Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5355, Robert Hughes, Va.
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(3-1776)
SERVICE  NUMBER
Va.  Hughes, Robert  R.535
CONTENTS
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Robert Hughes

[illegible]
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 1832.
State of Virginia}
Fayette County}  SS
On this 30th day of October eighteen hundred and forty six personally appeared before me, John Hill, a Justice of the peace for said County in the state of Virginia, Robert Hughes, a resident of Fayette County, State of Virginia, aged eighty six years in August, 1846,who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated. In 1777, he served a tour of three months, commencing in August or September, and ending in November or December, he believes they marched through Germantown, and remained during the time he was out, in the neighbourhood of Philiadelphia [sic], the company, to which he belonged was Commanded by Captain Hugh Brunt of Prince William County, there were four companies draughted from Prince William in this year, the commanding officers were Brunt Hedges Peyton and Brit. the declarant lived in Prince William and was draughted when called into service the first time. he served this his first campaign for three months, and was marched home and discharged without a written discharge, he recollects that Colonel Jesse Ewell
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and James Ewill were officers when he was out in his first campaign.  He was draughted for another tour of six months, and according to the best of his recollection this tour was performed in 1780 or 81 commencing in the fall and ending in the spring. he marched to the City of Richmond under the command of captain Calburtson, and after arriving there, was placed under the command of one Buchannan, and by Buchannan he was placed under one Hill, a captain of Artillery, and served the remainder of the six months under his command; that in company with the other soldiers he was marched home and discharged without a written discharge, the declarant lived in the County of Botetourt, when he was draughted the second time. to which county his parents had moved.
The declarant was out a third tour. this tour he was a substitute for Johnathan Taylor, he [illegible] from the Sweet Springs in Botetourt County [illegible] march to Pittsburg, he started on this tour in the year 1781 or -82 but does not recollect which, and was in service about eleven months, some of the officers who commanded at Pittsburg were Colonel Gibson, Captain Rigs, Captain Springer he left the service in the service in the following manner: the army having little or no provision he with some others were permitted by the officers to go on a foraging expedition, falling in with the owner of a trading boat, in which boat they sailed down the River Ohio and having gon [sic] a long distance from the army
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they were about landing in order to kill some game, the declarant and three others, viz Joseph Row, Henery Winkelblank, and William [illegible] had got in to a seperate [sic] boat to go to an Island to kill some game, the owner and his company went to the bank for fire wood, the owner of the boat and his company were taken prisoners by the Indians , the declarant and his companions escaped with great dificulty [sic] , and made there way home and never being called on, did not return to the army. The declarant made an application, when General Jackson was President of the United States but no having heard from his agent, he is induced to make this the second application, in order to obtain relief from his Country, which he stands in need of, He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to an annuity or pension except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension roll of the agency of any State.
Robert  his X mark  Hughes

I, John Hill a Justice of the peace for Fayette County in the State of Virginia, certify that Robert Hughes above named subscribed and swore to the foregoing declaration, that I believe him to be eight six years of age, and a Revolutionary Soldier, and that he is a person of veracity, and that his statements in the foregoing declaration are true, I also certify that on account of advanced age and bodily infirmity he is
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unable to attend court for the purpose of making his declaration.  Witness my hand and seal this 30 day of Oct 1846.
John Hill JP


Fayette County
I Hudson M Dickinson Clerk of the County Court of Fayette Va do hereby certify that the above signed John Hill is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, and has been for many years, and that the above signature is his own proper handwriting which is well known to me and that full faith and credit should be [covered by seal] official acts as Justice.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand as Clerk and affixed the Seal of the said Court this 12th day of November AD 1846.
Hudson M. Dickinson
Clk
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The following are the interogatories [sic] propounded to Robert Hughes, an applicant for a pension by the Subscriber a Justice of the peace.
Interogatory [sic] 1st
Where and in what year were you born?
Answer 1st
I was born on the 18th day of August, in the year 1760 in the County of Prince William, Virginia.
Int 2.
Have you any record of your age and if so, where is it.
Ans 2.
I did have a record of my age, but it was burnt in my daughters house.
Int. 3.  Where were you living when called into service. Where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do you now live?
Ans 3.  I lived in Prince William County when called into Service, since the war I have lived in the counties of Greenbrier, Monroe, and Fayette, and now live in Fayette County, all in the state of Virginia.
Int. 4.  How were you called into service, were you draughted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute, and if so for whom?
Ans 4.  I was draughted the first and second tours the last time I was a substituted for Johnathan Taylor.
Int. 5. State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such
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Continental and malitia [sic] regulars as you recollect and the general circumstances of your service?
Ans. 5. I knew Captain Culberson, General Stuban [sic], and Colonel Davis, for the remainder of the answers, I refer to my declaration.
Int. 6.  Did you ever receive a discharge from the services and if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Ans. 6. I never received a discharge.
Int. &. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighbourhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier in the Revolution.
Ans. 7.  William Hill, William Lims Thomas Hughes Elizabeth Garret, and John Hansford.
Robert  his X mark  Hughes

