Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 31780, for William Johnston, Virginia
Page 1

Service
Va.
Johnston, William
Number
S 31780
Page 2

(Left side)
Paid at the Treasury under the Acts of the April 1838 from 4 March 1837 to 4 Sept 1837. Agent notified 28 July 1838.

Date of birth not on AB.

(Right side-partially torn off)
Georgia --
William Jo--
of Bibb Co, in the State of --- who was a Private in the company -- by Captain Lewis of the Regt. commanded by Col. Parker in the Va. line for 15 months

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia at the rate of 50 Dollars per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 15. day of Feb. 1836 and sent to Hon. John Coffee, H. R.

arrears to the 4th of Sep. '35                   225.00
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 March '26   25.00
                                                               $250.00
Revolutionary Claim Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, book E,  Vol. 6 Page 94
Page 3

32.641

Wm Johnston
Georgia




Hon. Jno Coffee
                  H.R
Page 4

State of Georgia     SS
County of Bibb

On the ninth day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five personally appeared in open Court in the Inferior Court of said County of Bibb and State of Georgia, William Johnston, aged eighty one years who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an Act of Congress passed June the 7th, 1832.

That he entered the service under the following named officers and served as herein (crossed out) stated that eh entered the service as a regular soldier at Valley Forge in the State of Pennsylvania, in the month of January in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven, as well as he can now recollect, and enlisted in the company commanded by Captain William Lewis, in which company, Frank Minnis, and Hallman Minnis were lieutenants, for the term of one year, said company was then in the first Virginia Regiment commanded by Colonel Richard Parker in the brigade commanded by General Muhlenberg-that he was in the battle of Monmouth in the same company, commanded by the same officers-General Washington commanded said battle, Claims
Page 5

State of Georgia }
County of Bibbs } SS
On the ninth day of February in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five
personally appeared in open Court in the Inferior
Court of said County of Bibb and State of Georgia,
William Johnston, aged eighty one years who
being first duly sworn according to law doth on his
oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain
the benefit of an act of Congress passed June
the 7th, 1832
That he entered the service under the 
following named officers and served as herein stated
that he entered the service as a regular soldier at Valley
Forge in the State of Pennsylvania, in the month of January
in the year seventeen hundred and seventy seven
as well as he can now recollect, and enlisted in
the company commanded by Captain William
Lewis, in which company, Frank Minnis, and Hallman
man Minnes were lieutenants, for the term of one
year, said company was then in the first Virginia
Regiment commanded by Colonel Richard
Parker in the Brigade commanded by General
Mahlenberg - that he was in the battle of
Monmouth in the same company commanded
by the same officers - General Washington
commanded at said battle, claim
Page 6

and was that day in the advanced guard and under the immediate command of Baron Steuben.  Claimant was discharged in the year seventeen hundred and seventy eight as well as he now remembers, after having served out the full term of his enlistment, by Captain Pairs, but he has lost his discharge. Claimant served two or three other terms of service but no other service in the Continental Army. He was at the battle of the Cowpens in the company commanded by Captain Archer; the command was then under Morgan. After this service claimant went to Salisbury and again substituted to serve a three months tour to guard prisoners. Claimant knows of no person by whom he can prove his service. Claimant is about eighty one years of age, and was born in Amelia County, State of Virginia, that he has no record of his age, from Amelia County he moved to Prince Edward County, from thence to Henrico County, thence he removed to North Carolina, thence he removed to South Carolina, thence he removed again to Guilford County, North Carolina, then to Salisbury in the same state, thence he removed to Columbia County in
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the State of Georgia, thence he removed to Washington County in the said State of Georgia thence to Hancock County in said state of Georgia, thence to the County of Baldwin in said last mentioned state, then to the County of Bibb in said State of Georgia where he now resides, that the Reverend Jonathan Neal has known him for a number of years and that the Reverend William G. Collins has known him for about ten months and that they live in his neighborhood who can testify as to his veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the revolution. Claimant hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.

Sworn to (illegible)
-----in open court      (signed) William Johnston
9th February 1835

Charles S. Lewis Clerk JC

Rev. Jonathan Neal and William G. Collins clergymen residing in the County of Bibb said State hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William
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Johnston who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration, that we believe him to be eighty one years of age, that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution. That we can (illegible)

Jonathan Neal
W.G. Collins

Sworn to transcribed this day (illegible)
Charles S. Lewis JP clk

And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after this investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the foregoing applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served has he stated. And the Court further certify that it appears to them that Jonathan Neal and William G. Collins who has signed the foregoing certificate are both clergymen residing in the County of Bibb and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to merit.

