Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 10091, Charles Bickley, Va
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Va.

Bickley, Charles

NUMBER
S10091

Carded
Page 2

[Left Side]
Virginia 30.941
Charles Bickley
of Russell in the State of Va
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Russell of the Rgt. commanded
by _______________ on the Virginia
line for 10 mos.

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Jany 1837 abd Sent Hon.
G. W. Hopkins Ho of Reps

Arrears to the 4th of Sept 1836 $183.31
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Mar '37 16.66
$199.97
Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by [W. D.?]  Addison Clerk,
Book E, Vol 6 1/2, Page 4

{Right Side}

Letter to Hon. G. W. Hopkins and
& Auditor 15 May 1838.
co to Hon G. W. Hopkins, May 22, 1838

Paid at the Treasury under
Act of 6th April 1838 from 
4 March 1837 fo 4 Sept 1837.
Agt. notified 1 June 1838.

Letter to C. M. Mitchell & Auditor 
1 March 1839

Paid at the Treasury under the 
Act of the 6th April 1838, from
4 Sept 1837 to 4 March 1838
Agt. notified 22 March 1839

Paid as above to 5 of the 
7 children from 4 Sep 1838
to 1 June 1839, the day of 
his death. Agent notified 
1 May 1840.
Page 3

State of Virginia
Russell County

     On the 8th day of September 1836 personally
appeared Charles Bickley a resident of said county of 
Russell in the State of Virginia, aged about 83 years, who being 
first duly sworn, according to law, doth on his oath make this
following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions 
made by the Act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.
     That he entered the service of the United States in the
month of September or October 1775 [within the county of Washington crossed out]
within the limits of the new territory of Russell County Virginia
under Captain William Russell, Lieutenant William Bowen,
and Ensign James Knox, and was residing over and
stationed at the Rye Cove in the County of Scott in the
state aforementioned, where he remained in service, (guarding and
defending that fort, until the 23rd day of January 1776 when
he was discharged and returned home, after having remained
in the public service at least three months and a half, and as
he verifly believes four months.
     That in the then ensuing seven months
of 1776, but at what precise date he cannot now remember, but
recollects that he was engaged hoeing corn in the County of
Russell aforesaid. A few weeks before, when an alarm was raised that the Indians were in the
settlement and the property of the neighbors had been trampled at the fort, when 
a company of militia from the neighbor
[town?] of Reed Creek in the now county of Wythe, commanded
by Capt. John Montgomery, Lieutenenant Michael Dougherty and Ensign John Simpson, were on their march to the 
Rye Cove Fort, preparatory to an expected expedition against
the Cherokee Indians, when he, the said Charles Bickley, enrolled 
himself as a private and marched under the said officers
to the Fort aforesaid, where they remained a short time, when
in obedience to orders from Col. Bledsoe, then in command of the forces upon that frontier, they evacuated the Rye
Cove Fort, and being a more exposed point, and without sufficient
Page 4

force for its defense, and marched to Blackmore's Fort on 
the Clinch River and formed a junction with the forces stationed at that 
fort. During their stay at the latter fort, and before they set out upon
the then contemplated expedition, against the Cherokee Indians,
information reached the fort, through Capt. Daniel Smith,
that the Indians were upon the waters of Moccasin Creek, whereupon
Capt. Montgomery with his company joined Capt  Smith and
his company and marched in pursuit of the Indians, and 
pursued their trail within a short distance of Holston's 
Fort upon Moccasin Creek, where from their having apparently
separated were unable to prosecute the pursuit further in
that way, and marched to the last named Fort. Upon
their arrival at the Fort, they found that no assault had
as yet been made upon it by the Indians, and found there a man from Castlewood in the county of Russell of the
name of Samuel Cowan, riding as the declarant 
now remembers a stud horse belonging to one Deskin
Tibbs -- Cowan proposed to leave the fort and return to his
family, but was admonished of the danger of an attempt
to do so, as the Indians were in the immediate neighborhood, 
but he persisted in his determination and set out, but
proceeded but a short distance, when the fire of guns, 
were heard in the fort, and the forces rallied out to the
attack, whereupon they came upon the body of Cowan,
shot from his horse, and scalped, and although still
alive, was taken to the fort, and died the same evening.
The Indians fled, and made their escape. Perceiving
that the enemy had fled, and most likely left the 
settlement upon mockasin, they were marched 
back to Blackmore's Fort upon Clinch River, where
they remained a short time until the forces for the proposed
expedition against the Cherokee Indians were all embodied
and ready to march. They then set out and marched to
the Three Springs in the now State of Tennessee [first location crossed out] where the army remained a few days, and again took up
the line of march for the [phrase crossed out] Indian
Page 5