State of Virginia}
Fayette County}  SS
I John Hill a Justice of the Peace for said County, certify that the above interogatories [sic] were propounded to Robert Hughes by me, and that his answers are above written, I also certify that he subscribed and swore to them this 30th day of October 1846.
John Hill JP
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State of Virginia
Kanawha County} SS
Affidavit of Elizabeth Garrett made before the subscriber a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid.
The affiant having been first duly sworn according to law deposed as follows, to wit, that she is about eighty two years old, that she is the sister of Robert Hughes, who is a resident of Fayette County, State of Virginia, and now an applicant for a pension for services rendered in the revolutionary war, that her father resided in Prince William County, Virginia when her brother, the said Robert Hughes, was called into service, that he was very young when he went into service, she believes about seventeen years old. She recollects distinctly the first time he went into service, that it was from Prince William County. She believes that he was out three months, this tour, commencing some time in the fall of 1777 and terminating in the winter of 1778. That the said Robert Hughes was draughted for a second tour, that he went into service this time, from the Sweet Springs, in Botetourt County, to which place her father had moved, she believes he was absent from home, about six months at this time, but the year she does not recollect.
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distinctly, but believes it was about the years seventeen hundred and eighty or eighty one, that she well knows of his absence from home this second time, from the fact, that their mother became deranged, on account of her son's, the said Robert's absence, from which derangement she never recovered.
That the said Robert was out on an other [sic] tour, and she believes that it was a tour of some eight or ten months, that he enlisted, this his third time, from the Sweet Springs, in the County aforesaid to Pittsburg, she does not recollect the time at which he entered the service this time, but thinks it might have been about the year 1782 and was out about eight or ten months, the affiant can therefore state that her brother, the said Robert Hughes served, no less than eighteen months, and probably more, in the Revolutionary war.
Elizabeth  her X mark  Garrett

I David Sergent, a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, certify that the foregoing affidavit, of Elizabeth Garrett, was subscribed and sworn to before me, I further certify that the said Elizabeth Garrett is a person of veracity, and that her statements under oath are entitled to full and entire credit, in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of November 1846  witness my hand & seal
David Sergent J. P.
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I also certify that on account of old age and the great distance the affiant lives from the Court House, she is unable to attend court for the purpose of making her affidavit Witness my hand and seal this 9th day of November 1846
David Sergent JP

Virginia Kanawha County to wit
Alexander W Quarrier Clerk of the County Court for said County in the State of Virginia Do hereby Certify that David Sargent Gent, is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned & sworn, that his Signatures to this paper are genuine and that full faith and credit are due to all his official acts.
In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand & affixed the
seal of said Court this 9th day
of November 1846 and in the
71st year of the Commonwealth
A W Quarrier clk
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29,654
Robert Hughs
Virginia

-Rejected-

[illegible] 26 Mar; 35.-Co. Clerk
Let to J SA. Fisher Dec'r 14. '46
Hon H A Edmonson
July 10 185[illegible]

5355

1832
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REJECTED
5355
P.O.
Robert Hughs

Service: ___
Enlisted: ___, 18 __
Discharged: ___, 18__
Application filed: ___, 18__
Alleges: ___
Re-enlisted: ___
Attorney: ___
P.O. ___
___ Recognized.  ___ Contract.
___ Cert. of Dis. Searched for ___, 18__
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[illegible]
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Rejected
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House of Reps
July 1st 1854

