Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18670, William Wosson, Penn. Va.
Page 1

(3 - 1776)
SERVICE
Penn
Va.
CONTENTS
Wosson, William
NUMBER
S.18670
carded
Page 2

Ohio 13.489
Wm Wasson [of] Gallia Co in the State of Ohio who was a [illegible] in the Co. commanded by Captain Davidson of the Regt. commanded by Colo Campbell in the Pennsyla. [Pennsylvania] line for 8 months.
$26.66/100

Inscribed in the Roll of Ohio. at the rate of 26. Dollars 66 Cents per annum, o commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 27 day of July 1833 and Sent to 
Francis Le Clerocq. [illegible] Gallipolia P.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 53.32
Semi-anl. [annual] allowance ending 4 Sept. 33  13.33
$66.65.

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by Wm R. Palmer Clerk
Book E. Vol. 8 Page 28

Date of death not on A. B.
Page 3

15071
Wm Wossons
Declaration
Page 4

State of Ohio}
Gallia County}
Court of Common Pleas for said County Sept Term 1832
On this twenty sixth day of Sept A.D. 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Judge of the C. P. now sitting, Wm Wosson a
resident of Greenfield in Gallia County and State of Ohio, aged eighty years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration in or to obtain the benefit of the act of
Congress passed June 7th 1832
That he entered the service of the U.S. under the following named
officer, and served as herein stated.
1st. That he volunteered at Bedford, Bedford Co. Pa. In, year not recollected, in a company commanded by Capt. Davidson, Lieu. Wm Johnson, Ensign Skinner Col. Smith of same Co: Marched for Trenton, where he arrived soon after the battle at that place; from thence went to Prineton, [Princeton] where they went into winter quarters. The troops at this station were under the command of Gen Sullivan, Washington being with the main force encamped in the highlands above N. York. During the winter he was employed in various expeditions; in one to the Raritan River, where they had a skirmish with a british [British] vessel. In March he was discharged having served out his enlistment of six months.
2nt. That he was drafted about a year previous to the capture of Gil [General] Cornwallis, being then a resident of Amherst Co. Va [Virginia], into the Virginia State troops and enrolled under the following officers, Capt. Edminston, Lieu Charles Edminston, Insign [Ensign] not recollected; ridgemental [regimental] officers-- Col. Wm
Campbell, Lieu not recollected, Major Edminston he thinks. That they moved immediately towards Kings Mountain lying he thinks in N. Carolina, each man being mounted upon his own horse, except one hundred, who fell in the rear and did not arrive in time to participate in the transactions that ensued. At or near the foot of Kings mountain, his ridgement [regiment] joined the army consisting of four ridgements [regiments] in all, to wit, from Va. Col. Campbell's Col Shelby's Col Cleveland's, from N. Carolina, and Georgia ridgement [regiments] he thinks under Col. Williams. The army was divided into four division in order that they might commence the attack on all sides at once, and cut off entirely every chance of escape. The enemy consisted of a detachment of British regulars, and a body of tories all under the command of Col Ferguson or [illegible] Col. Campbell
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ridgement [regiment] charged the enemy in front, where the [illegible] was very severe, that the British were finally defeated, their commander Col Ferguson and three hundred of the regulars having been slain, in addition to a large number of their friends, the tories. That the three Edminstons, who were brothers were slain, and the [illegible] of the ridgement [regiment] , he believes, was also killed. That James [illegible] in the company. that he served two months at this time - 
That he was born in Ireland in the County of Antrim;  came to Pa in 1773. removed soon after his first discharge from the army at Princeton to Amherst, Co, Va, [Virginia] where he resided till removed to this state, Ohio, about eighteen years ago. That he has no documentary proof, having lost both his discharges, never considering that they would ever be of any use to him. 
He 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 Attest Simeon [illegible] 
his
Wm X Wosson
mark
Sworn to, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Francis LeClercq Clk. c. c. [illegible] 
We James Reed of Madison, [illegible] Co, but being in the same neighborhood of the said applicant, and Andrew Faulkner of Greenfield in said County, of Gallia, (there being no clergyman in the said township) hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said applicant, Wm Wosson, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be eighty years old; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution and in this opinion we concur.  James Reed
Andrew Faulkner
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Francis LeClercq Clk. c. c. p. G. C.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier and served as he states And the court further certifies that it appears that there is no clergyman in said township and that the said James Reed and Andrew Faulkner who have signed the above certificate are resident as in the same is stated, and are creditable person and that their statement is entitled to credit-
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The State of Ohio Gallia County SS
I Francis Sidney LeClerq of the Court of Common pass within and for said County as hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of William Wasson for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and and the Seal of said Court at Gallipolis this fifth day of October AD 1832
Francis LeClereq Clk. c. c. [illegible]
Page 7