RB Washington IJC
John Campbell IJC
A E EarnestIJC
Page 9

I Charles S. Lewis Deputy Clerk of this Inferior Court of the County of Bibb do hereby certify that the foregoing, containing the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Johnston for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of ofc this ninth day of February A.D. 1835
Charles S. Lewis Dep Clk
Page 10

[handwritten] mailed without review F

January 14, 1936
XXXXXXXX

WILLIAM JOHNSTON
S. 31780
BA-J/MLB

Mrs. Cliff H. Bruton
Bainbridge, Georgia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the
Revolutionary War record of William Johnston who was born in 1753
in Amelia, Virginia, pensioned February 9, 1836, and died in Bibb
County, Georgia, in 1839.

You are furnished herein the record of William Johnston as
found in the papers on file in pension claim, S. 31780, based upon
his service in the Revolutionary War. It is not shown that he
served in the War of 1812.

William Johnston was born in Amelia County, Virginia; the date
of soldier's birth and names of his parents are not given.

He enlisted in 1777 at Valley Forge, served as private in
Captains William Lewis' and Payne's companies, Colonel Richard
Parker's Virginia regiment, was in the battle of Monmouth and was
discharged sometime in 1778 after having served a year. He afterwards
enlisted and a served a tour as private in Captain Archer's
Virginia company, was in the battle of Cowpens, length of tour not
given. After this, he went to Salisbury and substituted to serve
a tour of three months engaged in guarding prisoners, date of
enlistment and names of officers not stated.

The soldier moved from Amelia County, Virginia, to Prince
Edward County; from there to Henrico County, Virginia, thence to
the State of North Carolina; from there to South Carolina, then back to
North Carolina, where he resided first in Guilford County, thence
to Salisbury, same state. He then moved to the State of Georgia
where he resided in the Counties of Columbia, Washington, Hancock,
Baldwin and Bibb.

William Johnston was allowed pension on his application executed
February 9, 1833, at which time he was aged eighty-one years and a
resident of Bibb County, Georgia.
Page 11

There are no family data shown in the pension claim of
William Johnston.

In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name of
the person paid and possibly the exact date of death of this
soldier, you should write to the Comptroller General, General
Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the
following:

William Johnston
Certificate #30398
Issued February 15, 1836
Rate $50 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act June 7, 1832
Georgia Agency.

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

-2-
Page 12

31780
Revs INVALID
N
Willhttps://catalog.archives.gov/images/misc/drag.png
1785
liam Johnston
in Rev War
Act
June 3
dex: -- Vol.
I
Page
215
Arrangement of 1870.]
1905 Nov. 14 History to R. G.
Hall Cleburne, Ohio. M.B.H.
1909 Sept 15 Hist to Mrs
Geo
A. Niles J.P.
1919 Nov. 3 Hist to Joel N. E.
16. July 16. Copies of pages is
to M. H. C. Miller F.
6. Jan. 14 - Hist to Mrs. Cliff H. Bruton
Page 13

Request for Photostating  3-2006     Ex. MMHF
(To be prepared in duplicate.)
OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERK
Job No. 3721     Date July 26 - 1926
Subject  William Johnston, S.31780 - Rev. War
1 (No.) copy of 1 (No.) piece consisting of 5 pages to be
forwarded when completed to the Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
Remarks
Approved:
Margaret M. H. Frich
Acting Chief Division.
Chief Clerk.
Page 14

This is to certify, That it appears from a List in this office of such Officers
and Soldiers of the Virginia Continental Line, during the Revolutionary War,
as settled their Accounts, and received Certificates for the balance of their Full Pay,
according to an Act of Assembly, passed the November Session 1781, that a Certificate
issued on the 2nd day of November 1787, in the name of
William Johnston as a Soldier
for £11.10.7, which Certificate appears to have been delivered to
Col Cropper and was given for services prior to the 1st January, 1782.
{No Seal of Office}
Given under my hand at the Auditor's Office, Richmond, this
12th day of January 1836
[signature]  AUDITOR.
Page 15


Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office
July 25. 1838.
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," William Johnson
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Georgia Agency, at
the rate of fifty ---Dollars -
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 Sept. 1837
Respectfully, yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Present.
Page 16

Admit as private
15 mo Va line Cl. Parker Capt Minns
$50

Hon Jno Coffee
H of Rep

(written vertically)
J. L. Edwards Esqr
Pension Office
Page 17

House Representatives
Feby 5 - 1836.
J. L. Edwards Esqr
Sir
I have the honor to enclose the petition of William Johnston, to which I beg leave to call your early attention. These papers have been sent to me by Judge McDonald of Georgia; below I give you an extract from the Judges letter enclosing the papers.