Loren P waldo Esq
Comm'r of Pensions

Sir
will you be kind enough to furhish me with such information as your office may furnish in reply to the enclosed letters
very Respectfully
your obt sevt
H A Edmundson
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State of Virginia}
Fayett [sic] County}  ss
Affidavit, of John Johnson Clergyman, of the county of Fayett [sic] and state of Virginia, made before the Court of quarterly sessions, for the County and State aforesaid November term, 1846.
The affiant, having been first duly sworn according to law, deposed as follows, to wit, that he is sixty nine years old, and has been well acquainted, for the last forty years, with Robert Hughes, who is now an applicant for a pension, on account of services rendered in the Revolutionary war; that he has always understood, and well believes he was a soldier in the Revolution and served as stated in his declaration; that he has always found him to be a man of honesty and strict veracity, and believes he left the services as stated in his declaration; that the said Hughes' mother was of non sane mind during the latter part of his life, and he has always understood it was occasioned by her son going into the service
John Johnson

Fayette County Court, Va  November Term 1846
I Hudson M Dickinson Clerk of Fayette County Court certify that the above affiant John Johnson made the above affidavit in open Court, and that he was a Clergyman of the Methodist Church, and a man of good moral character & conduct. pursuant to the order of said Court.  In Testimony whereof
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I have hereunto set my hand as Clerk aforesaid and affixed the County Court Seal this 12th day of November 1846.
Hudson M Dickinson, Clk.
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We the undersigned Subscribers do hereby certify that we have been personally acquainted with Robert Hughs Sen'r of Fayette County Virginia for a number of years and believe him to be a man of honour and veracity and is entitled to full confidence in any statement he may make Given under our hands this 27th day of March 1834.
S H Masterson   |   William Sims, Jr.
William Morris   |   Holliday Young
Henry Tritt   |   Jonathan Windsor
Joseph Darlington
Johnson Foster   |   William Sims
Wm Darlington   |   Moses Hil
James B Mancy   |   Jackson Dorsey
Jno Carlon   |   Cornelious Dorsey
Charles Sims Jr.    |   George Rader
Jas B Cole   |   Anthony Rader
 Samuel Reams   |   Jas E Neil
Thomas L Davis   |   Jas Mc Million
John P Huddlestun   |   John G Stephenson
James C Livesay,   |   Joseph Backhouse
Peter Likens
Zechariah B Thomas
Jothan Sims
Jos H Miller
Cyrus Wedge
Robert Hill
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State of Virginia}
Fayette County} SS
Be it known that I William Thomas a Justice of the peace in & for the said County of Fayette before whom Robert Hughes made a declaration in order to obtain a pension on 12th day of October 1833 do hereby testify that I am personally acquainted with the persons whose names are attached to the foregoing Certificates of credibility & I do further testify that I know them to be inhabitants of the counties of Fayette and Nicholas
that I further certify that the foregoing Persons are well acquainted with Robert Hughes and I do further Certify that the foregoing Signatures are the Genuine Signatures of the persons whose names are hereunto attached & I do further Certify that the persons whose names are hereunto attached are Citizens of the Counties of Fayette & Nicholas & that these are Creditable persons & that their Statement [marked out: are] is Entitled to credit in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal done at my County of Fayette & State of Virginia on this 19 day of May 1834
William Morris [illegible] {seal}
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Virginia
Fayette County SS
I Hiram Hill Clerk of the County aforesaid do heareby [sic] Certify that William Morris Esq Whose name and seal is affixed to the foregoing Certificate of acknowledgment is a magistrate of the County of Fayette and that due faith & Credit ought to be paid to all his acts & deeds as such
In testimony whareof [sic] I have hearunto [sic] set my hand and caused the seal of my To be heareunto [sic] affixed this 19th day of May 1834 & in the fifty Eight year of the Commonwealth
Hiram Hill Clk
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Free

Weston Va

For
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
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Weston Lewis County Virginia May 24 1834

Sir
Enclosed is the Decleration [sic] of Mr. Robert Hughs of the County of Fayett. You will perceive that this decleration [sic] was originally handed to you by my self; and as it has undergone Some alterations since it came back, I think It is a Duty I have to my self to Explain how that paper First came in to my hand, On the morning I left Weston for Washington in February last, the decleration [sic] of Mr. Hughs was handed to me by Dr. Robert H. Lowther, with a request that I wou'd hand it to the Commissioner of Pensions which I did and Endorsed my own name there on, the Decleration [sic] was returned with the objections. I handed the Decleration [sic] to Dr. Lowther, the letter Containing the objection has been mislaid as it related to some of the cases of my own I did not give it to the Doctor.  Some short time after I was shown a letter from Mr. Hughs to Mr. Wm. L Mitchell. Enclosing a Certifficate [sic] of Character, and among the names I found the name of Gentlemen of my acquaintance who I was confident wou'd not sign a false Statement. I therefore had full confidence that the Old man was Justly Entitled to a pension, and aught not [torn paper] bounty intended for him by the Error or mismanagement of his agent
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And at the Request of Mr. Mitchell I consented to be with him and reexamine the Old Gentleman which we did in the presence of Wm. Morris Esq, whos additional Certificate and also the Certifficate [sic] of Charactor [sic] Signed by a number of respectable Citizens of the Counties of Nicholas & Fayette (among the names are 4 or 5 Justices of the peace and Mr. John G. Stevenson a late Representations) are also inclosed [sic]. Your immediate attention will confer a perticular favour upon a Respectable poor and infirm Revolutionary Soldier  Pleas report to Hon John J Allen, Esqr Member of Congress for Virginia & much oblige y our Humble servant.
James M Camp

