Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5875, for John Kent, Virginia
Page 1

(8-1776) 
SERVICE  NUMBER
Va Kent John R5875 
Susan 

CONTENTS 
Sol [or Sal]
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1657	
State of Georgia}
Columbia County}
For the purpose of obtaining the 
benefit of an act for the relief of 
certain surviving officers and soldiers 
of the army of the Revolution.” Approved on the sixteenth day of 
May 1828, I, John Kent, of the seventh district, in the 
County of Columbia, in the state of Georgia, do hereby
declare, that I enlisted in the continental line of the army
of the Revolution, for, and during the war, and continued
in service until its termination, at which period, I was a priv- 
ate in Captain Parsons company, in the second Regiment
of the Virginia line. And I also declare, that I afterwards 
received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, to which 
I was entitled, under a resolve of Congress, passed the 15th of May 
1778. And I do further declare, that I was not on the 
15th day of March 1828, on the pension list of the united 
States- And I do also further declare, that I was engaged 
in and fought in the following Battles regt[?] Bunkers Hill 
and received a wound in the left hip by a musket balls, 
Pikevile[?] Island, Monmouth, German Town, Schuylkill, 
Brandywine, and received another wound [illegible]
a buck shot in the right hip which shot still remains 
in the hip, Guilford Court House, Camden, Eutaw Springs, at which place my left leg was broken in many pieces[sic]
by a cannister shot, and subsequently [illegible] the leg
healed up, pieces[sic] of bone had come out, and one last spring. 
And I am further declare, that I was eighty years old the
first instant, and in very indigent circumstances and
had a large family to support, which I am not able to 
do from manual Labour. And further declare, 
that my discharge, and certificate for the reward of Eighty 
dollars to which I was entitled under a resolve of Congress passed 
the 15.th day of May 1778 was destroyed by fire burning my 
mother’s[?] house, about twenty years after the close of the Revol- 
utionary War.-
Sworn to and subscribed before me on 6th Oct. 1828- John Kent his X mark
John Megahee JP
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Personally appeared before me William, And David Megahee, 
the 6.th day of October 1828 of the said county and State aforesaid, 
who did severally make oath, that John Kent is generally reputed 
and believed to have been a private in the Army of the Revolution, 
in the manner therein stated. Witness our hand the day and date 
above written.
/s David Megahee
/s William Megahee
Subscribed and Sworn to}
Before me the 6.th October, 1828}
/s John Megahee JP [double underline]

Gabriel Jones Clerk of the Superior Court of
Columbia County in the State of Georgia, do
hereby certify, that John Megahee, before whom
the foregoing affidavits were sworn to, was at the
time a Justice of the Peace of the and duly empowered to
Administer oaths.-
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto
Set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court
This 12th day of May 1829-
/s G Jones
Clerk