Nation under the command of Col Christy and Major E. Shelley 
at the head of whose Battallion was placed the company of 
Capt. John Montgomery. This Declarant also remembers that there 
was also in command upon this expedition a Col. McClanahan. 
They continued their march without any skirmishing or interrupts 
until they arrived at a place called by some as the Big Island, 
and by others, the Dragon Canoe, where some of the Chiefs 
and headmen of the Indians, came in, and proposed to make a 
treaty of peace, amongst their chiefs and head men, he remembers that 
Little Carpenter, Black bear Partridges, etc. It was agreed 
on the part of the Indians that hostilities should cease for the 
present, and it was agreed and assented to by both parties 
that a council should be held, at some subsequent 
day at the Long Island of Holston, for the purpose of 
ratifying and confirming a permanent treaty, 
which was done. The Army were marched in a body to 
that point, where they were discharged, and this declarant 
was returned to his residence in the county of Russell, where 
he arrived in the fall of the year, but cannot now remember 
at what precise date, but remembers that there were 
several successive hard frosts during their stay in the 
Indian territory, which attracted general notice at this 
time from the unusual number of successive frosts 
without any intervening bad weather.  He feels assured 
that he must have remained in the service upon this town at least 
four months, and he doubts not longer.
     Some time after his return home, &
how long he cannot now remember, but thinks from the best of his 
recollection it was in the fall of the year 1777, he was again 
called out by Capt. E. Shelley, as a military guard for the protection 
of the commissioners and surveyor appointed to run the line 
between the State of Virginia and the Cherokee Indians which
line was run by Col. William Campbell, beginning at what is now 
called the mouth of Big Creek, and ending at the high
Page 6

knob upon Cumberland Mountain, a few miles west of
Cumberland Gap, as well as he can now remember. In
this service they were engaged at least one month, and he
avidly believes more, when they returned to the Rye Cove, where they
remained a short time, when the company to which he was
attached were placed under the command of Ensign Douglas
and marched to the Long Island upton Holston River, where 
they remained for the term of three months, and were then
discharged and returned home again to the county of
Russell.
     This declarant remained at his home upon the frontier,
and in its vicinity, engaged in many skirmishes, and performing
some occasional services of great danger, but only of a 
voluntary character, without either military orders or compensation
until the year he thinks of 1780, when he was ordered out again
about the month of August or September, under Capt. John Snoddy, as 
a military guard for the opening of a new road from the 
Valley of Holston River, via Cumberland Gap to the settlement
in the now state of Kentucky near the Crab Orchard in that
state, in which service they were engaged in at least two months
and a half, and were then marched back as well as this declarant
now remembers. One Wm. McBride was the superintendent to open
the road which he has mentioned. This declarant has no written
discharge, nor any documentary evidence of his services.  But he
resides now in the same immediate community in which
his services in chief were performed.  He has carefully 
distinguished in his declaration his services under regular 
military orders, and those which he rendered in defense of
his own and the homes and families of his neighbors. He
[Following bracketed section marked to omit:  hopes to be able to show to the entire satisfaction of the
government that his claim for a pension is just and
well founded, by testimony of those who were witness to his
services, and those amongst whom he has given aid. He
claims a pension for14 months services and verily believes
that he was longer engaged in the pubic service.]
     He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever
Page 7

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.
     Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.

