Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 7587, Abraham Griffiths, Penn.
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Penn.

Griffiths, Abraham
Anna Maria

NUMBER 
W. 7587

CONTENTS
Page 2

[left-hand side of page]
Virginia 358
----------------------
Anna M. Griffiths
widow of Abraham Griffiths 
Penn
who was a Private 
in the Revolution

Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 
80 Dollars [cents crossed out] per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.

Certificate of Pension issued the 16th day of June 1843 and sent to F. V. Sutton
Bowling Green, Va.

[Act of March 3, 1843.]

Recorded in Book A.
Vol. 1, Page 149.

[right-hand side of page]
Reported
Page 3

4,716
Virginia Roll
--------------------------------
Abraham Griffiths
Private Pennsylvania line In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 8. Dollars per month, to commence on the 27th of October 1818.

Certificate of Pension issued the 1st of Dec'r 18{full date is missing} and Sent to the Hon. B Smith House Representatives.

Arrears to the 4th of March. 4 1819/30 m.  3432
Semi-anl. all'ce ending "        "       "                 0 0      
                                                                        $3432

{Revolutionary claim,} 
{Act 18th March, 1818}

3 Years
Discontinued
Page 4

Notifi sent to Lewis Stuart, Esq. 6 Dec 18{year is missing}
Greenbriar C H. Va

{written at 90 degrees to above}
9
232
32
34.32
Page 5

Abraham Griffits [sic]
-----------------------------
1st Penn'a Rifle Regiment
Col. Edw'd Han. --
27. October. 1818 --
-----------------------------
The Judge, /or presiding magistrate of the court before whom the within declaration was made, will certify that, he is satisfied of the truth thereof, as well with regard to the service of the applicant, as to his indigent circumstances 
Deposited in pension office
B Smith

7 for Hon. B. Smith
House of Representatives
Page 6

Virginia
Greenbrier County 
At a Court held for the County of Greenbrier on the 27th day of October 1818
On this 27th of October 1818 before the County Court of Greenbrier the same being a Court of Record personally appeared Abraham Griffiths Aged sixty six years last June resident in the County and State aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his Oath make the following declaration in order to Obtain the provisions made by the late Act of Congress entitled an Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War
That he the Said Abraham Griffiths enlisted in the County of Berks in the year 1776 in the State of Pensylvania for three years in the Company Commanded by Cap't John Doyle of the first Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment Commanded by Col. Edward Han  That he continued to Serve in the Said Corps & in the Service of the United States untill the Month of July 1779 when he was discharged Honourably at West point State New York and that his pocket Book Containing his discharge and Several other papers was Stolen out of his pockett.
That he was in the Battles of Brandy Wine, German Town, Peoli, Trenton & Piscataway and that he is in Reduced circumstances & stands in need of the Assistance Now in his power of his said Services,
The County Court of Greenbrier do hereby Certify that it appears to their Satisfaction that the Said Abraham Griffiths did Serve in the Revolutionary War as a Soldier as stated in the preceding declaration Against the Common Enemy for the Term of three years as aforesaid on the continental establishment & they do further Certify that they are satisfied from the preceding declaration as well as from the Testimony of Other respectable persons that the Said Abraham Griffiths is in Reduced Circumstances & stands in Need of the assistance of his Country for Support. The said Court do direct that their Clerk transmit the proceedings & testimony taken
Page 7

& had before them to the Secretary of the department of War pursuant to the discretions of the before mentioned Act of Congress

I Lewis Stuart Clerk of the County Court of Greenbrier do hereby Certify that the foregoing is a True Copy of the Record & Testimony Offered to the Court on behalf of Abraham Griffiths Together with his declaration on Oath

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Subscribed my Name & affixed the Seal of My Office this 29th day of October 1818.
Lewis Stuart C G C
Page 8

