Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 11,645, Nathaniel Wills, Continental Ga.
Page 1

SERVICE
Continental Va.
Wills, Nathaniel
Mildred
NUMBER 
R. 11,645
Page 2

[preprinted form with handwritten answers]
4066
48.917
Virginia Roll
Nathaniel Wills
Private
Virginia line
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary Wa
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence the 28th of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 30th of October 1910 and sent to Thomas Shore Postmaster
Petersburg
Arrears to 4th of September 1818 Amt. 3/30 32:80
Semi-anl, all'ce ending 4th March 1819 48:-
$80:80
Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818.
3 Years
Frederich Bashul
Page 3

Notification sent the 26th June 1820, to Thos. Shore Esqr
Post Master
Petersb Va
Page 4

Prince George County of
Second Judicial Circuit of Virginia
This 28th day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen,
Personally appeared before me Richard E Parker one of the Judges of the General Court, and Judge of the second Judicial Circuit aforesaid Nathaniel Wills, and in pursuance of an act of congress entitled an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and
Naval services of the United States, in the revolutionary War and in order to obtain the assistance thereby afforeded [afforded] to revolution officers and soldiers in reduced circumstances, made oath that about the latter end of the month of July or beginning of August 1780 he enlisted as a private and joined a detachment of the United States army stationed at Chesterfield Court House under the command of Col William Davies at which time he was marched to the southward under command of Col Campbell where he under various officers of the line. That he then enlisted from the line into the first Regiment United States Light Dragoons in which Regiment he continued to serve till the end of the War. That or about the 3d July 1783 he was discharged in Charleston South Carolina by William Parsons Jr a Capt commanding a detachment the Regiment aforesaid in the following form by
Nathaniel Will of the 1st Regiment of Cavalry, has leave of absence untill called on by the proper authority to rejoin his corps, or is finally discharged which discharge, was confirmed by act of Congress and proclamation of Genl Washington in October 1783 and since has been lodged in the War office in the City of Richmond, That he has received no pension, or other Bounty from
Page 5

from Government and that he has been afflicted, and confined to his room, with a parralitic [paralytic] affection, for the last four years and unable to gain a livelihood and by reason of his reduced circumstances in life, stand in need of assistant from his country for support I Richard E. Parker, Judge of the Second Judicial circuit of Virginia and Judge of the Gen court of Virginia at aforesaid, do certify that Nathaniel Wills named in the first of the above affidavits did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in his said declaration sworn to before me on the day
year aforesaid, against common enemy. I now
transmit the proceedings & testimony had & taken before me, to the Secretary for the Department of war pursuant to the directions of the said act of Congress-- Given under my hand & seal 28th day of April 1818.
Rich E Parker seal
I do hereby certify that
Richard E Parker is Judge of the Superior Court of Law holden for the County of Prince George - Given under my hand & seal as Clerk of the said Court (There being no seal of office the 5th Day of October 1818. Walker Crutchfield seal
Page 6

Rich Walker seal
I do hereby Certify that Richard E Parker is
Judge of the Superior Court of Law holden
for the County of Prince George - Given under
my hand & seal as Clerk of the said Court
(There being no seal of Office, the 5th Day of October 1818) Walker Crutchfield seal
Page 7

State of Kentucky County of Franklin Court
on this Seventeenth day of August 1853 before me George W Gwin a Justice of the peace for the County & State aforesaid duly authorized to administer Oaths, Personally appeared Joseph Gray aged Seventy-three years and made oath that he was personally acquainted with Nathaniel Wills and his wife Mildred Wills as early as the year 1807. That he was also acquainted personally with Samuel H Wills
from the same period and that said Samuel H Wills is the Son of Said Nathaniel & Mildred Wills, and who recognized each other as having long been living together as husband &
wife and the said Samuel H Wills as one of their children and from the age of their children at that time has no doubt they were married as early as the year 1781 or 1782 Joseph Gray Subscribed & Sworn to before me  by Joseph Gray personally known to me to be of good character and man of truth this 17th
day of August 1853 Geo W. Gwin J.P.F.C.
State of Kentucky I Alexander H Rennick Clerk of the County [illegible] the County of Franklin, do certify that Geo W Gwin whose Signature appears to the above certificate was at the time doing the same justice of the peace in the the County aforsd duly Commissioned & qualified & that his signature genuine
In Witness where of I have hereto set my
name as Clerk and affixed my
official Seal this 17th Augt 1853
A H Rennick Clerk Franklin County Court
Page 8

