Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 4061, for Aaron Reynolds, Virginia
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE    Va. & Ind. Wars.
Reynolds, Aaron 
NUMBER     S. 4061
carded.
CONTENTS
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[left side of page] 

7370
West Tennessee
Aaron Reynolds
of Giles Co in the State of W.T.
who was a private in the company commanded 
by Captain Wallace of the Regt commanded
by Co. Wieden in the VA 
time for 2 years

Inscribed on the Roll of W Tennessee
at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of April 1833 and [illegible] German Lester [?] Pulaskie Tenn.
Arrears to the 4th of March 160.00
Semi-anl, allowance ending 4 Sept 40.00
$200.00

{Revolutionary Claim,}
{Act June 7, 1832       }
Recorded by Daniel [illegible] Clerk,
Book E Vol. 7 Page 94

[right side of page]

Death not on A. B.
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12.617.

[illegible]
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State of Tennessee  }
Giles county              } SS

On this the 27th day of August in the year 1832 personally appeared in open court before Edward D. James Simpson H. White and Thomas S. Webb esquires (Justices of the peace assigned to hold said court) in the court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of the county of Giles in the said state of Tennessee now sitting Aaron Reynolds a resident of and in the county of Giles in the state of Tennessee aged seventy nine [blank] years the 1st day of December 1832 as he has been informed or believes [illegible] who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States [deleted words] on the 5th day of November in the year 1775 in the county of Stafford in the state of Virginia - was Fredericksburg - in company with Thomas Sharp & others of his then[?] vicinity -  that he enlisted as aforesaid with and under one Augusta or Augustus or Gustav Brown Wallace a captain in the regular  service in -- whose company and -- Briscoe was first Lieutenant the other officers of said company not now recollected and served in the 3rd Regiment of the Virginia Line under the following named officers, viz the aforesaid Capt Augustus Brown Wallace and -- Briscoe as 1st Lieutenant as above, and Colonel [illegible] or  Mercer [illegible] Weeton or Weedon &  Major John Machal ^Marshal^ - that his said enlistment was for two years from the time of enlistment  and then when his said time of enlistment expired he was with his said regiment at what was then called by the soldiers [illegible] camp in the county
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In the state of Pennsylvania - a short time after the battle of Germantown - the said [illegible] Camp was between Germantown and the Valley forge but how far from either of said places he cannot state with accuracy. he further states  that after his said time of service was out as aforesaid he again enlisted for three years without having said camp, same day his said first term was out or in a few days therefore - Under Captain Jack Messor or Mercer and served with & under him in the 3rd regiment of the Virginia line - under the following officers viz as well as he recollects  Col Weedon or Weeton  - who was then in the place of Col Messor mentioned above (who after having been promoted to the command of Brig General was killed in the battle of Princeton.) Col or Major Jack Marshal aforesaid - and he does not recollect whether the said Marshal had been promoted to be Lieutenant Col or was then Major in said regiment. he does not recollect any of the other officers at that time in command of said regiment & company. after Col Weedon or Weeton had been in command of said regiment for some time - declarant thinks, that Col or Major Jack Marshal commanded it for a while & then Col Gaskill commanded the said regiment for a time at Middlebrook - or Boundbrook as well as declarant can state declarant was commanded temporarily by other said officers whose names he does not have recollection.  The last Captain that declarant served under was Captain Valentine Peyton at Charleston - at the siege of which place the said Capt Peyton was killed a short time before the Town --
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was surrendered. declarant served out his said served term of three years either as a soldier in said Regiment or as a prisoner of war; for about six months he was kept in the barracks in Charleston with the other prisoners & then he with them was put aboard the prison ships - & kept on board of them in the harbor of Charleston between the city of Charleston & fort Moultin about half way between the two said places. In July 1781, declarant with others of the said prisoners was carried round to Jamestown in Virginia on board said vessels and landed at that place from whence the prisoners were marched to Williamsburg Virginia where those whose term of service was out were discharged. declarant states that his second term of service had expired before he was marched to Williamsburg & while he was a prisoner but that he was not discharged till the 25th day of July 1781. at Williamsburg - where & when he was discharged. & received a written discharge - but by whom he was discharged or by whom his discharge was signed he does not recollect. he left the service at Williamsburg on or about the said 25th day of July 1781 as aforesaid. declarant states that the first battle he was in was a battle between the Brittish & Americans - at New York Island, about three or four miles from the city of New York and between King's Bridge and the city. Col. Weedon or Weeton & Col or Majr Marshal were in command a declarants field officers - but who was the immediate commander in chief on this occasion declarant does not know, but General George Washington was in commander in chief & was in person at the White Plains
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[Declaration page 4]

to which place the troops into said engagement
was ordered to return after the said battle. [illegible] declarant said General [George] Washington [illegible] from his being  at White Plains immediately after the battle at the Island [Battle of Long Island, August 1776] then he was their commander in charge but does not know the fact to be so. 

