Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 4491, for George Melvin, Georgia
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(3-1776)
SERVICE 
Ga.
Melvin, George 
Melvin, Martha Mathews 
or
Martha M.

NUMBER 
W. 4491
B.L. Wt. 175-300

CONTENTS
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Georgia 406 | Tee Ulter to R. H. Mosly July 30, 1838
Martha M. Melvin
widow of George Melvin 
who died in the year 1787
of Savannah in the State of Georgia
who was Captain in the company commanded
by Captain [crossed out] himself of the Rgt commanded
by [blank line] in the Georgia 
line for 2 years
___________________________________
Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 480 Dollars 00 Cents, per annum,
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
____________________________________
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of June
1838 and sent R. H.
Mosly Present
____________________________________
Arrears to the 4th March 1838 $3,360.00
Semi=annual allowance ending 4 Sept. 240.00
= $3,600.00
____________________________________
Revolutionary Claim
Act July 4, 1836
Section the 3

Recorded by D D Aorson Clerk,
Book A. Vol. 2 Page 174
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Mrs Melven
papers

George Melvin
Capt Georgia Line

[Illegible]
Hon. [Illegible] Jackson
1st March 1805
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Savannah 16th December 1802

Sir

Knowing your goodness will excuse the liberty I now take in [illegible] you, when the claim of the orphan is the object was especially one who's father bore the tools as [illegible] friendships of the revolutionary war along with yourself, and indeed to your kind interference alone, at this late period, from your perfect knowledge of every circumstance which government can require, and your powerful influence therewith, can I hope to succeed, I have therefor [sic] ventured thus to intrude

My destitute situation after the death of Mr Melvin, left me few or no friends to advise with in regard to his affairs
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and what steps I have taken have never as yet been productive of one farthings benefit from them - yesterday I by accident took a newspaper and seeing something about the claims of the officer, I read it, and found that all those who had not received their fair portion of lands must apply at the war office before the first of January, accompanied with certain vouchers, both the nature & form of which I am ignorant of - This Sir I am placed in a situation whereby my child must inevitably loose the only reversion of his father, but from your benevolent intercession with the government in his behalf..
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his fathers claims never having been as yet received

I am
Sir
with much respect & Esteem
S/M. Melven

[round mail stamp is illegible]
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GEORGIA
By James Whitefield Register of Probate for
the County of Chatham in the State aforesaid.

To Mrs. Martha Melven, Widow

Whereas George Melven esquire late of the county and state aforesaid; deceased, died intestate, having whilst he lived, and at the time of his death, divers goods, chattels, and credits, within the county and state aforesaid, by means of whereof the full disposition and power of granting the administration of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits, of the said deceased, and also auditing the accounts, calculations, and reckonings, of the said administration, and a final dismission of the fame, to me is manifestly known to belong, I, desiring that the goods, rights, and credits of the said deceased, may be well and truly administered, converted, and disposed of, do hereby grant unto the said Martha Melven full power, by the tenor of these presents, to administer the goods, chattels, and credits, of the said deceased, which to him in his lifetime, and at the time of his death, did belong, and to ask, levy, sue for, recover, and receive the fame, and to pay the debts in which the deceased stood obliged, so far forth as his goods, chattels, and credits, will extend, according to their rate and order of the law, being first sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God to make a true and perfect inventory thereof, and to exhibit the fame into the Register of Probate Office aforesaid, in order to be recorded, on or before the twentieth day of August next ensuing, and to render a just and true account, calculation, and reckoning, of the said administration, when thereunto required: And I ordain, depute, and constitute, you, the said Martha Melven Administrator of all and singular the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased.

IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord 1789 and in the Thirteenth year of the Independence of the said States.
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Georgia.
I Edward White, Register of Probate for the County of Chatham in the State aforesaid, Do hereby certify that the foregoing annexed paper is a true and exact copy of the original letter of Administration granted on the Twenty first day of May in the year of our Lord 1789 to [strikethrough] Mrs. Martha Melven late a Captain in the Georgia line of the Army of the United States of America deceased, of record in this office. ---.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office in the City of Savannah this 25th. day of September in the year of our Lord 1798. and in the Twenty-Third year of American Independence.
W/Ed White
R.P.C.C.
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Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the Third Section of the act of Congress of the 4th July 1836.


State of Georgia }
City of Savannah }
On this 30th day of April 1838 personally appeared before me a Magistrate for the city & state above written Mrs Martha Mathews Melvin a resident of the city of Savannah aged 74 years who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made bu the act of congress passed July 4th 1836.

That she is the widow of Captain George Melvin who was a Captain in the 4th Reg: of Continental Troops raised by the State of Georgia in the War of the Revolution. That Captn Melvin she has every right to believe entered the army at an early period of the war and served to its close - she was married to Captn: George Melvin in the city of Charleston in the fall of the year 1779. the precise period she is unable to state. but she well recollects that she was married at the same time that Captn Thomas Gadsden was married and by the Reverend
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Mr Mereau. her maiden name was Martha Mathews Loyd. she remained with her husband in Charleston during the siege he being on duty. and when the place was surrendered her husband was made a prisoner of war, and sent with others in a vessell [sic] to Philadelphia where she was allowed to accompany him. he was finally exchanged and returned to Savannah where he continued to serve to the close of the War. That her husband Captn George Melvin died about the year 1787. she is unable to state the precise period having lost all her papers in the fire which took place here many years ago since. and that she has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereunto annexed.

S/M Melven


State of Georgia }
City of Savannah }
This day personally appeared before me a Magistrate for the county of Chatham and state aforesaid residing in the city of Savannah, duly authorized by law to take acknowledgement &c. Mrs Martha Mathews Melven of the said city and made oath in due form of law to the foregoing declaration - and subscribed the same in my
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presence - I do hereby certify that Mrs Melven is extremely old and infirm and her attendance in or at a court of Justice would not only be extremely inconvenient, but attended with danger to her health in her present or feeble state -
Given under my hand and Seal of Savannah This Thirtieth day of April Eighteen hundred & thirty eight -

S/Joseph Felt
Justice of the Peace


Georgia, Chatham County }
Clerk's Office, Inferior Court }
Inferior Court - 
I Robert W. Pooler Clerk of the Inferior Court of Chatham County in the State of Georgia, Do hereby Certify That Joseph Felt, whose signature is subscribed to the above instrument of writing, as Justice of the Peace, is now & was at the time of granting the same & subscribing his signature to the same, a Justice of the Peace in & for the County of Chatham & State of Georgia, duly qualified; & that full faith & credit are sought to be had & given to all his acts as such in & out of Judicature, & I further certify that the above signature of Joseph Felt Justice of the Peace is of the true & proper hand writing of the said Joseph Felt Justice of the Peace -

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of said Inferior Court this twentieth April A.D. Eighteen hundred & thirty Eight. ~

[seal]
S/Robert Pooler
clk I C C C
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3.500
Martha M. Melvin Wid. of Geo. Melvin dis 
Ga