At a Court held for the County of Greenbrier at the Court House on the 25th of September 1821}
State of Virginia to Wit
On the 25th day of September 1821 personally appeared in Open Court being a Court of Record (Constituted such by an act of the General Assembly of Virginia) for the County of Greenbrier State of Virginia.  Abraham Griffiths aged 69 years resident in the County of Greenbrier State aforesaid, who being duly Sworn according to Law doth on his Oath declare that he Served in the Revolutionary War as follows, that the Said Abraham Griffiths enlisted in the Army of the Revolution in the County of Berks, State of Pensylvania, in the year 1776 for the Term of Three years, in the Company Commanded by Cap. John Doyl of the first Pensylvania Rifle Regiment Commanded by Col. Edward Han, that he Continued in the Service of the United States untill the Month of July 1779 when he was discharged.  that on the 27th day of October 1818 made his Original Declaration before the County Court of Greenbrier which was transmitted to the Secretary of the department of War, whereupon he received a pension Certificate No 4716 dated the first day of December 1818. and do Solemnly Swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818. and that I have not Since that time by gift Sale or in any manner disperse of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring my Self with the provisions of an act of Congress entitled an act to provide for Certain persons engaged in the land and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War passed on the 18th day of March 1818.  and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or Securities, Contracts, or debts, due to me, nor have I any income, other than what is Contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed and by me Subscribed, The following is the Schedule of all the property real and personal which I possess.  To Wit. Three hundred Acres of Mountain Land which does not yield a Sufficiency for the Consumption of my Family.  I have to purchase Grain every year for the Maintenance of my family.  Ten hogs, One pair of Gears, two pitch forks, one Table Three or four knives & forks, five or Six bushels of Grain & three or four pewter plates, my Family Consists of my wife and four Children, my Wife is 62 years of age infirm and unable
Page 9

Unable to contribute to her Support. Three of my Children are now living with me are Sons, one of which is about thirty years.  So disabled in one of his arms that he is entirely unable to perform any kind of Labour, my two Other Sons are working for themselves and Contribute Nothing towards my Support, my Daughter lives that She lives at my house, works for herself and gives no Sort of aid to me and my wife, by Trade I am a Taylor but I have not followed my trade for many years and am now so old and infirm that it is impossible to do so, and I am also indebted one hundred and fifty dollars thus my Family Strictly Speaking Consist alone of my self & wife each of us at this time wholly unable by our Labour to Support ourselves.
Abraham Griffiths

Sworn to and declared on this 25th day of September 1821 before the County Court of Greenbrier

It is the Opinion of the Court that the Total amount in Value of the property exhibited in the foregoing Schedule is One hundred and Sixty Dollars, and it is ordered that the Clerk of this Court Transmit to the department of War for the United States a Copy of the foregoing Declaration and Schedule.

I Lewis Stuart Clerk of the county Court of Greenbrier County do hereby Certify that the foregoing Declaration and Schedule is a true Copy from the records in my Office -- In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and affixed the Seal of my Said Office on the 27th day of September 1821
Teste
Lewis Stuart C. G. C.
Page 10

8794
Anna M Griffiths
Va
Act 7 July 38.
{illegible}
2 yrs pri
80$

F. V. Sutton Esq
Bow. Green
Carolina Co.
Va

{written at 90 degrees to above}
Mrs Griffiths
Declaration for Pension
Page 11

State of Virginia Greenbrier County ss-
On this the 22d day of April 1842 personally appeared before James Jarrett a Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid Mrs. Anna M Griffiths a resident of the county and state aforesaid aged eighty eight years and upwards (widow of Abraham Griffiths dec'd) who first being duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath Make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7th 1838 that she is the widow of Abraham Griffiths dec'd who was she believes a private in the Artillery, that her husband the said Abraham drew a pension for a short time previous to his death at the rate of ninety six dollars per annum.  That she was married to the said Abraham in Berks county in the state of Pensylvania by parson Bowes in the year of seventeen hundred and eighty, the precise day and month not Recollected and that upwards of forty years ago he removed from the state of Pensylvania to the aforesaid County of Greenbrier in the state of Virginia where he lived until the day of his death, that he died in the month of October 1824 and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully by reference to the proof hereto annexed
Anna M Griffiths {X is her mark}
Sworn to and subscribed on the 22d day of April 1842 before James Jarrett J Peace

I furthermore certify that Mrs. Anna M Griffiths above named widow of Abraham Griffiths dec'd who was a pensioner in this county, is a lady of Respectability, and believe her declaration above to be true.  That her said husband died about eighteen years ago and that from bodily infirmities and old age, she is unable to attend Court.  Given under my hand this 22d day of April 1842
James Jarrett J Peace
Page 12