affiant does not recollect when said Battle at the Island took place - but knows that it was during his said first enlistment of two years - and was on Sunday - declarant recollects that it was a Sunday because he recollects that the army to which he belonged arrived in the city of New York on Friday- marched out of the city on Saturday and on Sunday fought the battle at the White Plains [Battle of White Plains, NY October 1776] 

there was a battle a few days after - declarant & his regiment returned thither in which General 
[illegible] commanded the american troops as well as he recollects- but declarant was not actively engaged in the battle being [illegible]  with his company or rejoined to assist the others who were engaged

& declarant understood but the americans 
were [illegible] before declarant was brought into battle from white plains declarant was marched through New Jersey into Pennsylvania crossing the Delaware river & encamped on to Pennsylvania line for some time- then crossed 
to the delaware river on and most [of the] night marched in the night to Trenton- through rain and snow - attacked the Hessians next morning about sunrise took them prisoners [Battle of Trenton, New Jersey Dec. 1776]

& crossed the delaware River with them , - encamped there while the troops were somewhat reunited - then marched back to Trenton remained there a short time Wallase [Wallace House, Somers, New Jersey, Washington's headquarters during winter encampment at Middlebrook Dec 1778-June 1779] in being Trenton on the side opposite to our encampment
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[Declaration page 5]

General [George] Washington who then commanded the american army & then part of [illegible] to which declarant then belonged as aforesaid in person marched off from his said encampment about two o'clock in the night 
he ordered the army to Princetown [Princeton, 
New Jersey] where declarant was in battle again,
[Battle of Princeton, New Jersey 1777]

Swhere [somewhere] General [Hugh] Mercer the former Col. of declarant was killed by a bayonet. from there declarant and the army was marched to Morristown in New Jersey - from thence to Vally Forge [Valley Forge, Pennsylvania] where the army 
&  declarant remained in Winter Quarters.

In the next Summer declarant with the army to which he was attached was marched to Brandywine [Pennsylvania]  in which battle declarant was in engaged [Battle of Brandywine, Pennsylvania 1777] = from there the army returned to Philadelphia & to Germantown [PA] in which battle declarant was also engaged [Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania 1777] 

after being at Monmouth [New Jersey] & marching thence back to vicinity of Morristown [NJ] . Sometime in the fall of that year declarant with the brigade to which he belonged under the command of General [William] Woodford was marched through Penn [PA]- Maryland - Virginia & north Carolina and into south Carolina and to Coopers river some five or six miles above charleston [SC] [at the Siege of Charleston SC 1780  General William Woodford and his unit were captured by British]

we then took water & went to Charleston arriving there the last of April or first day of May - we were barged there [4 illegible words] & declarant with other prisoners after being kept
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[Declaration page 6]

in the bonnets or stand above was put on board the prison ships etcetera etcetera as  stated herein before.

he 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
Aaron Reynolds [his mark] X
Germane Lester Clk

declarant could be much more minute in the details of his service but during it [illegible] - he has not stated very minutely the months of his several marches nor the particulars of the battles in which he was engaged - for this same reason he is not certain that he has mentioned all the names of the officers under whom occasioned command- he was at different periods [illegible] kept his said discharge for sometime & then same it up to -one Coleman who was going to this island as he said, for the purpose of getting a warrant or certificate for declarant  military bonus land - but he has never seen or heard of his said discharge before it is most probably lost or distroyed [destroyed] before this time. declarant hereby refers to evidence in the war department or ofice [office] in the House of Representatives of congress as to his service as aforesaid. [illegible]
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1st Congress, 1st Session
Rep. No. 153. Ho. of Reps.
Aaron Reynolds
February 3, 1830
Mr. Chilton, from the Committee on Military Pensions, to which was
referred the case of Aaron Reynolds, made the following
Report:
The Committee on Military Pensions, to whom was referred the petition
of Aaron Reynolds, beg leave to report:
That the petition in this case, subscribed, and sworn to in due form, clear-ly brings the applicant within the equity of the pension laws. The certificate of the Hon. Richard . Johnson, confirming the justice of this conclusion, is made part of this report; from which it will appear that, aside from any other service, the petitioner should be made an object of the bounty of his Government for his gallant and almost unexampled act of bravery in attempting to save  a valuable officer at the hazard of his own life. For his benefit your committee report a bill.

