Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 36,041, for Ambrose Lewis, Virginia
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(3-1776)
SERVICE | | NUMBER
Va. | Lewis, Ambrose | S. 36,041
Va. Sea Service
[double underline]
CONTENTS
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272
Dist. of Columbia
Ambrose Lewis
of Alexandria in the State of Columbia
who was a private in the 2nd Regiment commanded by
C. Halliday of the Virginia
line, for the term of 15 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of the Virginia...
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence the
7 of April, 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 of Feb. 1882,
and delivered to the Pensioner
24 28/30 m... Sep 1820c $8 per mr. $231.46
rrears to 4th of 
Daduel invalid pour for Adriane $6 $173.59
Semi anl. all'ce ending 4 march, 1821 $48.
$105.87
Revolutionary claim,
Acts18th March, 1818
& 1 May, 1820?
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28/4
160
190
200
85

4.
3.
16
$6.86

28
9.4
4.6
4.29/31
$32
7.48
$39.48
6.85
$46.33

29
31/232
217
14
150
125
260
940
77

The How.
The Secretary of the Department of War.
Washington
pension office.
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28/4
160
190
200
85

4.
3.
16
$6.86

28
9.4
4.6
4.29/31
$32
7.48
$39.48
6.85
$46.33

29
31/232
217
14
150
125
260
940
77

The How.
The Secretary of the Department of War.
Washington
pension office.
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District of Columbia, 88.
On this 7th day of April 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Circuit Court of the United Stetes for the said district, personally appears Ambrose Lewis aged about 60 years, resident in Alexandria in the said district, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late 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," That he the said Ambrose Lewis enlisted in Frederick and in the state of Virginia in the year 1777 as a seaman on the ship of the Dragon commanded by Captain Elisha Callender of the Navy of the United States; that he continued to serve in the said ship or in the service of the United Stated until the nearly three years, when he was discharged from service in James River in the state of Virginia, that he was in a battles with a private called the Lord Hire, in which the Dragon lost my man killed, and eight thousand of Comandore Taylor was wounded in the thagle his struggling, to hold the door hour and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence now in his power of his said services., except the certificates herein sworn to and declared befor me, the day and year aforesaid.
Mr. Cranch
I, William Cranch Judge, &c. as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Ambrose Lewis did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress. April 7th 1818
W. Cranch
Seal of The Court.
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District of Columbia. County of Washington [illegible], 
Be it remembered that this 24th January in the year 1821, before the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia, for the County of Washington being a Court of record established as such by the several acts of Congress concerning the District of Columbia personally appeared in open Court. Ambrose Lewis age of sixty eight years, resident in the County & District aforesaid, who being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath declare, that he served in the revolutionary war as follows: That on the 15th April, 1776 he entered into the naval service of Virginia, on board the gally. Page commanded by Capt. Markham; in which service he continued untill 30th March, 1778 when he entered as a seaman into the naval service of the United States, on board the United States Ship Dragon, commanded by Capt. Callender: in which service he continued untill the 15th April 1779, when having completed three years of service in the navy of the State & of the United States, he quitted that service & enlisted as a common soldier in Capt. Halliday's Company, in the 2nd Virginia Regiment, commanded by Col. George Stubblefield: served in that Regiment until August 1780, when he was severely wounded & taken as a prisoner till the end of the war, at Charleston, S.C. where he was confined a part of the time in barracks and the residue of the time on board the prisonship: that he the said Ambrose Lewis was inscribed on the pension list roll of the District of Columbia agency, under the act of 27th April, 1818,
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at the rate of $2.50 per month, to commence on the 19th July, 1809; which pension was successfully in creased to $3.75 per month, to commence on the 19th March, 1811, under the act of 5 July 1812; to six dollars per month to commence from the passage of the act of 24th April, 1816; & lastly to eight Dollars per month to commence on the 7th April, 1818; for all which he received pension certificates in due form: for the pension of $2.50 per month, as a private in the army of the United States, under the act of 27th April, 1810, he has a duplicate pension certificate dated on the 16th February, 1820 without number; upon which is stated all the other compensation, except the last of eight dollars per month, under the act of 18th March 1818: for that last pension, granted to his as a private in the navy of the United States,  he has a pension certificate dated 28th April, 1818 & numbered, as he believed (272). The said Ambrose Lewis then in open court as aforesaid took & subscribed, in due form, pursuant to the act of Congress in such case provided, & passed on the 1st day of May, 1820, the following oath, and produced and exhibited the schedule thereto annexed, & by him Subscribed; to wit: I Ambrose Lewis do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March one thousand eight hundred & eighteen, & that I have not since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of the act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land & naval service of the U. States,
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in the revolutionary war," passed on the 18th day of march one thousand eight hundred & eighteen; & 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 hereto annexed & by me subscribed