Retirement 4.th May 1829

Sir
Agreeable to an act for the relief of certain surviving officers and soldiers
of the Army of the Revolution, Approved, by the President of the United States, the 15th day of May 1828, you have herewith a petition of one John Kent, an old Revolutionary Soldier. I am personally acquainted [remainder of page missing from scan]
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[continued from missing scanned portion]
fact from the frequent conversations, had with him, about our
most Glorious struggles for Independence. + the character he
has always supported.- He resides in the same district 
that I do, from a petition, signed by a great member of the most
respectable Gentleman in the district, I got him placed on the 
poor list in the county about two years ago; [illegible] acquired of the county
having to support a great number of paupers, the [illegible] + Maner[?
That he receives [word underlined] is not half to support himself, he has a [“family” crossed-out]
a [illegible], and a number of [illegible: female?] children living with him, which he 
is not able to support by his Labour- Believe as I do, that he
was a brave soldier, fought hard, and bled [illegible] for that Indepen
-dence, + liberty, which [illegible] the [illegible] proper of the United States, are now
Enjoying; I have, and do [illegible] contribute to the support of the old
Gentleman and his family, conceiving it to be my duty, as a patriot, 
to aid in supporting all these old Revolutionary warriors, that have
purchased my Liberty at the clear price of their blood- From the
knowledge that I have of the character, and the opinion that I am
certain of that- most [illegible], a patriotic soldier [illegible]
Jackson, our present [illegible] and much esteemed President, 
That of his [illegible], I had [illegible] assurance, that [illegible 3 or 4 words]
be [illegible] our happy Country and Citizens. + particularly 
to those, who had so freely spilt, their blood in defense of Liberty [illegible] 
this belief, and having no doubt, that a large Majority of 
the [illegible two or three words] of these states, [illegible], and believe, as I did, that General
Jackson, was the second Washington of America, and that 
we the people, were bound by every type of gratitude, we [illegible] him
at [illegible] of our government, for the great services rendered in the
last war independence of our rights, privileges, and liberties (which
the Gods like Washington, created, in my opinion
by deity to achieve, and the Great Jackson to
secure) is the reason of my not [illegible] on the petition,
[illegible] after his Actions, and the great [illegible] of [illegible] (which
I know would naturally [illegible] his elevation to the [crossed out word]
Presidential chair) should be dispensed with.-

I in my opinion, there even was an old soldier
that ought to be supported, to enable him to spend the
Evening of his life, with some small degree of comfort
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comfort, Mr. Kent is among that number.
The Honorable Court appointed me Guardian for the old
Gentleman, when the appropriation was first made, in which
capacity, I still act, by his special request, and by his
wish, should he be [illegible], as to receive any thing
From the Government, that he had fought and spilled
So much blood to Orablis  for me to act as his agent.

[Written vertically in the nature of an addressee on an envelope]
Watsons Stone Ga
May 27

The Honorable Secretary of the Treasury
City of Washington

Revolutionary Claims [end of envelope format]

Your [illegible] therefore be pleased[?] to address Col. Jack Williams
Watson’s Stone, Columbia County, Georgia, which
post office, is within one mile of my residence.
/s/ Sam Lin
with high considerations
Respectfully your obt. Serv.
Jack Williams

[Hon?] Secretary of Treasury, U.S.
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To the Commission of Pensions
State of Georgia}
Columbia County}

On this the thirteenth
day of September one thousand eight
hundred and fifty five personally
appeared before me Stephen
Drane a Judge of the Inferior 
Court, a court of Record for and
In said County and State, Susan
Kent as resident of the same County
And state, the widow of John Kent,
a Revolutionary soldier late of said
County and state deceased aged
<u>ninety Five years</u>, who being first
duly sworn according to the law doth
on her oath make the following
declaration in order to obtain the
benefit of the pensions made by
the acts of Congress passed 
July the 29th 1848, Feb the 2nd 1848,
July the 7th 1838, and July the 4th
1836, claiming as she does from
The first named act, [illegible] to
July the 4th 1836 The said Susan
Kent declares, that, she is the
widow of the late John Kent, who
she believes was a soldier of
the Revolution and held the
office of Drum Major in the
Militia services. She further dec
=lares, that she believes he entered
the service of the United States
in the State of South Carolina
in the year seventeen hundred
and seventy six, and was honor
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=ably discharged in the year 1783
And, that, he was under Colonel [crossed out]
General Andrew Pickens. She further declares,
that he fought at the battles of
Augusta, Kettle Creek, and, at
Blackstock House and, many
Other places, her loss of memory
Precludes her naming. She further
declares he once applied for
Pension, but, some informality in
the papers, kept[?] him it, and,
he never after applied, as he
was disgusted at the routine
way of coming at it; as well as the
tardiness to do the southern soldier
justice. She, further, declares it is
her opinion, that, he quit the
army in Savannah or Augusta, Ga.
And she further declares that she
Has no record or documentary evidence
To establish his claims, as all his papers
and discharges were destroyed by her
house being burned.
She further declares that she was
married to the said John Kent
in the last day of February
in the seventeen hundred and ninety
two that her husband died, the
aforesaid John Kent on the 14th
day of February eighteen hundred
and forty six [illegible cross out], and that she
has remained a widow even
since that period, as will more
fully appear by reference to the
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Proof hereunto annexed
Sworn to and subscribed
Before me on the day and year
above written.
Susan Kent her X mark
/s/ Stephen Drane I.F.