Married 1779
died 1787

Allow as Capt $480 per ann - no deduction

Ga Contl. line


No. [blank]
R. H. Mosby,
Present
June 11th


3360.00
Page 13

State of Georgia }
City of Savannah }
The affidavit of Sheftall Sheftall Esqr. a Pensioner of the U. States and a citizen of Savannah taken to prove the Revolutionary services of Captain George Melven of the Georgia Line. and to identify Mrs Martha M. Melvin as his widow. This affiant being first duly sworn according to Law testafies [sic] and says that he first knew Captn: George Melvin in the latter end of 1777 or the early part of 1778. he then came to Savannah with the 4th Regiment of Georgia continental troops under the command of Col John White. Captn Melvin was in the Expedition sent from this place to Florida. and this affiant did not see him again until the beginning of the month of April 1781. This affiant was at that time sent on board of the Catalina sloop as Flag master. and carried to Charleston: clothes flour and money to the American troops at that place prisoners of War. on the return of the flag with the sloop to Philadelphia among the persons who took passiage [sic] for Philadelphia was Captn Melven with his wife whome [sic] this affiant understood he married at Charleston and that her maiden name was Marth M. Loyd. after parting with Captn: Melven and his wife at Philadelphia this affiant did not see him again until
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the month of December 1782 when Captn Melven returned to Savannah with his wife and continued to reside in this city until his death which took place a few years after the close of the War. on the return of Captn. Melvin in 1782 to this place he was still in service.

This affiant has known Mrs Martha Melven ever since he first saw her at Charleston when she came on board the sloop with her husband. From the death of Captn Melvin to the present time Mrs Melvin has resided in the city of Savannah. and this affiant can therefore speak positively that the Lady now about to apply for a Pension is the identical person known to this affiant at Charleston in 1781 as the wife of Captn Melvin and that she has never married since the death of Captn Melvin -

S/Sheftall Sheftall
1838
_______________
State of Georgia }
Chatham County }
This day personally appeared before me Shaftall Sheftall Esq. of the city of Savannah,  who made oath in due form of law to the truth of the foregoing affidavit -

I do certify that Mr Sheftall is a man of unimpeachable veracity, being one of the oldest and most respectable of this City -

Given under my hand & seal at Savannah this First day of May one thousand
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eight hundred and thirty eight

S/Joseph Felt
[flourish] Justice of the Peace


Georgia }
Chatham County } 
I Robert Pooler Clerk of the Inferior Court of the County of Chatham in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that Joseph Felt whose signature is subscribed in the foregoing certificate was at the time of subscribing the same and now is a Justice of the peace duly appointed, commissioned and qualified in and for the said County -

[seal]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed to Seal of Said Inferior Court This first day of May in the year of our Lord Eighteen hundred and thirty Eight-

S/Robert Pooler.
Clk I. C. C. C
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Revy WIDOW, &c,
_________

File No. 4491
Martha M. Melvin
Wid.
George Melvin
Capt. Ga. line
___________
Act: July 4th/36,  Sec, 39'
Index:-  Vol. M,  Page 41

[intentional brackets as printed.]
[Arrangement of 1870.]
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Georgia }
Chatham County } Register of Probate Office
These are to Certify that Mrs Martha Melvin is Administrator of all and singular the goods - Rights and Credits of George Melvin esquire deceased having taken the oath prescribed by Law and given Bond of surety - dated this 23d June 1791 ~
S/J Whitefield
D A C C
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Receipt of Whitefield 
R P C C for L216
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Savannah June 13th 1789
Recd. of Mrs Martha Melvin Twelve Dollars being the fees of Letters of Administration on the Estate of her late Husband Geo: Melvin Esq deceased

S/J Whitefield R. P. C. C:
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The Honble Henry Dearborn esq
Secr of War
United States


George Melvin's claim for military bounty land lodged by Gen. James Jackson

[round seal completely illegible]
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Washington, 31st Decr, 1802.

Sir,
The enclosed letter from a Widow in Savannah - your advertisement as to claim for  Military lands - & the few hours remaining of the Year, must plead as apology for my troubling you at this moment. She has, as is natural for persons in her station, thought my influence of more consequence by far, than it ever was, or ought to be, but for her sake, I wish I had it - it appears she is at a loss how to proceed, & has sent on no document.

George Melvin, the husband of Mrs Martha Melvin, was a Captain in the 4th Georgia Continental Regiment, commanded by Col. John White - as such I personally knew him, during the Revolutionary war, I have served with him. - his widow is
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in a reduced State, getting old, & has a Daughter nearly in a marriageable state, to whom the right of bounty due Captain Melvin, for I am almost persuaded he never parted with it, would be highly serviceable, as well as to the aged Mother.