Ambrose (his x mark) Lewis

Sworn to in open Court the 24th Jany 1821 [illegible] 
Schedule subscribed & exhibited by Ambrose Lewis containing his whole estate & income etc.
I have no estate or property whatsoever, real personal or mixed; + am not even in a condition to except [sic] my necessary cloathing [sic] + bedding; for I have no bedding; & not as much cloathing [sic] as is necessary. I have no income whatever; except the pension or pensions to which I am & may be entitled under the several acts of Congress before mentioned, or some or one of the same;  & the casual contributions of the charitable, to which I have been compelled to resort since the payment of my pension has been suspended. I have no occupation except occasionally that of a barber; and am not able to pursue any regular occupation for a livelihood, in consequence of my age & infirmity; & more especially of the anguish & disability of the wound in my leg received at the battle of Cambden [sic], which wound, the greater part of my time, breaks out into an open ulcer; & is always in a condition to render me a cripple in that leg. I have no family but a son about ten years of age, who is unable to contribute to my or his own support; the rest of my children are grown up & live to themselves.-

Ambrose (his x mark) Lewis
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Thereupon the said Court, in open court as aforesaid, having personally examined the said Ambrose Lewis, & heard evidence touching his condition & circumstances, is of opinion, as well from personal inspection as aforesaid, as from the evidence examined as aforesaid, that the condition & circumstances of the said Ambrose Lewis, are truly stated & set forth in his said shedule[sic]; that he, not only has no property but is absolutely destitute of the necessaries of life; & incapable of obtaining a livelihood for himself & family, otherwise than by means of the pension or pensions claimed by him, or charitable contributions & so there is no property, contained in his said shedule [sic] upon the value of which the Court can pass an opinion

William Brent Clerk of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia for the County of Washington do hereby certify that the aforegoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court.

In Testimony whereof thereto subscribe my name and affix the seal of the said Court this 27th day of January Anno Domini 1821

Wm Brent Clk
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Double
20
Ambrose Lewis
Alexandria
Page 11

I do hereby certify that Ambrose Lewis a coloured man entered on board the United States ship of war "Dragon", as a seaman, on the 30th March 1778, at which time I was Steward and Clerk of said ship and afterward midshipman and clerk, and that he remained on board duty as a seaman when I left the ship on the 20th Jany. 1779.

David Henderson

Commonwealth of Virginia
County of Spotsylvania to wit This day David Henderson personally appeared before me a magistrate for the county aforesaid and made oath that the above certificate signed with his name is true

Given under my hand this 24th day of July 1870

John S. Wellford. J.P.
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[illegible] 22nd July 1820

Ambrose Lewis~

Your certificate of your having served on board the ship Dragon as a seaman would have been sent you immediately on receipt of your letter. but I waited to see May. Also which I have not done and inclose [sic] you his certificate also-

Yours [illegible]
David Henderson
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Ambrose Lewis entered in the Navy of Virga. 15 Apr 76 [illegible] 15 Apl. 79- Served [illegible] of the time on bd gelly, Page Cap. [illegible], [illegible] of the 3 yrs on bd the vessel of war the Dragon Capt. Ballende.
After enlisted in captn Hallidey's [illegible] in 2d virge regt. com'd by Cal. Geo. Stillefid at battle of [illegible] + taken prisoner - detaind as Pr. till end of the war, in barraks + [illegible] ship at Chstn. -

Keeps no house, only one child upon his lands rest grown up
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Payable on the 4th of March
and 4th of September in each
year at the Brank Bank
U.S. Washington City
Page 15

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Revy Claim,
----
I CERTIFY, That in conformity with the law of the UNITED STATES,
of the 18th of March, 1818.
Ambrose Lewis late a private in the
Navy of the revolution
is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Dist of Columbia Agency
at the rate of eight dollars per month,
to commence on the seventh day of April one thousand eight
hundred and eighteen.

Given at the WAR OFFICE of the UNITED STATES,
this 28th day of April,
one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War
Page 16

Ambrose Lewis
Increased Pension
by act of 24 Apl 1806
District of Columbia

No. 272
Com year 1878
issued 28.
9.4
4.6
4.29/31
8
$32

7.48
$39.48

29
8
01)232 (748
214
150
124
129
260
248
12
Page 17

WAR DEPARTMENT.

RELINQUISHED

I CERTIFY, That in conformity with the Law of the UNITED STATES, of the 24th of April 1816

Ambrose Lewis late a Private in the Army of the U States

is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the District of Columbia at the rate of Six
dollars 0 cents per month,
to commence on the 4th day of March one thousand eight hundred and sixteen.
Placed on the roll under the Law of the 18th March 1818

GIVEN at the WAR OFFICE of the UNITED STATES,
this 11th day of June
one thousand eight hundred and sixteen
William H Crawford
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Duplicate certificate issued 16th Feby 1820 [illegible]
to the pensioner.

The payment to commence from the
time to which he was last paid and
Invalid, deducting the amt paid him
under the Law of the 18 Mar. 1818, is having been discovered that his service in the Rev
War were not on the continental establishments.
Page 19

Washington County District of Columbia February 15.1820. Then came Ambrose Lewis before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace for said County and being sworn according to law deposited sayeth that he has either lost or mislaid his Certificate of Pension from the Secy at war

Sworn to before
R.S. Briscoe
J. Peace
Page 20

The payment to commence from the
time to which he was last paid and
Invalid, deducting the amt paid him
under the Law of the 18 Mar. 1818, is having been discovered that his service in the Rev
War were not on the continental establishments.

