Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 1,132, David Bradley, Va
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Va
Bradley, David
Susan
R 1,282
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May 28th 1842
Musquodoboit County of Halifax Province of Nova Scotia
Sir,
Observing an advertisement in the Nova Scotian Newspaper requesting those who have served in the American army during the war of the Revolution to send in their claims for Pension granted by Act of Congress.  I am induced to [illegible word - send?] you the following statement of services performed – I was born in Roanoke in the State of Virginia – I enlisted in the Ame-
rican Army in the year 1777 when I was 18 years of age I entered in Cumberland County, Virginia in the 7th Virginia Regiment under an engagement to serve 2 years, the Colonel of the Regiment was named {Mc} Clanachan, the 1st Lieut of my Company was named  William Mosely afterwards promoted to be Captian.  The 2nd Lieut. name was Will Barnett who died before we marched to the northward, the Ensigns name was Mathew Carrington, Gen Woolford was our Brigadier General.  I served the 2 years our and then enlisted for 3 years more but before they expired I was taken prisoner at the surrender of Charleston where Gen Lincoln commanded – I lay 11 months in the hulks at Charleston, when finding our situation intolerable from filth and seeing not prospect of being exchanged and considering ourselves neglected by our country a number of us were induced in order to get out of prison to enter the British Service under the express stipulation of not bearing arms against our countrymen in America. Our oath was to serve his British Majesty on the Spanish Main for 3 years only – I was then driven from my country by circumstances over which I had no control.  I was then sent to Jamaica where I remained nearly 3 years from hence  I came to the Regiment to Halifax, Nova  Scotia where it was disbanded, I was then settled at a place called Manchester to the Eastward of Halifax where I obtained a small grant of land from the British Government – but not liking the location I left in almost immediately, from there I came to the place where I now reside where I have since made my living by farming.  During the time I served in the American Army I was in the Battles of Brandywine, Monmouth and German Town, besides various skirmishes and small affairs of which I do not now recollect the names or places.  When we left Virginia we marched to the northward to join the main army under General Washington, we lay over winter in quarters in Valley Ford dispensing the time – I served in the army we marched through the Jerseys, Pennsylvania
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I am now about 83 years of age, Should you deem the following statemen of service sufficient to entitle me to pension, the correctness of which can be tested by reference to the book of the 7th Virginia Regiment which I presume one {illegible word} in existence, or by some other documents accessible to you your agents – You will please write by an early mail – and give your opinion on the subject.
His
David X Bradley
Mark

Address your letter to
David Bradley 
Musquodoboit 
County of Halifax 
Province of Nova Scotia

Care of William J. Lydiard Esq.
Be in remembered that on this twenty eighth day of May in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two – personally appeared before Wiliam J. Lydiard Esq. one of the Justices of the Peace for the County of Halifax – The above named David Bradley who being sworn and upon oath declares the above to be a true and accurate statement of service in the American army during the war of the revolution and accurate statement of where he has been since the Peace of ’83.

Sworn to before me
William J. Lydiard K. J. Peace
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Augst 10/52 [underlined]
Rel: to case of
David Bradley.
====
Letter from JB Akins
Esq of Halifax N S.
enclosed [signed:] Kirby

Evansds [illegible] of and
Present

[Signature/ID - vertical to and overwriting main text above]
James E. Heath Esqr
Comr. of Pensions.
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35362
Mass.
---
Rejected

Let to Reuben Baldwin
July 2, 1842
Evans & Hart Oct 21 1832
1132
act 7. June 32
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     Halifax Nova Scotia,
      July 24th 1832.
Gentlemen
                 On receiving your last
letter I proceeded to make the necessary
inquiries to enable you to investigate
the claim of the late David Bradley
to a pension from the American Govmt.
as a soldier of the Revolution.
Bradly never recd. any pension or
lands, he made application about
10 12 years ago to the American Government
for a pension through an agent whose
name and address I can ascertain
but never received any answer the
person who wrote the letter for him has
no copy and cannot recollect to whom
it was addressed.  What I have learned
is as follows.  He joined the
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American Army in the
year 1776 or 77. As a Boy and
served with the 5th Virginia (Continental)
Regt. was at the Battles of Brandywine[?] 
he and finally taken prisoner ^by the Enemy^ at the 
Surrender of Charleston (Genl.
Lincoln Commanding) after the
peace he settled in N. Scotia - 
He was private soldier, and
a native of Carolina. The old
woman cannot recollect the names
of the Lt. Col. commanding the Regmt. or
that of the Capt. of his Company though
she says he has frequently heard him
mention then.

