 to 1782
James Spilman's
Private
Conl George Rodgers Clark
Regt. Virginia Line

James Spilman
Private
Col. Geo. Rodgers Clark
commanded a Regiment of Calvalry in the service of the State of Virginia in making the crossover of the Illinois County to the General Government-
This case therefore does not come under the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 18th March 1818
Consequently
Rejectd
Hon. Chris Tompkins H.R
Jan. 9 1832
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To the Honorable James C. Calhoun Secretary of the Department of War. ) Christopher Tompkins sole Judge for the eighth Judicial district do hereby certify that on this day to with 26th of August 1818 James Sherrel proved by his own oath before me that he knew James Spilman when in the Service of the United States in the revolutionary war under the Command of Captain John Rogers he further proved that he is now well acquainted with said Spillman and that he is in low and reduced circumstances and stands in need of assistance from his government for a support.
Christopher Tompkins
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State of Kentucky Sct
I John Barret Clerk of the Green Circuit Court Certify that Christopher Tompkins who signed the foregoing affidavit of James Spilman and James Sherrel and before whom oath

State of Kentucky St
I John Barret Clerk of the Green Circuit Court Certify that the honorable Christopher Tompkins before whom the foregoing affidavits of James Spilman and James Sherrel were made, was at the time of making the same, and now is Judge of the County aforesaid, duly Commissioned and qualified as such and therefore full faith and credit is to be given to all of his official acts
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix the seal of my office this 28th day of August 1818 and 27th year of the Commonwealth
John Barret CGC
I do certify that John Barrett, whose name is subscribed to the foregoing Certificate, is Clerk to this Green Circuit Court, & that his attestation is in due form - Given under my hand this 28th Augt. 1818
Christopher Tompkins
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[left hand page]
1914 Mar, 18 Hist. to M.M. Hanna
1932 Feb 4-   "  " [Hist to] Mrs Waddel
See her letter in James Spillman as S. 16535- aug
1937 Sept 12 Hist. to Rev Vernon P. Martin- AWF [illegible]

[right hand page]
Rev War
 14549
INVALID.
Foile No 14.549
James Spilman [Spelman] 
Priv Rev War
Act: June 7th 1832
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 354
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

1818
63
55
601 S. Main Street
Georgetown, Ohio, March 19th, 1937.
To the Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sirs:
Will you please give me information about the following soldiers of the Revolutionary War.
James Rice, had a daughter named Nancy who married Benjamin F. Spilman in 1789 in Va and immediately moved to Gerrard County, Ky. Later they moved to Muhlenberg County Ky and thence about 1817 to Illinois finally settling in Hillsborro, Ill where both Nancy Rice Spilman and her husband Benjamin Spilman are buried. I do not know whether or not James Rice father of Nancy Rice Spilman moved to Ky and Ill or not. I think one James Rice served under George Rogers Clark.
(another James from Ky but not Cul Co.)
James Spilman. father of Benjamin Spilman as per above. Perhaps there was a James Spilman also in Geo R. Clark command from Va. Possibly from Culpeper County.
Any information relative to these will be appreciated.
Respectfully yours,
Vernon P. Martin
Vernon P. Martin,
Minister Presbyterian Church, Georgetown, Ohio.

RECEIVED MAR 27 1937
MAIL SUB-DIV.
VETS ADM
READER #10
Page 19

February 4, 1932
BA-J/AWF
S 14549
Mrs. J. B. Waddell
613 East First Street
National City, California

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to, your letter relative to James Spillman, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein are obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 14549, based upon the military service of James Spilman or Spelman. in the Rev. War

He was born April 28, 1763, place not stated.

While residing in Culpepper County, Virginia, he enlisted in 1779 and served as a private two years in Captain John Rogers' company in Colonel George Rogers Clark's "Illinois" regiment in the Virginia troops, marched to Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) to Louisville, and then to Kaskaskia, was in an expedition under Colonel Montgomery against the Indians on the Illinois River and destroyed some of their towns.

He was living in 1818 in Green County, Kentucky.

He was allowed pension on his application executed August 20, 1832, then a resident of Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky.

He died June 27, 1840.

There is no reference to wife or children.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Assistant to Administrator
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March 18, 1914.
Mr. M. M. Hanna.
Department of State.
Washington, D. C.
Sir:
In response to your letter dated the 6" instant, you are advised that the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau afford information in regard to only two soldiers named James Spillman, Spilman or Spelman, and in neither case is it stated whether the soldier was married.
James Spillman, Sur. File No. 16,535, who was pensioned in Clarke County, Kentucky, on a certificate which issued February 22, 1833, was born January 1, 1756, in Prince William County, Virginia, and lived in Stafford County, Virginia, during the Revolution. There is no data as to his family on file.
From the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim. Sur. File No. 14,549, of James Spilman or Spelman, it appears that he enlisted in Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1779 and served as private for two years in Captain John Rogers' company, Colonel George Rogers Clarke's "Illinois" Regiment of the Virginia troops during which time he was on an expedition
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commanded by Colonel Montgomery against the Indians on the Illinois River and destroyed some of their villages. He was allowed pension on a certificate which issued November 6, 1832, at which time he was sixty-nine years old and lived in Barren County, Kentucky. The date and place of his birth are not given, nor is there any data on file as to his family.
Very respectfully,
G M Saltzgaber
Commissioner.
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/War Section.
M.B.H.
Department of State
Unofficial. Washington March 6, 1914.
The Honorable G.M.Saltzgaber,
Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I beg to thank you for your very kind letter of the 20th of February. In accordance with your suggestion I send you such data as I have concerning the Revolutionary War service of James Spillman. He was born in Virginia, I think Culpepper County, and married 1st Martha Frank; 2nd Alice Hoffmen. He had a large number of children. I am not sure which one of the following records is his:
James Spillman, Barren Co., Kentucky, Private, served in a Virginia company,
granted pension Nov. 6, 1832, 480; Age 71: Under act of June 7, 1832. Or,
James Spillman, Clark Co., Ky. (Virginia line) Private, pensioned Feby. 22, 1833, $36.66. Age 78.
It would help me to identify my family line if you could give me the wives or widows of the two James Spillmans mentioned above.
Could I also have the record of John Hanna, private (Pennsylvania line, drew a pension July 6, 1819, and Sept. 10, 1818 while resident in Nicholas Co., Kentucky. Aged 80; $96. Under act of March 18, 1818.
If this inquiry is putting you to inconvenience, I should be pleased to call personally to examine the records if that is preferable.
With thanks in anticipation of your kindness, I am,
Very respectfully,
M. M. Hanna
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Mr. M. M. Hanna.
Office of 2d Asst. Secretary of State,
Washington, D. C.
Sir:
In response to your letter of the 16" instant, you are advised that this Bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolution, unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made on account of his services, and a careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file for Benjamin Spilman.
In order to identify such a claim, if on file, for James Spilman, it is essential that you furnish as much as possible of the following data: names of some officers under whom he served, places of residence at enlistment and after discharge, approximate dates of his birth and death, given name of his widow.
For information in regard to land that may have been granted by the State of Virginia, you should address the Secretary of that state.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.