Her letter has not been in my hands half an hour, or I should have sent it to the War Office, instead of your dwelling - I plead, that the claim may be registered, & leave the Widow of an old Soldier, as well as her daughter at the mercy of a Veteran, who knows what the burthen [burden] of the day was, and the reward which ought to have followed it.

With sincere respect
Yr Obed Servt [your obedient servant]
S/Jas Jackson


Honble 
Henry Dearborn
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Treasury Department
3d Auditors Office
21st May 1838.

Sir
The letter of Mr. R. H. Mosley, and the Power of Attorney, to him, from the Widow of Captain George Melvin, of the Georgia line, which you left with me, this morning, are herewith returned - and in respect to the inquiries made by Mr. Mosley, in regard to the Revolutionary services of Captain Melvin, I have to state, that it appears from the records of this Office, That Captain George Melvin was Paymaster to the 4th Georgia Regiment; or Battalion, (and which appears to have been commanded by Col: John White) - and that in the settlement of the ages of the Georgia line, he had final settlement certificates issued to him for his pay to the 15 - of November 1783, (end of the War) and also for his commentation, as Captain, except the sum of $2,000, which appears to have been retained from him until he settles his accot" [account] - It appears that Captain Melvin, in his capacity of Paymaster, stands charged with a balance of $11,363=37- and so far as the records, in this office furnish information, Captain Melvin has had no settlement of his age, as
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Paymaster, since the $2,000 above mentioned, was retained. 

The records enable me to state that Captain Melvin was in service from the 1st of June 1779, and I should infer, from the entries, on the books, that he was in service previous to that time -

With great Respect
S/Peter Hagner Aud



Hon Thomas Corwin
House of Reps. U. States -
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Washington 11 June 1838.

Sir
Your note requesting me to give you my opinion as to the character of Mr Sheftall Sheftall of Savannah on whose statement Mrs Melvin relies in some degree in obtaining a pension from the govnt has been recd. In reply I have only to say I knew Mr Sheftall well and have known him for many years - his reputation is unsullied and for truth and veracity in any statement he may make I would as soon rely as any man I am acquainted with - he is now a very aged man and was engaged in our.
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revolutionary struggle -

I am yrs Truly
S/G W Owens.

R. H. Mosley Esq.
Washington D.C.
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I hereby certify that in the register of Marriages of St Philips Church, there is a hiatus between these dates Feby 22, 1780 and July 1. 1781, and that the said hiatus is accounted for by a note of the then Rector Rev Dr Robert Smith, in these words on the page "The British in possession of Charleston R Smith at Philada"

Witness my hand

S/C. E Gadsden
Rector of St Philips Church
in Charleston So Ca


Charleston May 11. 1838.
Page 28

State of Georgia }
City of Savannah }
This day personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for the city & state above written Majr A. B. Fannin, who being first duly sworn according to Law testifies and says that he has known Sheftall Sheftall Esqr of Savannah for the last 22 years. This affiant testifies that Mr Sheftall is one of the only surviving persons who served in the war of the Revolution now alive in this city ~ and that any statement made by him in relation to transactions on persons ingaged [sic] in the Revolution is entitled to full faith and credit.

Given under my hand at Savannah this 1st day of May 1838.
S/=A. B. Fannin

Sworn to be me this 1st May 1838. } 
S/Jno C Kioll
Judge Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for the city of Savannah.
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Littleton NC,
July 28


To
Col James L. Edwards
Comsr: of Pensions
Washington City
(D of Cu)

mail}

[written sideways in left margin]
July 30th
Comr
Martha Melvin
Geo
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Littleton   July 26th 1838.