150ss. 13,489
William Wosson of Gallia County, Ohio
Adm 8 months
Galliapolis P. O.
Francis LeClercq, Clk.
Gallia County, Ohio
Page 8

BRIEF in the case of William Wosson of Gallia County, in the State of Ohio.  (Act 7th June, 1832)

1.  Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  A Court

2.  If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?

3.  How old is he?  80 years.

4.  State his service, as directed in the form annexed.  

Period - Vol. in 1776 not stated.  
Duration of Service -  6 Months
Rank -  Pri.
Name of General and Field Officers under whom he served -  Cap. Davidson, Lieut. Wm. Johnson

Period  -  Drafted 1780, not stated
Duration of Service  -  Not Stated
Rank  -  Pri.
Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served -  Ensign Skinner, Cap. Edminston, Lieut. Charles Edminston, Col. Wm.   Campbell, Major Edminston

5.  In what battles was he engaged?  Kings Mountain.

6.  Where did he reside when he entered the service:  Bedford County, Pa. 

 7.  In his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls?  Traditionary

8.  Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  No.

I CERTIFY that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

W. R. Turner, Examining Clerk
Page 9

June 23, 1939

[something x'd out]

 
John Wason,         W.    1007
Joseph Wasson,     S.   26491
William Wosson,    S.   18670
BA-J/MLB

Mr. W. A. Wasson
111 Broadway, 7th Floor
Nwe York City

Dear Sir:  

The Revolutionary War records of John Wason, Joseph Wasson and William Wosson are furnished you, as follow:  

JOHN WASON
W.  1007

The date which follow in regard to John Wason or Wasson were obtained from the papers on file in the claims for pension and bounty land under W. 1007, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.  

John Wason or Wasson was a native of the State of Pennsylvania. The date and exact location of his birth and name of his parents were not given.  

While residing in Berkley County, then in Virginia John Wason enlisted in the fall of 1777, served as private in Captain Evans' company, Colonel Campbell's Virginia regiment, stationed in Virginia and Pennsylvania, was in the battle of Brandywine, then returned to his home in 
Berkley County, having served a tour of six months.  Shortly after his return home, he moved to Augusta County, Virginia, and while living there, enlisted, date not shown, and served between six weeks and two months as private in Captain Tate's Virginia Company, was in the Battle of Guilford after which he returned to his home in Augusta County Virginia.  

The soldier applied for pension September 3, 1832, while a resident of Rockbridge County, Virginia, and aged ninety-one years.  His claim was allowed.  He died in Rockbridge County, September 20 or 22, 1832 (both dates given).  

John Wason or Wasson married Ellen or Eleanor Till, February 23, 1819, in Rockbridge County, Virginia, where their marriage was recorded in the County Clerk's Office.  The date and place of birth of Ellen and names of her parents were not stated.
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Soldier's widow, Ellen Wasson, was allowed pension on her application executed May 18, 1853, at which time she was aged seventy-five years and a resident of Rockbridge County, Virginia.  

Ellen Wasson, while still living in Rockbridge County, Virginia, applied April 3, 1855, for bounty land which was due her on account of the Revolutionary War services of her husband, John Wasson.  She was allowed one hundred sixty acres of bounty land on Warrant No. 27661, under the Act of March 3, 1855.  She died December 21, 1857.  

It is not stated whether John and Ellen Wason or Wasson had children, but in 1835, one David Wason and one John McLain made affidavit in Rockbridge County, Virginia, that they were heirs of the soldier, John Wason; their relationship to him was not designated.  

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension and name and address of the person paid in the case of Ellen Wasson, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Offices, Records Division , this city, and cite the following data:  Ellen Wasson, widow of John, certificate 1673, issued September 1, 1853, rate $20 per annum commenced February 3, 1853, Act of February 3, 1853, Virginia 
(Richmond)  Agency.  

If you desire information relative to the location of the land granted soldier's widow, Ellen Wasson, you should apply to the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Interior Department, this city, and furnish that official the number of the warrant, the acreage and date of the act under which issued.  