Town of Petersburg to wit
On the 25 day of May 1820 personally appeared in open court being a Court of record for the said Town, Nathaniel Wills aged sixty two years resident in said Town, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath declare that he served in the
Revolutionary War as follows: was private in the first Infantry regiment and in the first Cavalry Regiment as per declaration dated the 28th April 1818 & forwarded to the War department in the same year. Upon which a
pension certificate No 4066 I dated the 30th October 1818 has been issued. The said Nathaniel Wills doth further solemnly swear that he was a Citizen of the United States on the 18 day of March 1818 and that he has not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of his property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring himself within the provision of an 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", passed on the 18 day of March 1818 And that he has not nor has any person in trust for him any property or securities contracts or debts due to him nor has any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by him Subscribed, The said Nathanl Wills doth further solemnly swear that he has been so affected with the palsey for 7 years that he has not been in a situation to Walk without the assistance of some person he is now brought into Court in the arms of his in
acquaintance, that before his affliction he was Porter to the Virginia Bank established in this place, That he was no one in family viz his wife Mildred Wills aged 70 years who has a school consisting of a few small children Sworn to and declared before the superior Court of law the  for the Town of Petersburg on the 25th day of May 1820
Page 9

Thadore Trogrant appeared in open Court & made oath that he is well acquainted with the pecuniary situation of Nathaniel Wills, That said Wills is in extreme poverty and Witness believes has no property whatever except that name rated in the annexed schedule I Walker Crutchfield Clerk of the superior Court of Petersburg Which proceeds according to the course of common Law with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount keeping a record of its proceedings, do certify that the foregoing Oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court that the total amount in Value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is twenty one Dollars & Cents In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand [and affixed the seal of the Said Court on this 25th May 1820][crossed out] and private seal (there being no seal of office seal this 20th day of June 1820 W. Crutchfield
A Schedule of
The property real & personal belong to Nathan Wills of Petersburg Viz
One dressing desk present value 10.00
One common pine Table 3.00
Two old Trunks 1.00
Kitchen & Table utensils 7.00
21.00
Page 10

The declaration of the Rev. Samuel H. Wills, for the purpose of obtaining the benefits of the prossion of the act of Congress passed on the 7th day of June 1832. Wherein, It is provided, that persons who were engaged in the Military service of the United States In the War of the Revolution should receive pension, in specified
cases, [illegible] and provided, the widow of Heirs, May Claim, and obtain respectfully showeth,
State of Kentucky County of Anderson ss.
On this 20th day of August 1853
personally appeared before the Worshipful Court of said County, and State aforesaid, now in session the Revd Samuel H. Wills, who being
Sworn in due and solemn form of Law doth, on his Oath declare that he is the son of Nathaniel Wills, who was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, that the said Nathaniel Wills, for said services was described on the pension Roll of Pensioners, and did receive a pension of Ninty six dollars a year, up to the day of his death,
which occured on or about 25 day of December 1825 in the Town of Petersburg in the State of Virginia, that full proof of service was adduced, before he received certificate of pension, and said proof is now refered to, on file in the department, in support of the present claim for order of pension due the Widow, that the Certificate of Pension issued to the said Nathaniel Wills, was in possession of his son the said Samuel, long after his fathers. death, and by change of residence, has been lost or mislaid so It cannot now be found that the said Nathaniel Wills, left a widow at his death, the mother of the declarant, whose maiden name was Mildred Cowman, that they were married in the State of Virginia, prior to the termination of his service in the year 1781 or 1782, that in consequence of Marriage prior to the termination of the Husbands service, the widow would be Entitled to the same yearly amount of pension granted to her husband, Commencing on the 4th day of March 1831, and continued during her natural life that the said Mildred Widow of Nathaniel Wills, departed this life on the 12th day of June 1838. In the town of Abington, and
Page 11