Charles Bickley
X his mark

And the said court do hereby declare their opinion that
the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier
and served as he states.

     I James P. Carroll, clerk of the county
court of Russell in the state of Virginia do certify that
the foregoing is the original Declaration of Charles 
Bickley, applicant for a pension made in said court.
     In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and affix the seal of the said court this 13th
day of December 1836.

James P. Carroll, Clerk
of Russell County Court
Page 8

[partial form] 

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office
April 22d, 1840.

Sir:
     Under the act of the 6th of April 1838, entitled "An 
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain 
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States," five of seven children of Charles Bickley, 
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va. Agency, at 
the rate of thirty three Dollars and thirty three Cents 
per annun, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has 
been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1838, 
to the 1st June 1839, the day of his death.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commisioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 9

[typed] 

June 17, 1936

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

CHARLES BICKLEY
S. 10091
BA-J/MB

Mr. James Taylor Adams
Big Laurel
Virginia

Dear Sir:

     Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record
of Charles Bickley who served in the Revolutionary War, had a son
Sebastian H. Bickley, and died while a resident of Castle Woods, 
Russell County, or in Washington County, Virginia.
     You are furnished below the record of the only soldier named
Charles Bickley, under any spelling, found in the Revolutionary War
records of this office; the data therein were obtained from the papers
on file in pension claim, s. 10091, based upon his service in the
Revolutionary War.
     The date and place of birth of Charles Bickley and names of his 
parents are not shown.
     Charles Bickley enlisted in that part of Virginia which was later
Russell County, in September or October, 1775, served as private in
Captain William Russell's Virginia company, stationed at Rye Cove in 
Scott County, Virginia, guarding the fort there, and was discharged
January 23, 1776, after having served three and a half or four months. 
He enlisted in the summer of 1776, served as private in Captain John 
Montgomery's company, Colonels Bledsoe's, Christy' and McClannahan's
Virginia regiments, stationed part of the time at Fort Blackmore on 
Clinch River, then went on an expedition against the Cherokee Indians
of the Holston on Long Island, and was discharged in the fall of that year after having served a tour of about four months. He enlisted in the fall of 1777, served four months as private in Captain E. Shelby's
company, Colonel William Campbell's Virginia regiment, as guard for
the protection of the commissioners and surveyor appointed to run a
line between the State of Virginia and the Cherokee Indians. After
this tour he remained at his home upon the frontier engaged in guarding
the families of the neighborhood in occasional services of great
danger and was in many skirmishes. He again enlisted in August or
Page 10

[typed]

September, 1780, and served two and one half months as private in
Captain John Snoddy's Virginia company, engaged as a military guard
for the opening of a road from the Valley of the Holston River via
Cumberland Gap to a point which was later Crab Orchard in Kentucky.
     Charles Bickley was allowed pension on his application executed
September 8, 1836, at which time he was aged about eighty-three
years and a resident of Russell County, Virginia, where he was still
living in 1836. He died June 1, 1839.
     No reference was made to soldier's wife.
     It was stated that five of seven children survived Charles
Bickley, but no names were given.
     In order to obtain date of last payment of pension and name of
person paid, you should write to the Comptroller General, General
Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following:

Charles Bickley
Certificate #30941
Issued January 9, 1837
Rate: $33.33 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act June 7, 1832
Virginia Agency

Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

-2-
Page 11

[left side]
1936, June 17 - Hist. to James Taylor 
Adams

[right side]

10.091
Rev War
INVALID.

File. No. 10.091
Charles Bickley
Pri. Rev War
------

Act: June 7th, 1832
Index: Vol. 1, Page 32

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 12

Charles Bickley
Va

[following crossed out:]
Sent Hon. G. W. Hopkins Jany 1 1837

Act 7 June 1832
Page 13

[partial form]

Treasury Department,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
May 18th - 1838

Sir.
     Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by cer-
tain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the
Treasury of the United States," Charles Bickley
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Virginia Agency, at
the rate of thirty three Dollars and thirty three Cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832 has
been paid at this Department from the 4th of March 1837
to the 4th September 1837.