"I can see no part of the law which requires any reason to be assigned why an application has been deferred. The reason why Mr. Johnston has not applied, is that he is in easy circumstances, and has not been compelled from necessity to ask the bounty which has been (illegible) provided for him by his country."

If a certificate of the respectability of Mr. William Johnston will be of any service, you will please inform me. he is well known to Mr. Grantland & myself, who will take pleasure in certifying to his respectability.
Respectfully your
obdt servt.
Jno Coffee.
Page 18

[round stamp] RICHMOND JAN 12 Va

Charles J. McDonald esq
Macon
Georgia
Page 19

Auditors Office Va.
12 Jan 1836.
Sir
I have duly recd. yours of the 2d. inst. There are as many as fourteen persons on the army rolls in this office, of the name of Wm. Johnson. There is but one however named Johnston, a certificate of whose settlement I send to you. We have no means of ascertaining the company or regiment to which he belonged.
Yours respy
Jas E Heath
Page 20

815 Marcy Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Oct. 23, 1919.
Commissioner of Pensions:-
Has the Bureau of Pensions the Revolutionary record of Charles West, serving in Virginia, but settled about 1800 in Christian county, N.J., where his son William was born in 1806, at or near Hopkinsville? His father, William West, is also reported to have served in the Revolution. A record of service for either would be greatly appreciated; or a record of William Johnston, who served from Carolina or Spotsylvania county Va. and settled before 1800 in WArren county, Ca.
Thanking you for past favors,
Joel N. Eno

(stamp)
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
D
OCT 24 1919
Page 21

30,398
Atlanta's Leading Hotels

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:-
Will you please send me all the information you can concerning William Johnston born in Va. and who applied for and was allowed pension Feb. 9, 1835. from Georgia. He lived in Bibb and Baldwin Co. Ga - He probably applied from Bibb Co. Ga, as he owned 8 lots of 202 1/2 acres each ten miles west of Macon Ga.
Also let me know
Page 22

if Isaac Hogan of Elbert Co. was a pensioner and what his record was:
Thanking you in advance, I am
Respectfully
Mrs. George M. Niles
Aragon Hotel
Atlanta, Ga.

(stamp)
U.S. PENSION OFFICE A
SEP 8 1909
Page 23

(stamp)
U.S. PENSION OFFICE. A
NOV 7 1905
Page 24

The Cleburne High School
R. G. HALL, PRINCIPAL.
CLEBURNE TEXAS
Nov. 4, 1905

(stamp)
U.S.P.B.
NAVY FILES
NOV 8 1905

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir:
I have an affidavit from Morgan P. Johnston of Three Notch, Bullock Co., Alabama in which he states that his father was a Revolutionary soldier. His name was William Johnston of Virginia. Was with Daniel Morgan at Cowpens Saw Molly's Pitcher at Monmouth, and was in at the finish at Yorktown. The said William Johnston saw much service in the army and had a brother James Johnston who was killed. James belonged to a different command and when last seen was wounded and seated at the root of a tree.
I do not know whether these brothers were state troops or regulars but hope that the information given above will enable you to identify them on the army rolls.
Can you give me any information as to the records of either especially William Johnston? Did William Johnston or the heirs of James Johnston ever ask for or receive a pension? William
Page 25

The Cleburne High School
R. G. HALL, PRINCIPAL
CLEBURNE TEXAS.

Johnston subsequently moved to Balwin and afterwards to Bibb county Georgia. He received a patent for a large tract of land ten miles from Macon and, like the strenuous man that he was, became the father of twenty-four children.
Any information or direction as to how to obtain information will be very much appreciated.
Truly, R G Hall

(stamp)
NOV 8 1905 - rest illegible
Page 26

PENICK & FORD, LTD.,
INCORPORATED
SUGAR, CANE AND CORN PRODUCTS
EXECUTIVE OFFICES NEW ORLEANS

W. S. PENICK PRESIDENT
NEW ORLEANS
May 10, 1926

Department of Pensions
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sirs:

I am desirous of obtaining all the information your Department is able to furnish regarding one

William Johnston

who applied for a pension on February 9, 1835 and was granted on the basis of service in the American Revolutionary forces under the command of General Daniel Morgan.