To Col. James L. Edwards

Sir,
As warm as the weather is, and as great as your official labours [sic] are, I am under the necessity of troubling you for a few moments about a matter which may reach you from another quarter conserning [sic] my agency in procuring for Mrs Martha Melvin of Savannah a Pension - a difficulty has occur'd between my friend Mr Elfe of Charleston (who was intrusted [sic] by me with the settlement of the compensation I was to receive.) and an individual who claims to be the friend of the old Ladie [sic] - The money due on the Pension has been drawn out and deposited in another Bank pending to the joint credit of Robert Elfe & Ed: [illegible] to remain in their hands until the question of compensation can be settled Mr. Elfe as my friend and agent has retained the certificate of Pension as a security that we shall not be cheated out of the compensation to which we are entitled and which was promised to us. My agency in this transaction I shall not trouble you with stating at this time, as the matter may be adjusted But if it is not and any appeal is made to you upon the subject all I desire is to know it - as I stand prepaired [sic] at a moments warning to place the matter before you upon the testamony [sic] of gentlemen residing in Savannah who have no interest in the matter & who will [strikethrough] do me the justice I am entitled to - and satisfy you that I have acted blamelessly in the affair - and more that the squabble is the instance of an individual who is no relation of the old Lady; for the purpose of  making her forfeit her word of [illegible] and to elude the payment due me for my services & money expended in her behalf.

I shall start in a few days to the springs if my health will
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permit, and I have thought it best to say so much to you in anticipation of difficulty; that you may not expect a prompt answer to any communication unless addressed to me at this place in the next 10 days - I have studiously avoided any difficulty with all persons in the transaction of this kind of business and would most cheerfully give it up in this case if I did not know that the contest is not with my self and the old Lady - but a set of persons who are seaking [sic] their own advantage at my expense.

If any demand is made for another pension certificate if you will apprise my friend Robert Elfe ^Charleston of it, he will cheerfully comply with all you may require~ The money due on the Pension and deposited in another Bank I esteem is no longer a matter then which the government has any controll [sic] ~

I however trust that matters will be so maniaged [sic] as to impose upon you no other trouble than that of recording this scroll; which I regret being compelled to inflict upon you

I remain very 
Respectfully
R. H. Mosley
Page 32

The State of South Carolina 
Charleston District }
The Affidavit of Mrs" Susanna Hall of the city of Charleston taken to establish the right of Mrs Martha M. Melvin widow of Capt George Melvin to a Pension,

This affiant being first duly sworn according to Law, testifies and Says that Mrs" Martha M. Melvin whose maiden name was Martha M. Lloyd, was born and raised in the City of Charleston and was nearly related to the family of Genl Moultrie, This Affiant knew the Said Martha M. Lloyd up to the period of the siege of Charleston in 1780 - a short time previous to which she was married to Captain George Melvin, and after the siege Captain Melvin & his wife left Charleston, and this Affiant did not see or hear of her again until about the year of 1785, when this affiant being on a visit, with her husband Daniel Hall, to Savannah, found Captain Melvin & his wife residing in that City - This affiant has never from the period of her visit
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to Savannah in 1785 had any knowledge or intercourse with Mrs" Melvin, until she was called in to furnish this statement -

S/Susanna Hall


The state of South Carolina
Charleston District }
Before me Rob Elfe one of the Justices of the [illegible] for the District of Charleston & State aforesaid Personally appeared the above named Susanna Hall and made oath in due form of Law to the foregoing affidavit.

Given under my hand & Seal this Sixteenth day of May AD 1838 -
S/Rob Elfe [personal seal]
JU


The State of South Carolina
Charleston District } Office of Com Pleas
I Charles C. Strohecker clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for the district of Charleston & State
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aforesaid Do hereby certify that Robert Elfe is a Magistrate as above named, that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine, and that full faith and credit is due to his signature as such,

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office, and subscribed my name, as clerk of the said Court this sixteenth day of May in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred thirty-eight ~

S/Charles C Strobecker
C. C. P.
[seal]