State of Virginia, that the said Mildred Never applied for pension after the death of her Husband, nor is her name Inscribed, at any agency in the United States, for paying pensions, the said Samuel H. Wills, now claims the amount of pension due in right of his Mother, the said Mildred Wills, from the 4th day of March 1831 to the 12th day of June
Mary 1838, that being the day of her death,
pectfully asks be awarded to him.
Saml A. Wills
Subscribed and sworn to in open Court, on the 20th day of August 1853 J H Walker P. J. ace State of Kentucky Anderson County Sct
I James A. McBrayer Clerk of the Anderson County Court certify that at a County Court held for the County and State aforesaid on the 20th day of August 1833 in the Town of Lawrenceburge the foregoing declaration
then of Saml. H. Wills was produced subscribed and sworn to in open Court by said Saml. H. Wills [illegible] to above and there for  satisfactory evidence to the Court was introduced that said Samuel H. Wills mentioned in the above declaration is the son of Nathaniel and Mildred Wills all which facts as stated above in declaration &c It is ordered be recorded and certified which is
accordingly dower given me my hand
and seal of office at Laurenceburg this 20th day of August 1853 and in the 62nd year of the Commonwealth
James A. McBrayer clk ace
Page 12

This declaration I wrote at Abingdon. And Enclosed to declarant in Kentucky. I had Mistaken the date of Mrs Wills death,
and it was erased and the proper date inserted, to Wit 1838.
and sent back as it appears
J W Stevens
Page 13

Surry. C. H. Va
Sept 21
J. W. Stephens esq
Abingdon Virginia
Page 14

State of Virginia
Surry County Set.
I William P Underwood Clerk of the
County Court of Surry County in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that it appears from the record of marriages remaining in my possession as Clerk of said Court that Nathaniel Wills was married to Mildred Comer by Henry J. Burgess rector of Southwark Parish in the County of Surry, Virginia on the 28th day of February 1785. Given under my hand and seal this 20th day of September 1853
Wm P. Underwood c.c.
Surry C. Hs. Va.
Sep. 20th 53
Sir Yours directed to "Cabin Point" was recd
at this place for law mail. I hand you above the
information you desire and request you to return me enclosed 97 my fees for searches in this relation for the certificate I send and for postage paid on your letter from Cabin Point to this place. This demand will no doubt strike you as a small matter but I feel bound to demand its payment because of similar service so frequently demanded attention to which I consider myself legally, and morally bound to render. Very respectfully Wm. P. Underwood
J. W. Stephensey esq:
Page 15

[Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873.][crossed out]
11,645
P.O. Mildred Wills
Service: Widow
Nathaniel Wills
Enlisted:__________, 18  .  [stamped rejected]
Discharged:_______, 18  .
Application filed:__, 18  .
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O. 
Recognized. Contract. 
Cert. of Dis. 
Searched for___, 18  .
Page 16

No. 1993
Mildred Wills
Widow of
Nathaniel
Ky
[J.W. Stevens][crossed out] Oct 5/53
R.H. Gallaher,
Present
June Oct. 14 /53
11645
Act July 4, 1835
Page 17

Petersburg 20 June 1820
Sir,
Mr Wills has desired me to enclose
Mr Crutchfield's certificate &C in [illegible] to
your instructions in relation to Pensions-
Mr Wills received no part of his pension last
March on application he was told then no
[illegible] had been sent on to Richmond for
that purpose
I have the honor to be
Sir,
very respectfully
your most o s
Thomas Shore P.M.
Page 18