Bradley died on 4 Apl. 1844 or 43 -
aged 84- entered the American Service
in 1776 or 7.  married[?] in Nova Scotia after [....]
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[continued from above]

the peace - left no children -
decind[?] all his farm & to his
widow Susan Bradley who is also
sole Executrix, she is therefore his
legal representative.

I did not think its [sic] making to
send for the Marriage Certificate on
the probate of the Will, which will not
he required until the claim of [the - erased]
her late husband is substantiated.

They are all very ignorant[?] people
& incapable of offering any further
information but I should hope this
is enough to enable you to proceed
with the investigation which had
better be accomplished as soon as
possible, the widow is very old
upwards of 90, and should she die
then will be no legal representation. [initial:] L
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Bradley in this County to
prosecute the claim.
Hoping to hear from you soon
   [signed:] Irene Gunter
                    Your Obd. Sv.
                     J. Belkins
[Illegible signature follows:]
Mesr. Evans & Faunh  }
        Washington U S. }

P.S. I send your Card for which I
full obliged. Should I on my pains
have any other business at Washington
we shall know where to apply. 
[indented initials:] I. B. A.
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            Washington, Aug 7th 1852
Dear Sir,
                 We herewith enclose a letter
from T.B. Akins Esqr. of Halifax Nova
Scotia in relation to the papers of
David Bradley
           Last spring, we presented a Power
of Attorney authorising us to examine the
papers and prosecute the claim, and
to be here informed that no such
papers could be found aw [in?] the files
of the Pension Office.
   Hoping that the letter of Mr Akins
may throw some light on the matter,
I now have to request a renewed search,
which one trusts may be successful
Very respectfully
Evans & Fant [?]

[Signed:] J. E. Heath, Esq
Comr. of Pensions
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[Envelope addressed to:]

James L Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington

[Note:]
July 2 1842
Mass.
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Boston, Massachusetts
June 29th 1842
Sir
I herein enclose the affidavit of David Bradley
a resident of the British Provinces, who gives a
plain unvarnished statement of his services in the
Virginia line of the Revolutionary army, his cap
-ture at Charleston S.C. when Genl Lincoln sur
-rendered that post & army to the Enemy, and of
his incarceration on board a prison ship 11 months
and of his being impelled in order to save his life
to enter the British Regiment bound on foreign
service - his final return & disbandment at Halifax
all of which apparently is set forth in his affidavid
without any design to equivocate in any manner what
ever.

Will the Department have the goodness to
examine the above case, & return their decission
on the same, accompanied by the affidavit herein
enclosed to me at this place.
[Indented]  Having never had a case
brought to my consideration similar to that of said
Bradley, I am at a loss what answer to return
to the person who has addressed me untill I shall
receive your decission as to this peculiar case
              Very Respectfully Sir I am
               your obt Servant
[Signed:] Reuben Baldwin

J. L. Edwards Esqr              
Commisr. of Pensions
                     Washington
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No 35362

David Bradley
of Nova Scotia
Mass
------
rejected

Reuben Baldwin
Boston
Mass.
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Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873. [entire form reference lined through]

1132 [adjacent Stamp] REJECTED [initialed] Commisr.
----------------------------
David Bradley
-----------
wid Susan
-----------
[Remainder of pre-printed form not used - i.e. blank]
Service:------

Enlisted: ------, 18
Discharged:---, 18

Application filed:---,18
Pleges: ---
Re-enlisted: ---
Attorney: ---
P. O. ---
--- Recognized.    ---Contract
--- Cert. of Dis.    Searched for ---, 18