State of Georgia}
Columbia County}
I Stephen Drane
a Judge of the Inferior
court of Record, for and in
said county and state, hereby certi
=fy, that the claimant Susan
Kent, by reason of her bodily
infirmity cannot appear in
open court, and, I also certify
that she was by reputation the
wife of John Kent late of this
county deceased, that they had
children and lived together 
as man and wife, and the
said John Kent, had the char
=acter of being a soldier of
The Revolution and, was so
Regarding among his neighbors
and, I further declare it as
my opinion that the claimant
Mrs. Susan Kent is worthy
of credit and her statements
entitled to respect and
that she is needy and in
want. In testimony whereof
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I have hereunto set my hand and official signature and seal
This the Thirteenth day of September
1855.

/s/ Stephen Drane J.I.C.
Seal

State of Georgia}
Columbia County}
Clerks Office, Inferior Court
I David Harris, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Said County
Do hereby certify that Stephen Drane, whose signature
affiant subscribed to the foregoing declarations and
affidavit was at the date thereof a Justice of the Inferior 
Court within and for the County and State, aforesaid, 
And as such duly authorized to administer oaths for
General purposes and that his said signature is genuine.
Witness my hand and Seal of said Inferior
Court- This 17th day of September 1855
/s/ David Harris Clerk,
[seal]

[written sideways: as if original document was folded in three]

Susan Kent [illegible]
Widow of John Kent
Act 7th July 1838
Original [underlined]

Filed by
[illegible name]
Washington D.C.
Page 10

[illegible]

Susan Kent, widow of
John Kent
Georgia [underlined]

[illegible] T. Lumpkin Nov  2[ ]/5

5875
A. July 7. 1838
Page 11

[partially completed form]
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873 [typed; crossed-out or underlined]
REJECTED [stamped]
5-875
P.O.
Susan Kent
Service: Wid. of John

Enlisted:____________, 18
Discharged:_________, 18
Application filed:_____, 18
Alleges:___________
Re-enlisted: _________
Attorney: ____________
P.O. ________________
_____ Recognized  _____ Cont
______ Cert. of Dis.   Searched for ______, 1
Page 12

Revolutionary Claims
Treasury Department
4 June 1829

John Kent of Seventh District in the county of
Columbia in the State of Georgia has applied to the Secretary
of the Treasury for the benefits of the act, entitled “ An act for the relief of certain surviving officers
and soldiers of the Revolution,” approved the 15th of May, 1828. He states he enlisted in the
Continental line of the army of the Revolution, for and during the war, and continued until its termina-
tion, at which period he was a Private in captain
Parsons’s company, in the Second regiment of the Virginia
line; and he received a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars, provided by resolve of the
15th of May, 1778; and further, that he was not on the 15th day of May, 1828, on the pension list
of the United States, and that he has received as a pensioner since the 3d of March, 1828, nothing.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
Third Auditor’s Office
5.th June 1829

It appears by the records in this office, that a certificate for the reward of eighty dollars has been
issued to                     in the      [printed sentence struck through]

It further appears John Kent is not now on the pension
list of any agency, and has not been so since the 3, March
1826. [two phrases crossed-out]

The name of John Kent cannot
be found among those of the Virginia line
to whom certificates for the gratuity of
Eighty Dollars were issued-      
[illegible signature] Aud
Page 13

General Law Office
10 June 1829

The name of John Kent does 
not appear on the list of Warrants
issued by the Register of the Law Office
at Richmond Va so far as they have
been rec.d being up to the 1st June  