POWER OF ATTORNEY,
FROM
TO
R. H. Gallaher
Filed 185
BY 
R. H. Gallaher
Attorney
Copyrighted by John S. Gallaher, Jr.
Murphy & Co. Printers & Stationers 178 Market St. Balt
Page 19

[preprinted form with handwritten answers]
POWER OF ATTORNEY.
Know all Men by these Presents. 
That I Samuel H Wills a resident of Lawrenceburg in the County of Anderson
State of Kentucky do hereby select, ordain, constitute and irrevocably, appoint, with power of substitution: John W. Stevens, Attorney at Law of Abingdon Virginia, my true and lawful Agent and Attorney, for me and in my name, place, and stead: to examine into, enter, present, file and defend: before the proper Department of Government, or other Tribunal, any claim, or suit, in my behalf or in which I may be legally interested by virtue of My Claime for Arear of pension, due the Heirs of Nathaniel Wills, for services rendered in the
War of the Revolution, for Which, he was described on the pension Roll of Pensioner of the United States, in Petersburg Virginia and Further empowering My said Agent and Attorney, or his substitute, to apply for, and receive any Money, Bounty Land or Bounties, Pension Claim or Claims or other [illegible] of any kind whatsoever that may be found to be due Me for Said Claime, for arrar [arrear]of pension, due in light of My Mother Mildred Wills who departed this life on the 12th day of June 1838 in the town of Abingdon Virginia
And further empowering My said Agent and Attorney, and authorizing him to receipt therefor and give full and free acquittance thereof, in his name, as My Agent and Attorney in fact, but all for my benefit and behoof. Hereby ratifying and confirming whatever My said Agent and Attorney may lawfully do, or cause to be done, as in these premises specified: and, as though I were present personally, and acting for Myself Binding My heirs, legal representation and assigns to comply with and fully carry out and complete any obligation, contract. or agreement, that is or may be made between Me and My said Agent or Attorney, his legal representatives, heirs or assigns. Signed, Sealed, and Acknowledged in presence of attest. witness Geo. W. Kavanaugh L. W. Chambers 
In Virtue whereof, I do hereunto affix My Hand and Seal, this 13th day of August 1833 Witness, Samuel H. Wills  S.H.W.
Page 20

[preprinted for with handwritten answers]
State of Kentucky County of Anderson
On this twentieth day of August One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty three before me, Joseph H. Hickman a Justice of the peace in
and for said County and State duly authorized
by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Reved Samuel H. Wills, a resident
of the County aforesaid, the identical person whose name the other person whose name is attached to the annexed Power of Attorney, and being duly questioned, acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed, as specified. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my name, the day and year  [illegible] above mentioned
J H Hickman J.P. AC
State of Kentucky
County of Anderson
I James A. McBrayer Clerk of the County Court in and for the County and State aforesaid, 
do hereby certify, that J. H. Hickman whose genuine signature appears to the foregoing affidavit, is and was at the time of signing the same, as Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn: that all his official acts as such, are entitled to full faith and credit: and that the aforesaid County Court is a Court of Record bearing general jurisdiction. Given under my hand and the Seal of my Office at Lawrenceburg this 20th day of August A. D. 1833 James A. McBrayer Clerk A. C
Page 21

Post Office
Petersburg 27 Octr 1818.
Sir, I had the honor to receive your letter
bearing date 24 [illegible] on the subject of a Pension to Nath Wills Esq. and hasten to [illegible] to you the Declaration, Certificate &C made 28 April [illegible] and which were ordered to be forwarded, but thro the carelessness of the Clerk, neglected. May I hope that the pension will be covered as due the 28 April, as it ended
by appears that Mr Wills is not to blame in the
delay of the papers-- I unhesitatingly affirm then
he is an object of charity, unable to provide of
himself the necessities of Life
I have the honor to be
Sir,
very respectfully
your most O. S.
Thomas Shore P.M.
J C. Calhoun Esq
Page 22