JOSEPH WASSON
S.  26491
You are furnished herein the record of Joseph Wasson as found in pension claim,  S.  26491, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.  

The date and place of birth of Joseph Wasson and names of his parents are not shown.  

Joseph Wasson served as private in the Revolutionary War under Major Davidson in the North Carolina troops, and while serving in line of duty in the Battle of Ramsour's Mill, June 20, 1780, he was wounded; the date and place of enlistment and other details of service were not given.  


-2-
Page 11

[the last name is spelled with a Wa and a Wo throughout]


On account of disability resulting from wounds received in service, Joseph Wasson was pensioned from March  4 , 1795, and his name was placed on the pension roll of North Carolina.  His name was transferred from North Carolina in 1816 to the Indiana pension roll.  In 1818, the soldier was a resident of Wayne County, North Carolina.  He died July 23, 1822.  

There are no family data, whatever, shown in the claim of Joseph Wasson.  

WILLIAM WOSSON
S. 18670

The data which follow in regard to William Wosson were obtained from pension claim, S. 18670, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.  

William Wosson was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and came to Pennsylvania in 1773.  The date of his birth and name of his parents were not stated.  

William Wooson volunteered, date not stated, in Bedford, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and served as private in Captain Davidson's company, Colonel Smith's Pennsylvania regiment, marched to Trenton, arriving there soon after the battle, thence to Princeton where he went into winter quarters; was in an expedition to Raritan River where he was in a skirmish with a British vessel, and as discharged in March after serving a tour of six months.  He afterwards moved to Amherst County, Virginia, and while living there, enlisted about a year before the surrender of Cornwallis, served two months as private in Captain Edminston's company.  Colonel William Campbell's Virginia regiment, and was in the battle of King's Mountain, in North Carolina.  

William Wosson was allowed pension on his application executed September 26, 1832, at which time he was aged eighty years and a resident of   Greenfield, Gallis County, Ohio, to which place he had moved about 1814.  He was still living there in 1833.  

It is not stated whether William Wosson was married.  

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of the person paid and possibly the date of death of this soldier, you should write to the Comptroller General, General  

-3-
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Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data; William Wasson, certificate #15489, issued July 27, 1835, rate, $26.66 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act 7, 1832, Ohio Agency.

                                 Very truly yours

                                  A. D. Hiller
                                  Executive Assistant
                                  to the Administrator
Page 13

Rev. and 1812
Wars Section
AWF:MLB

November 13, 1930

Mrs. H. C. Johnston
Gallipolis, Ohio

Dear Madam:

    You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 18670, that William Wosson was born in County Antrim, Ireland, date not given, and came to Pennsylvania in 1773.

    He enlisted in Bedford, Pennsylvania, date not gven, and was a private in Captain Davidson's Company, Colonel Smith's Pennsylvania Regiment, marched to Trenton, arriving there soon after the battle; was in an expedition to Raritan river, where they were in a skirmish with a British vessel, length of service, six months.

    He afterwards moved to Amherst County, Virginia and served two months in Captain Edmondson's Company, Colonel William Campbell's Virginia Regiment and was in the battle of Kings Mountain. 

    The soldier was allowed pension on his application executed September 26, 1832, at which time he was living in Greenfield, Gallia County, Ohio, aged eighty years.

   There are no data as to family.

    Due to the very large number of requests similar to yours, and the lack of clerical force available for the purpose, this bureau is unable to send more than two histories to the same inquirer.

                         Very truly yours

                          E. W. Morgan
                          Acting Commissioner
Page 14

the State of Ohio Gallia County Greeting -
personally, came William Wosson of the County afforesaid [aforesaid] before me Andrew Faulkner one of the Justice of the peace for Greenfield township In the County afforesaid [aforesaid] he being Dully [duly] sworn according to Law Deposets [deposes] and saith that he the said Wosson served for the time mentioned In his declaration as a private soldier in the Revolution war and farther this Deponant [Deponent] saith not
his
William X Wosson
mark
Sworn to and subscribed before me at my office at the County afforesaid [aforesaid] this first day of June 1833}
Andrew Faulkner a Justice of the peace [seal surrounded by squiggles]

The State of Ohio Gallia County SS
I Francis L. Curry Clerk of the Court of Common pleas in & for said 
County do hereby certify that Andrew Faulkner Esqr [esquire] is a magistrate as above and that the foregoing Signature purporting to be his is Genuine In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed the seal of said Court at Gallipolis this fourteenth day of June AD 1833
Francis LeClercq Clk [Clerk]
[white paper attached to left margin]
Page 15

Francis LeClercq
Page 16






BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Wosson, which require further proof or explanation.