Respectfully yours
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 14

May 22

look into [in faint pencil writing]
Charles Bickleys
voucher
[No?] May 13th

atty. care of
PAB at
Richmond for
Ch. M. Mitchell

Hon. G. W. Hopkins

[Written along edge]
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions
War Dept.
Washington, DC
Page 15

Ho of Rep. May 21st 1838

Col. J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir
     Enclosed you a few days ago,
the vouchers for a pension of Charles Bickley of
Russell Co Va, upon which payment had been
refund by the agent at Richmond. I beg leave
now to call your attention to the subject, and to ask
that I may be informed of the result of your
examination of the matter as early as your
engagements will permit.

Very respectfully
I am yours
G. W. Hopkins
Page 16

[partial form]

Treasury Department
Second Comptroller's Office
March 8th 1839

Sir:
     Under the act of the 6th of April 1838 entitled "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States," Charles Bickley, 
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond Va Agency, at
the rate of Thirty three ollars and thirty three Cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June, 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of Sept. 1837, to the 4th March, 1838.

Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.
Page 17

Hon. G. W. Hopkins
Jan'y 2nd 1837
ol

Record E Vol 39
Page 426
Page 18

Depart. of War
Pension Office
Jan'y 2 1834

Sir
     I have examined the declaration
of Charles Bickley and have placed it on
the files of the office.  The claim of Mr. Bickley
for his service as a guard to the commissioners
who are engaged in running the line between 
the state of Va. and the Cherokee Indians; and 
for two and a half mos. as a military
guard for opening a new road; is inadmissable,
not being military service.  He may receive a
pension certificate for ten months , by your
advising the Department of his acceptance of it.
     I have the honor

Hon
G. W. Hopkins
H. Rep
Page 19

State of Virginia
Washington County

On this first day of October in the year
1836, before the under
signed, a justice of the peace in and for
the county aforesaid, personally appeared
Maj. John Jamison aged eighty three 
or four, as a witness in behalf of the
application of Charles Bickley, of the 
county of Russell in the state aforesaid,
for a pension under the Act of Congress
passed June 7th 1832, who after being
duly sworn according to law doth
depose and say that he was in the 
service with said Bickley, at tho he states,
commencing in the fall of 1775 under the 
command of Capt. William Campbell,
who divided his company, sending 
one part, under the command of 
William Bowen, Lieutenant, to the
Rye Cove in Scott County in the 
State aforesaid. According the recollection
this affidant, we were ordered for the 
term of six months, but he does not
recollect how long they remained in
the service, yet know it was untill they
were legally discharged.
     This affidant distinctly recollected that 
that Charles Bickley, then a young
man, served with him during  this
Page 20

whole of that tour, and further, this
affiant saith not.
     Sworn to and subscribed before
me the day and year above written.
     John Jamison

Lewis Smith, J. P.
     I moreover certify that it appears 
to me that John Jamison who has 
sworn to and subscribed the foregoing
affidavit, is a resident of the said county
of Washington, is a credible witness, and, 
that his statements are entitled to credence.

Given under my hand at this county
afore
this day and year first above written
Lewis Smith, J. P.