Capt
John W. Stevens
Abingdon
Va
Page 23

Lawr
My dear friend
I return you the papers sent with the Certificate
of Mr Josep Gray an old and valued friend of my youth he is in high standing in Frankfort as a man of business & a Christian and was intimately acquainted with my parents and all their children I hope his certified will be deemed sufficient please answer this when you recieve it and let me know if all is right and if I may expect the
pension and when, as I am trying to get in a condition to remove from this place as soon as possible May the Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ bless you and yours With a full supply of the hidden manner of New Church good & Truth
so prayeth me & mine your Truly S. H Wills
Page 24

Abingdon Sept 3d 1853
Hon Comr.
Dear Sir
Enclosed is the declaration, and application of the Revd Saml H. Wills of Kentucky formerly of
Virginia, for an arear of pension due his Mother in light of his Father, who was a pensioner of the United States in Petersburg Virginia, and who died in 1825, Mr. Wills Wrote to me to prepare his papers-- Which I did, and in doing so mistook the date of Mrs Wills death - Which you will see Corrected instead of 1835- it occured in 1838. And the lines after that naming the number of years at Ninety Six dollars a year was erased
I am Dear Sir
Very Respectfully
Your Obt St
JW Stevens
Page 25

Abingdon Septr 7th 1853
Hon Comr.
Dear Sir
In the case of the Heirs of N. Wills forwarded a day or two since. Mrs Wills was a very old lady and in conversation with persons to day-- Some think, she came to this place in 1835. & Some think, she Came Earlier and died in 1835, others, that she died in 1838, there is no possitive proof on the subject. Revd Mr. Wills her Son, believes he died in 1838. My own belief is, she died in 1835, having known her. While living in 1839 I left the town and moved to the Country. I Well remember, that she had been dead, as I now think over one or two years-- there is no other than memmory to be relyed on, and probably think, there is a Mistake in the date of her death, Which if possible, I will assertaine and report to the department, as said, her son thinks it was 1838. I sugest, that the Case be layed aside, untill we know More positively, I drew the declaration, and set down the date of her death in 1835 12th of June the day of the Month is true, it is so marked on her grave Stone, but the stone is so sunk and battered, the year does not appear plainly, [illegible] that knew her best, is dead. and left the Country. I am Dear Sir Very respectfully your obt St. J W Stevens
PS I have to day, Written to family. Who was here then, and knew the old Lady Well, at her death, they Now reside in Mississippi, as soon as I hear from them, I will inform the department they can be relied on the old Lady Excited but little interest when alive, and no one had [illegible] their memory about her death.
Page 26

Abingdon Septr 27th 1853
Hon Comr.
Dear Sir
Enclosed is the certificate of the Clerk of the marrige of Nathaniel & Mildred Wills- It will be seen they were Married in 1785 all the Evidence, by Conversation Memory of Mrs Wills death, is doubtful, some say She died in 1836 - Some 1837- some 1838, My own opinion is Still unchanged-that she died in 1835, it might be supposed, her son would know more truly than any one else, but Ministers are some times mistaken, as well as sinners-- he believes most religiously he is right, it is an error of
the memmory - If an error at all.
I am Dear Sir
Very respectfully
Your Obt. St
JW. Stevens
Page 27

[preprinted form with handwritten answers]

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
Form VAM-51
12-5-41
Division of Veterans' Administration Archives
BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Wills, Nathaniel GRADE Private 
LINE Virginia
WARRANT NUMBER 12665
ACREAGE 100
ISSUED February 18, 1792
to Robert Means, assignee
note: "Issued a certificate of this record,
26th August 1818, is a man who called himself Nathaniel Wells, who I take to be the same"
*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 subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire 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.