Any information as to dates, et cetera
regarding his ancestors which you may have on file in his application for pension will be most valuable to me.

Would like to have a verbatim copy of all data relating to this man, will be glad to defray
any expense incident to obtaining this information.

Self addressed stamped envelope enclosed
for your convenience.

Yours very truly,
[Signature] H.E. Miller (Mrs)
H. E. Miller
Audubon Place
New Orleans, La

[The following is handwritten on right side of page]
831780
Va Troops
5 pages

[Bottom right hand corner contains U.S Pension Office Stamp from May 12 1928]
Page 27

Rev. & 1812 Wars
Section.

May 13, 1925.

Mrs. H. E. Miller,
1 Audubon Place,
New Orleans, La.

Madam:

I have to advise you, that if you wish photostat copies of papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim of William Johnston of the Virginia Troops, S. 31780, who applied on February 9, 1835, the same will be furnished you at the rat of fifteen cents a page, with twenty-five cents extra for certification, if that is desired.
The number of pages to be copied is five.
The proper amount should be forwarded to this Bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Secretary of the Interior, (not to the Commissioner of Pensions).
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT,
Commissioner.
Page 28

6769
3-2233
BUREAU OF PENSIONS
Finance Division 
July 20 1926
Chief Rev Sect

I have this day received from Mrs H E Miller M.O. No. 463598 for $1.00 requesting photostat copy as per letter herewith.

O. J. RANDALL
Chief Finance Division.
W.C.L.

(written over bottom section)
Ctfd copies mailed July 30 1926 accd finance Division Mfd. 
(illegible)
Page 29

[letterhead]
Penick & Ford, Ltd.,
Incorporated
Sugar, Cane and Corn Products
Executive Offices New Orleans
W. G. Penick, President
New Orleans
[/letterhead]
July 14 1926
Mr Winfield Scott, Commissioner,
U S Deptartment [sic] of Interior
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Re: Revolutionary - 1812 War Section
In answer to your letter of May 13, 1926
in connection with one William Johnston of the Virginia Troup, who applied for pension #S-31780 on February 9, 1835.
Enclosed find money order for $1.00 to cover charges for five pages of photostat copy, 75¢ for certification.
Please mail the above to
Mrs H E Miller
#1 Audubon Place
New Orleans, La.
and oblige,
Yours very truly,
[signature]Mr. H. E. Miller
[stamp]Finance Division Jul 20 1926 Bureau of Pensions[/stamp]
Page 30

Bainbridge, Ga.
Oct. 31st 1935.
Cof Baker 44 Suf 1812
Inv R. 15527 Ga
ord 6
[stamp]Received Nov 2 1935 [illegible] Sub-Div. Vets. Adm Reader #12[/stamp]
Dear Sir-
Will you send me information or record of War service of William Johnston. [note]7 Ja - 1812[/note] He was born in Amelia, Va., in 1753 - died in Bibb, Co., Ga., in 1839. He was pensioned, Feb., 9th - 1836. I'd like to know if he did service in 1812.
Thanking you,
Your truly,
Mrs. Cliff H. Bruton
Page 31

In reply to your request for a statement of the military history of William Johnston, S.7.31.780, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, you will find below the desired information as contained in his ([strikethrough: or his widow's]) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
[6 column table; '|' separates columns]
Dates of Enlistment or Appointment. | Length of Service. | Rank. | Officers Under Whom Service was Rendered Captain. | Officers Under Whom Service was Rendered Colonel. | State.
Jan 1777 | 1 year | Private | William Lewes and Payne Archer| Richard Parker | Va.
1781 | 3 mos | Private | guarded prisoners to Salisbury | [blank] | Va.
[/table]
Battles engaged in, Monmouth, Cowpens.
Residence of soldier at enlistment, [check mark]
Date of application for pension, February 9, 1835. His claim was allowed.
Residence at date of application, Bibb Co., Georgia.
Age at date of application, 81 years; born in Amelia Co., Va.
Remarks: No family data. Only William Johnston found on the Rev. War Pension Rolls of Georgia.
Very respectfully, 
Commissioner.
Mr. N. G. Hall
High School.
Cleburne Texas.
15567b2m11-04