Geo: Graham 
[illegible]

Bounty Land Office
June 11th 1829
The Records of this Office do not show that a
Warrant was issued to John Kent, a Private in
The Virginia Line, or that he was entitled to
Bounty Land from the U. States.
/s/ Wm Gordon
Page 14

Washington DC
Aug 19th 1855

Sir:

Herewith enclosed addl
Evidence in the case of Susan
Kent [illegible] Act 1838, widow of
John Kent

[illegible closing]
[illegible signature]

[illegible] J. [illegible name]
Commissioner of Pensions
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A W Rej
#5875
Page 16

John Kent Pvt.
Va. Line.
Rev.

Georgia

No recd in old Books.
Ref File no 5.875 [underlined]
OK
Evidence insufficient
Act 1828.
Page 17

State of Georgia}
Columbia County}

On this the twelfth
of November one thousand eight hun
dred and fifty five, personally came
Before me Francis M. Hollis a Justice
Of the Peace for and in said County
And state, John Arrington, who
Being duly sworn according to law
doth on his oath say, that he is 90 [illegible]
years of age, that, he knew John
Kent, the husband of Susan Kent
late deceased of Columbia County
Ga, that, the said Susan Kent is
his widow, that, he knows said
John Kent was a soldier and 
drummer of the Revolution in the
State of South Carolina, that he
was at the seige [sic] Augusta
in 1781, at Brier Creek at
Charleston, Stono, and other places
That, he was a good drummer, an
honest man, and died [illegible]
And he declares that said John
Kent the husband of Susan
Kent, was a [illegible], and, his
wife poor. And he declares and
says he was in the service as
a militia man and, knows that,
he says to be true and correct,
notwithstanding the infirmities
of age and the loss of memory, +
he further, says, there [illegible]
years ago, fifty persons, who
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could swear to the facts of his [illegible/cut-off]
service during the war positively.
Indeed, his service if a matter of no
doubt to those who knew him and
lived in that time, as he was well
known to the county here and
the soldiers generally. Sworn to
and subscribed before me, the
day and year above written

/s/ Francis M. Hobbs, J of P       John Arrington his x mark

* I was at his wedding and attended him
+ the man who married him was Jacob [illegible]
I certify, that, John Arrington
is an old, truthful and honorable
man, a pure man, and his state
ments entitled to full credit.
Sworn to and subscribed the day
and year above written.
/s/ Francis M. Hobbs J of P    	
/s/  David Morgan
/s/ [ ] W. ]illegible]

I hereby attest, that, the above affiants
are truthful [illegible] persons, +
all their statements to credit.
Given under my hand
+ seal, the day and year above written.
Francis M, Hobbs, J of P
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[written sideways on tri-folded page]
Evidence [underlined]
John Arrington
for
John Kent [underlined]
Act 1838 Geo
Susan Kent [underlined]
[illegible]

[in portrait layout]
State of Georgia}
Columbia County}

I, Junnious[?]Crawford, Deputy
Clerk of the Inferior Court
for + in said County +
State, hereby certify, that, 
Francis M, Hobbs, whose name is signed to
the within affidavit, was at the time + is now
an acting Justice of the Peace for + in said
County, + State, duly authorized to administer
Oaths + his signature is genuine, + and all
his official acts entitled to full faith + credit.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand + official seal, this the
14th day of November, 1855
/s/ Junnious[?] Crawford D. Clk
Sup C.t C C Ga
[seal]
Page 20

[National Archives filing card: incorrect pensioner]

The National Archives	Division of Veterans’ Administration Archives
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORDS CARD*

Name: Kent, Jonas Grade: Private Line: New Jersey

Warrant
Number: 8464    Acreage 100  Issued: January 28, 1790
To---not shown---
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are 
registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and* subse-
quent dates. Other records relative to applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department five of November 9, 1800. 
Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.