Virginia
     Greenbrier County  To wit
At a Court held for the County of Greenbrier at the Court House thereof on Monday the 25th of April 1842
Descent
Joseph Alderson, James Frazer, James Jarrett
Elisha Calleson, Henry Erskime. & Wm Renich
} Gent
The Court having examined the declaration of Mrs Anna S Griffiths widow of Abraham Griffiths dec'd who was a Revolutionary pensioner and also the Certificate of James Jarrett (a renter of Miss Cody) Respecting said declaration approve the same & Order the Same to be Certified to the war department     Teste
John Mathews 696
Greenbrier County To wit 
I John Mathews Clerk of the County of Greenbrier Aforesaid do hereby Certify that the above is a True Copy of an Order taken from the Record of my office
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto Set my Name and Affixed the Seal of my office this the 26th day of April 1842 & in the 66th year of the Commonwealth
Teste
John Mathews 696

[seal placed on left side of the above paragraph.]
Page 13

Married, in, [next 3 words inderlined] Reading Berks County ,  July 24th 1781 by the ) Reverend, [next 3 words underlined] Mr. William Boas . Mr [next 2 words underlined] Abraham Griffith to Miss [next 3 words underlined] Anna Maria Boyer. both from [next 2 words underlined] Exeter Township and County aforesaid. and State of Pennsylvania

[next 3 words underlined] Berks County SS
I. John L. Rightmyer Clerk of the Court of quarter Sessions of the peace of the County of Berks do Certify That The above Marriage of [next two words underlined] Abraham Griffith and, [next word and letter underlined] Anna M. his wife. is a correct copy. of Same Date and Year. Registered, in the Book of William Boas. Minister of the Gospel
Witness my and and Seal of Office this Twenty Second Day of February AD One Thousand and Eight hundred and forty three. and of the Commonwealth the Sixty Seventh
John L. Rightmyer. Clerk
Page 14

[The top right corner is handwritten:]
ME-E.
Copied from letter of M.M.H.F dated Feb [illegible], 1927

[the rest is typewritten]
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

June 27, 1928

Mrs. Robert T. Johnson
522 Roche Street 
Knoxville, Iowa

Madam:
I advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim F. 7587 it appears that Abraham Griffiths enlisted in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1776 in Captain John Doyle's Company, Colonel Edward Hand's First Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, served in that corps until in July 1779 and was in the battles of Trenton, Piscataway, Brandywine, Paoli and Germantown.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 27, 1818 while a resident of Greenbrier County Virginia aged sixty-six years.  He died in October 1834 in that county.
Soldier married July 24  1781 in Berks County, (at Reading) Pennsylvania, Miss Anna Maria Boyer, both then of Exeter Township, said Berks County. She was allowed pension on her application executed April 22, 1842 while a resident of Greenbrier County, Virginia aged between eighty-four and eighty-eight years.
In 1821 three sons and one daughter were referred to, one of the sons aged thirty years, no names given.
The above noted is the history of the only soldier named
Page 15

Abraham Griffiths, or any other similar spelling of that name, found 
on the Revolutionary War records of this Bureau.
In order to make a proper search of said records for any
particular soldier named Benjamin Price, in addition to the name of
his wife, which you state was Temperance, as much as possible
of the following data is essential: approximate dates of birth and
death, places of residence at enlistment and after service.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.

No street address given on
first letter, so it may have been
lost, as her second letter was
written some time after she
should have received the above
history
Page 16

Rev.&1812 Wars Section

February 4, 1927

Mrs. Robt. T. Johnson
Knoxville, Iowa

Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary
War pension claim W. 7587 it appears that Abraham
Griffiths enlisted in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 1776 in
Captain John Doyle's Company, Colonel Edward Hand's First
Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, served in that corps until in
July 1779 and was in the battles of Trenton, Piscataway,
Brandywine, Paoli and Germantown.

He was allowed pension on his application executed
October 27, 1818 while a resident of Greenbrier County, Virginia
aged sixty-six years. He died in October 1824 in that
county.

Soldier married July 24, 1781 in Berks County, (at Reading
Pennsylvania, Miss Anna Maria Boyer, both then of Exeter
Township, said Berks County. She was allowed pension on her
application executed April 22, 1842 while a resident of Greenbrier County, Virginia aged between eighty-four and eighty
eight years.

In 1821 three sons and one daughter were referred to, one
Page 17

of the sons aged thirty years, no names given.