Mr. J. L. Edwards
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Declaration of
Robt Hughes

No 29,654

Hon. John J Allen

J M Camp
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State of Virginia}
Fayette County}  Ss
On this 12th day of October 1833 personally appeared before me the subscribed Justice of the peace in and for the said county of Fayette state of Virginia Robert Hughes a resident of the said County of Fayette state of Virginia aged 73 years who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the foregoing decleration [sic] in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passsed June the 7th 1832 that he entered the servis [sic] of the united under the following named officiers [sic] and served as herein stated that in the year 1777 in the month of July in the county of Prince William State of Virginia declarant states that he was drafted in the Va Millitia [sic] from Prince William County, and was placed under the Command of Capt Hugh Brent other officiers [sic] names not recollected the commandant of the regiments name was Jesse Ewell Col major name was James Ewell - declarant states that he was then marched from Prince William County [illegible] through the state of Maryland to a place called Chesnut [sic] hills in the state of Pensylvania [sic] near Germantown declarant states that he remained at Chesnut [sic] hill untill [sic] sometime in the month of October at which time he was discharged by his said Capt Hugh Brent having served three months and twelve day as a private soldier declarant state that he then returned home and residenced in the county of Prince William Va untill [sic] the year 1778 at which time he
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moved to the County of Botetort [sic] state of Virginia and in the month of April 1780 about the 7 day as well as declarant recollects he was drafted for a tour of six months and was placed under the command of Capt Culberton other officers names not recollected declarant states that he was then marched from Botetort [sic] county Va to Stanton Va from thence to Richmond Va declarant states that he Remained in and about Richmond marching to and from through the country sometimes stationed at Richmond and some time at Cabin point declarant states that he was engaged as above untill [sic] the time for which he was Drafted had expired at which time he was discharged by his said Capt Cubberton having served six months as a private soldier. declarant states that he then returned home to Botetort [sic] Va declarant states that in the year 1781 in the month of march in the County of Botetort [sic] Va he Enlisted under Cap't Zurich Springer Lieutenant Harrison & other Subaltern officers not reccollected [sic] to go against the indians and declarant states that he was marched to fort Pitt state of Pensylvania [sic] the place whare [sic] Pittsburg now stands declarant states that he was marched by way of Romney Va and through the County of Monongalia State of Virginia then down the Monongalia [Monongahela] River to Pittsburg declarant states that he then joined Col John Gibson Redgment [sic] of the Virginia Troops declarant states that Col Gibson Commanded the 7th declarant thinks redgment [sic] of the Virginia line declarant states that in consiquence [sic] of his being a good marksman with a rifle
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he was chosen by Col John Gibson as an indian spy declarant being a good woodsman declarant states that whilst he was on a spying Expectition [sic] in compay [sic] with Joseph Bow on the north side of the Ohio River about six miles below fort Mackintosh at the mouth of Big beaver we come on the trail of some indians which we followed to the Ohio River and asertained [sic] that they had crossed the river in bark caoes [canoes] we immediately [illegible] our way for the fort and gave the allarm [sic] Lieutenant Harrison detached fifteen of his men declarant states that he was one of those who accompanyed [sic] Lieut Harrison we then marched to the place whare [sic] we thought it most likely the indians would cross when we reached the river we discovered the indians crossing the Ohio river in Canoes at the word given we fired and the result of our Continued fire was that we took twenty seven scalps affiant believes only one Indian escaped to tell the news.
Sometime after this whilst Lieutenant Harrison and nine of his men amongst whom declarant was one we come on the trail of a body of indians Seventeen in number on the Allegany river above fort pitt Lieutenant Harrison directed us to march in a particular direction for the purpose of surprising the indians and gave orders that if we ware [sic] discovered by the indians to fire immediately and as we approached them we ware [sic] discovered they raised the war hoop and we fired and
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five of the indians fell dead and the sixth was badly wounded he crawled under a bank and from him we learned that they ware [sic] of the Mingo tribe we got their guns and blankets we killed the wounded indian and returned to fort pitt declarant states he continued in the service under the command of Col John Gobson from sometime in the month of [marked out: May] March 1781 until [marked out: December] April 1783 at which time he concluded to quit the service and return home to his father the County of [marked out: botetort] Greenbriar [sic] his father having moved in his absence from Botetort County declarant states he did not receive discharges of having served  [marked out: twenty] thirteen months as an indian spy as a private soldier making in all 23 months declarant states that he has no documentary evidence of his service he here b [sic] relinquishes every claim to a pention [sic] [marked out: what ever] or annuity what ever [sic] except the presant [sic] and declares that his name is not on the pention [sic] rool [sic] of the Agency of Any state.
Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid
Robert Hughes