State of Virginia
Washington County
     I David Campbell Clerk of the court of Washington
County, certify that Lewis Smith is a magistrate as above, and
that the foregoing signature purporting to be his are genuine

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed
my seal of office, and subscribed my name
this 5th day of October in the year 1836.
David Campbell
Page 21

State of Virginia
Scott County

On this 13th day of Otober in the year 1836
before the undersigned, a justice of the peace in and for
the county aforesaid, personally appeared Hannah
Byrd aged about 81 years as a witness on behalf
of the application of Charles Bickley of the County
of Russell in the state aforesaid for a pension
under the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832
who after being duly sworn according to law doth
depose & say that she well remembers that Charles
Bickley was in the armey under Captain William 
Russell, Lieutenant William Bowen and ensign
James Knox and stated at the Rye Cove in the
County of Scott and state aforesaid as well as she now can remember for the term of four months. She 
cannnot now recollect the precise dates but thinks
it was in the last of September or first of
October that they was rendezvoused and stationed 
at the Rye Cove, the Indians having apparently
left the settlements, the company under Captain
Russell was discharged. She also recollects that in 
the next ensuing summer that the said Charles Bickley was in the service under Captain John
Montgomery, Lieutenant Michael Dougherty and 
Ensign John Simpson and that they left
the Rye Cove fort and joined the forces at
Page 22

Blackmore fort under Capt. Samuel Smith and
went in pursuit of the Indians and was gone some
time and returned to the fort where they remained
a short time until the forces were all embodied and they
then set out on an expedition against the Cherokee
Indians under the command of Col. Christy and Major
E. Shelby at the head. Tho she cannot remember the
dates nor the precise length of time but believes that
it was at least four or five months. She also recollects
that the said C. Bickley went as one of the guards under
Capt. E. Shelby to run the line between the state of
Virginia and the Cherokee Indians. She thinks they
was gone on that tour five or six weeks then was
again marched to the Long Island upson Holston River
under Ensign Douglas but cannot recollect how long
before he returned but thinks it was three or four
months and further this affiant saith not.

Hannah Byrd
x her mark

Sworn to and subscribed before me the 
day & year above written.
John Wolfe JP

I more over certify that it appears that Hannah Byrd
who has sworn to & subscribed the affadavit
is a resident of the said County of Scott is a credible
witness & that her statements are entitled to
credit given under my hand at the county
aforesaid the day & year first above written

John Wolfe JP
Page 23

I John S. Martin Clerk of the Court of Scott
County, certify that John Wolfe is a justice of the
peace as stated on the preceding pages, and that the
foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
affixed my seal of office, and 
subscribed my name, this 13th day
of October in the year 1836

John S. Martin Clerk of
the Court of Scott County
Page 24

Hon G. W. Hopkins

Ch's Bickley
pen,

Will M. Addison
get the papers of
Ch's Bickley  and issue a
certificate for 10 mo. $33.33
H. G. L


[upside down]
J. L Edwards esq.
Commissioner of Pensions

[vertical]
Hon. G. W. Hopkins
HR

[vertical note]
JM at Jan 4
Page 25

J. L. Edwards Esquire
Commissioner of Pensions

Dear Sir

Your favour of the 2nd instant upon the earliest
pension claim of a valued old friend and constituent
of mine, Charles Bickley, has been secured this morning. I know
the great difficulty after such a lapse of time, in collecting
testimony in support of these old claims, and the moreso, for
services rendered chiefly upon what was then a thinly
settled frontier. I therefore in this instance, consider it best
for this deserving applicant to accept the Pension Certificate
for ten months service, and must ask that it be enclosed
to me as early as convenient, and with it a blank
copy of a power of attorney, which I can forward to the
old man.

Very Respectfully
I am yours truly
G. W. Hopkins
Page 26

33931

Charles Bickley

Declaration for a 
Pension

Hon. G. W. Hopkins
HR
Page 27

[typed]

Big Laurel, Va.
June 5, 1936 

[Bears postal stamp Received June 8, 1936, Mail Sub-Div, Vets Adm., Reader # 34]

Veterans Admininstration,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

Will you please advise if you have record of
service in Revolution for one CHARLES BICKLEY ["only one" penciled in by VA], who had
a son Sebastain H. Bickley, and died while a resident
at Castle Woods, Russell Co., Va., or in Washington Co., Va.

Respectfully yours
James Taylor Adams [signed]