The above noted is the history of the only soldier
named Abraham Griffiths, or any other similar spelling of
that name, found on the Revolutionary War records of this
Bureau.

In order to make a proper search of said records for
any particular soldier named Benjamin Price, in addition to
the name of his wife, which you state was Temperance, as
much as possible of the following data is essential: approximate
dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service.

Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.
Page 18

MRS. ROBERT T. JOHNSON
522 ROCHE STREET
KNOXVILLE, IOWA
Sept. 26, 1927.

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.
I am looking for service records
of two ancestors whom I did think
were from Maryland but now believe
were in Fredricks Co. Virginia at
that time.

One is Abraham Griffith whose wife's
name was Mary and son's name was
Reuben.

The other ancester [sp] is Benjamin Price
whose wife's name was Temperance. Their daughter Elizabeth married said
Reuben Griffith.

Are there pension records from this
County of either Abraham Griffith or
Benjamin Price? Respectfully 
Mrs. R. T. Johnson
Page 19

Knoxville Iowa
Dec. 6, 1926.

Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear sir:
Would you kindly tell me
if there is any pension records
for either Abraham Griffith or
Benjamin Price? I don't know
their residence but I know
that Abraham Griffiths wife was Mary
and Benjamin Prices, Temperance

Respectfully 
Mrs. Robt. T. Johnson
Page 20

1927 Feb. 4 - Hist to Mrs. Robt. T.
Johnson ┃
1928, June 27. Hist to
Mrs Robt T. Johnson
note on carbon, MEE

Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 7587
Anna M. Griffiths
Wid.
Abraham Griffiths
Pvt. Rev. War

Act: Mch. 3/43
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 287
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Berks Co to Va
born 1752
Page 21

[left side of page]
Virginia_7160
__________________
Amma M. Griffiths
Widow of Abraham Griffiths _
who was a pensioner under the Act of 18 Mar: '18.
and who died in the the [sic] month of October '24.
of Greenbriar Co in the State of Virginia
who was a private _ in the ___________
commanded by Captain ___________of the 
[blank space] commanded by  [blank space]  in
the Pennsylvania _ line for 2 years - 
_______________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Richmond - 
at the rate of    80 - Dollars --
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day
of March, 1836.
_________________________

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th ----day of 
April '43 - and sent to F.V. Sutton Bowling Green, va -
Arrears to the 4th of   [wavy line]
Semiannual allowance ending
___________
$400.00 -
________
[Act July 7, 1838.]
Recorded by WMStewart - Clerk,
Book   A _ Vol.    2 _ Page 184

[on right top of page]

Rebo LM
Page 22

State of Virginia Greenbrier County ss.
On this the 26th day of April 1843 personally appeared before James Garrett a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Mrs Anna M Griffiths a resident of the County and State aforesaid aged Eighty four years and upwards who first being duly sworn according the law, doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed on the 3rd day of march 184[illegible] granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary war that she is the widow of Abraham Griffiths, who was a private in the war of the Revolution. and who died on the ____day of October 1824, that she was the widow of said Griffiths been allowed a Certificate of pension at the rate of Eighty dollars per annum, which original certificate was granted on the 6th day of April 1843. under the act of July 7, 1838. she further declares she is still a widow  
                 her
          Anna M. X Griffiths
                     mark
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and date above written before          James Garrett, J.P.

I also certify that I am personally acquainted with Mrs. Griffiths and that there is no doubt of the truth of her declaration above
James Garrett, J.P.
Page 23

I John Mathews Clerk of the Court of Greenbrier County certify that
is a magistrate as above and that the foregoing signatures purporting his [obscured] appear to be Genuine

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
affixed my seal of Office and 
subscribed my name this 28th day of April 1843

John Mathews
Clerk of the Court
of Greenbrier County
Page 24

Bow Green May 9th 1843

Dear Sir

I inclose you the Declaration of Mrs Griffiths
under the Act of 1843

Very Respectfully
Your Obt Sert
Frans V Sutton
Page 25

Bow Green Feb 28th 1843

Dear Sir
I inclose you the declaration of Mrs Griffith
I understand a letter has been written to you by some meddler
complaining of my not presenting her declaration As soon
as the papers were sent I found it would be useless to send
on the declaration without the proof of marriage which
has been just recd
Very Respectfully
Yr obt St
Frans V Sutton