to the several interogatories [sic] prescribed by the war department declarant answers as follows
1. I was borned in the County of Prince William State of Virginia in the year 1760
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2 I have no record of my Age. I have the recollection of my parents who told me the year I was borned in
3 When first called in the service I was living in Prince William County State of Virginia and when called in to service on my second and third tours I was living in the County of Botetort [sic] State of Virginia since the revolutionary war I have lived in the County of Greenbrier Monroe Kanhaway [Kanawha] and Fayette state of Virginia and now live in the last named County state of Virginia
4 My first and second tower [tour] I was drafted the first tower [tour] for three months the second for six my third tower [tour] I Enlisted as an indian spy -
5 during my first tower [tour] I saw Col Ewell Major James Ewell Capt Hugh Brent During his second he saw Col Davis and Barron Steubens During my third I saw Col John Gibson in fort Pitt Col Gibson Commanded he thinks the 7th Va redgment [sic]
6 I was Discharged by the officers under whom I served and my discharges were signed by them but they are all lost Except his 3d tour he did not receive any
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7 I am known to John Hill and William [marked out: Biggs] Riggs who can testify to my Character my age and as to there [sic] belief of my having been a soldier of the Revolution

Subscribed and sworn to the day and year aforesaid
Robert Hughes

We John Hill and William Rigg residing in the County of Fayette and state of Virginia do here by [sic] certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Hughes who has subscribed and sworn to the above decleration [sic] that we believe him to be 73 years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood whare [sic] he resides to have bin [sic] a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Hill
William Rigg

and I the said Justice of the peace do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interogatories [sic] prescribed by the war department that the above named Applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states and I the said Justice of the peace further certify that it appears to me that John Hill and William Rigg who have signed the preceding Certificate are residents of the County of Fayette and state of Virginia and that they
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are Credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit and I the said Justice of the peace further Certify that there is no Clergiman [sic] residing in the neighbourhood of the above named Applicant and that he from bodily infirmity is unable to travel to the Court House of the said County of Fayette from which he resides sixteen miles and I the said Justice further Certify that the foregoing contains the original prosedings [sic]of myself in the matter of the Application of Robert Hughes for a pention [sic]
In testimony whereof  I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12 day of October 1833.
William Morris JP {Seal}

Virginia Sct
I Hiram Hill Clerk of the County Court of Fayette Do hereby certify that William Morris before whom the foregoing declaration & proceedings was had and whose name is therein Signed was at that time and still is an Acting Justice of the Peace in & for said County Duly commissioned and Qualified as such and that Due faith [is Due to all his acts as Such  Testimony whereof I have hereunto
my hand & caused the seal of the County Court of Fayette to be hereto this 18th day of December 1833 in the 58 year5 of our Foundation
Hiram Hill Clk
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I William Morris do hereby Certify that at the Request of James M Camp and Wm L Mitchell I attended at the hous [sic] of the Within Robert Hughs for the purpose of Examining his decleration [sic] and do hereby Certify that the within declerations [sic] as amended ware [sic] made and Sworn to by by [sic] the Declarrant [sic] in my presents [sic]. I further Certify that James M Camp was not the agent who drew up Declarrants [sic] Decleration [sic] in the first instant; given under my hand and seal this 20 Day of May 1834.
Willaim Morris J. Peace {Seal}