Ⅰ.  Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?  [blank]

Ⅱ.  Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?  [blank]

Ⅲ.  If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?   [blank]

Ⅳ.   Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?   [answer blacked out]

Ⅴ. Has he mentioned with precision the length of hiss service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?  No

Ⅵ.  Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?   [blank]

Ⅶ.  Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any  other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?  [blank]

Ⅷ.  Has the Court given their opinion?  [blank]

Ⅸ.  Has the Clerk given his certificate?  [blank]

Ⅹ.  Is the Clerk's seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?  [blank]
Page 17

[Page No. 2]

Ⅺ.  Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary services?  No.  [illegible] citizens.  

Ⅻ,  If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?  [blank]

XIII.  If the applicant  has no documentary evidence, an has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?  [blank]

ⅩⅣ.  If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?  [blank]
   If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?  [blank]
   Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?  [blank]

XV.    Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?   [blank]

XVⅠ.   Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?  [blank]

XVⅠⅠ.  Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily?  And, if not, which of them is not so answered?   [blank]


EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V.  In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:  "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c.  A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively  as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades:  For ____ year _____months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and  for such service I claim a pension.
Page 18















3

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.   The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are  objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served  two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of a declaration is highly objectionable.  It must in every case be clearly shown  under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places
where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during  which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.  

QUERE XⅣ.  Proof of Service.

In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who  may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses,  
and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

QUERE ⅩⅥ.  Mode of Authenticating Papers.

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of peper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate  must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon.  The ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.  

In every case where the clerk of the Court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.
Page 19

18670
INVALID.
File No. 18,670
Wm Wosson
Pri [Private] Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index: - Vol. 1, Page 417
(Arrangement of 1870.)

1930- Nov. 13. [illegible] to Mrs. H. C. Johnston Awy
1939, June 23 - Hist. to W. W. Wasson (Ltr. [letter] [illegible] of John Wason, [illegible]) MLB.
Page 20

(Transcriber's note: The top of the page contains a conceptual drawing of a Memorial Gate at Mount Hill Cemetery.)

    PROPOSED MEMORIAL GATE, MOUND HILL CEMETERY, GALLIPOLIS, OHIO

FRENCH COLONY CHARPTER, D.A.R. GALLIPOIS, OHIO                                                Oct. 27.

Dept. of Interior
Washington. D.C.

Dear Sir,

    Can you advise me where the following are buried?

Benjamin Viers - Pvt. Va. Continental 
                Pensioned 5-6-1833.
William Wasson - Pvt. Pa Militia
                Pensioned 7-27-1833.
Benjamin Williams - Pvt. N.C. Militia.
                Pensioned 1-9-1834.

Would appreciate any information you could give us. 
                                 Sincerely,
                                  Mrs. H.C. Johnston
                                  Gallipolis, Ohio. 


(Date stamp)
Revolutionary & 1812 Wars
                Section
           OCT  29  1930
         Office of Pensions
Page 21

June 23, 1939
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Mr. W. A. Wasson              BA-J/MMHF:MLB
111 Broadway, 7th Floor
New York City

Dear Sir:

    Reference is made to your letters in which you request to know whether or not this office has record of all Revolutionary War soldiers; if not, where could such item be checked, and in which letters you request, also, a list of all those borne in the records of this office with the surname Wasson, in the effort to establish relationship to the pioneer Wasson of North Carolina and Virginia.

    This office does not have record of all Revolutionary War soldiers, nor can any source of such complete record be given.  The Adjutant General, War Department, this city, is the custodian of such Revolutionary War military records as have been preserved by the United States Government, and this office has only the pension and bounty land records. 

    The demand for Revolutionary War data is so great that it has been impossible with the limited trained clerical force available for that particular work, to make for one person or organization, a series of investigation and reports pertaining to soldiers of that war, or to prepare lists of pensioners for release.

    The record of Joseph Wasson (S. 25491) who, you state, was your great-great-grandfather, and the records of John Wason or Wasson (W. 1007) and William Wasson (S. 18670) are furnished you herewith.

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