House of Representatives 
2d February, 1830.
I do certify that Aaron Reynolds, now of Tennessee, and who has a petition now before Congress, lived many years in Kentucky, and during the Indian wars in the West; that, from my early infancy, I was intimately acquainted with said Reynolds, as he lived almost in sight of my father's house till said Reynolds removed to Tennessee.
Said Reynolds supported a high reputation for honor, honesty, industry, and bravery. At the Blue Lick defeat he saved the life of Col. Patterson by giving up his horse, and putting his own life in imminent jeopardy thereby, and the 100 acres of land upon which he lived while in Kentucky, was a gift from Col. Patterson for his disinterested act of distinguished bravery. 
He was a distinguished Indian Warrior in defence of early settlements of Kentucky, during his residence there until wars terminated. He was a poor man when he left Kentucky, and supported his family by hard industry.

RH. M Johnson
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12617
Aaron Reynolds
Giles co.

from 1776 [unknown]
3 years $80
on Roll
German Lester, Clk.
Pulaski
Giles co
Tennessee
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BRIEF in the case of Aaron Reynolds
of Giles co in the State of Tennessee
(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? 79
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.
Period. Established in 1775
Duration of Service.
Years,
3
3
Months, Days. 
Rank,
As a
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.
Gen. Washington
Capt. [unknown] B. Wallace
Col. Wieden
Maj. John Marshall
Capt. John Mercer

5. In what battles was he engaged? Kings Bridge, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Monmouth, Germantown
6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Stafford co. Virg.
7. In his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? No references is made to papers formerly filed in his behalf in the Department of House of Representatives.
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Perfect
Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
T. E. Bradford
Examining Clerk.
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February 19, 1937
XXXXXXX

BA-J/MCS
Aaron Reynolds, S. 4061

Mrs. A. C. Rippier
413 Third Street
Brooklyn, New York

Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your request for the record of the Revolutionary War soldier, Aaron Reynolds, who applied for pension August 27, 1832.

The data which follow were obtained from papers on file in the pension claim, S. 4061, based upon the military service of Aaron Reynolds.

He enlisted in Stafford County, Virginia, March 5, 1776, as private in Captain Gustavus Brown Wallace's company in Colonel Mercer's Third Virginia Regiment and served two years. He immediately re-enlisted in the same regiment and served under Captains Jack Mercer and Valentine Peyton, and Colonels Weedon, Marshall and Gaskins. He was in the battle near King's Bridge, New York, and the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth, and at the siege of Charleston where he was taken prisoner and kept in the barracks there until he was conveyed on a prison ship to Jamestown, Virginia, in July, 1781. He was discharged July 25, 1781, at Williamsburg, Virginia.

It was stated that at the Blue Lick Defeat he saved the life of Colonel Patterson by giving his horse to him and putting his own life in jeopardy. For this, Colonel Patterson presented him with one hundred acres of land, upon which he lived while in Kentucky. It was also stated that he was a distinquished Indian warrior in defence of the early settlements of Kentucky during his residence there and until those wars terminated. The places and dates of residence in Kentucky are not on record.
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Aaron Reynolds was allowed pension on his application executed August 27, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Giles County, Tennessee.

The papers in this claim contain no data relative to the family of Aaron Reynolds.

Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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THE REYNOLDS FAMILY ASSOCIATION
413 THIRD STREET
BROOKLYN, N. Y.
MRS. A. C. RIPPIER, SEC'Y, AND TREAS.
Feb. 3, 1937

The Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D.C.,
Honorable Commisioner,
Dear Sir:-
I understand there is a record of an Aaron Reynolds, who enlisted in Stafford Co., Va.Mar. 5, 1776, as a Private in Capt. Gustavus Brown Wallace's Company, Col. Mercers Ca.Regiment and served two tears. Had later re-enlistments. Mention is made his pension on an application executed, Aug. 27 182, then a resident of Giles Co., Tenn.
Rev. War Section, Bureau of Pensions S. File 4061.
May I copy of his record for our records? I have many inquiries. Thanking you for this courtesy
Most Sincerely
Mrs. A. C. Rippier