Duplicate certificate issued 16th Feby 1820 [illegible]
to the pensioner.
Page 21

War Dept.
J.C. Calhoun

Mr Ambrose Lewis
U.S. Pensioner
care of the Post Office
Alexandria
Dut of Cola[?]
Page 22

send your papers made out by Judge [illegible] to this office and they shall be attended to without your coming here in person - your pension of Eight dollars per month - will commence from the 18th March 1818-

Your's respectful
E. Boyd
April 17th 1818

War Dept Pension Officer
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7.48
32
4 Sept 1878 - 39.48
4 Sept 1819 - 96
4 $135.48
Ambrose Lewis-$33.87
as a Revy pensioner
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War Department
March 18.1816.

Sir,
In reply to your letter of the 16th Lieutenant Shaw the honor to inform you that no evidence has been forwarded to this Department upon which to found an Increase of the Pension granted to Ambrose Lewis by the Act of the 27th of April 1810 - and that it is not within my power to afford relief in the present case. - The papers and herewith returned. ~

I am Sir, very respectfully,

Your most obed Servant.
Wm H. Crawford
Page 25

Corporation of Fredericksburg
State of Virginia
Before me a Justice of the Peace for the corporation aforesaid per appeared Benjamin Alsop who being duly sworn, states that he knew Ambrose Lewis, a coloured man. That he work as a soldier in 1780 to the south, in the company of Capt John Halloday, and was at the Battle of Camden, which was on the 16 of August 1780. That Capt Hallodays company [illegible] to the Second Virginia Regiment commanded by Colo George Stubblefield. The Leut Colonel was Joseph Spencer on the mission was William Mosby. [illegible] official states he was attached to the army as a Deputy
Page 26

Quarter Master & he will [illegible] said Ambrose Lewis was in the Battle of Camden & as well as he [illegible] as Lewis was wounded.

Benja [sic] Alsop
Given under my hand and name this 28 of July 1820
Wm. J Roberts
Page 27

36041
Revy  INVALID.
File No. 36041
Ambrose Lewis
Pri Rev War
Act : 18 March 18
Index: -- Vol. 2 Page 403
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1930-Oct 16 - Hist to
Adj. Gen. Carlion
copy of letter under
C. H. Bridges in
Misc File EEL
Page 28

I do here Curtify [sic] that Charles Lewis was a Soldier in Capt. John Holliday& Company of Militia from Spotsylvania County & that he was in Genl Gates Depot at Camden in South Carolina, on the 16th. day of August 1780 and that he was a Brother to Ambrose Lewis - 

Benj [sic] Alsop -
Spotsylvania County Jan'y 8 1807
Page 29

I do hereby certify that [missing text]
was a solder in the 2d Regm [missing text]
Commanded by Colo Geo. St [missing text]
[missing text] from the [missing text] of Virginia
in said Regm in the year 1780 to South Carolina
and was in Genl Gates defeat near Com [missing text] in South Carolina on the 16th day of Aug 1780 and taken prisoner and I believe he was wounded in said defeat
Given under my hand this 1st day of March 
1809
Benja [sic] Alsop
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[missing text] of Fredericksburg to wit
[missing text] as personally appeared before
[missing text] of the Peace for the Corporation
[missing text] oath to the truth of the
[missing text] given under my hand this first day of March 180[illegible]
J Newby
Page 31

Jany 8. 1816
Ref to the Comm of Pensions
& Revolutionary Claims

No
[illegible]
22. Feby 1816.
---
rejected 19th March
1816
full pension
allowed commencing
21st March 1816
.
Ambrose Lewis Seaman
Ship Dragon - $8 cong
7 Apl 1818 certified
27 Apl D. Stricken from
roll as a Revy Pensioner
4th Nov. 1819.
-
A. Lewis on roll as an Priv
at $6 per month.
Dept Cert of pension issued
16 Feby 1820 & del to the
Pensioner.-

Petition of Ambrose Lewis
a man of colour
on the Pension list
District of Columbia
1: February 1816
Recd to the Committee on pensions
revolutionary claims

28. March, 1814
Report made.
---
13. January 1815
Referred to the Committee on
Pension & Revolutionary Claims
---
1815 January 27
Report made & concurred in, and
petition rejected.-

Feb. 09 1814
S Ingham
[illegible] pensions
Page 32

% the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States

The Petition of Ambrose Lewis humbly sheweth your petitioner laid before Congress in the year 1800 his claim to a pension for services rendered during the Revolutionary war. That by a law passed 27 Apl 1814 he was placed on the pension list of the U.S. at the rate of $2.50 per month commencing on the 19th July 1809.
Your petitioner, for the arduous duty performed by him, during the struggle for American Independence both in the land and sea service, conceives that his pension ought to have commenced at a much earlier period to wit, August 16th 1780, he therefore prays that Congress would take his case into consideration, and grant him such relief in the premises, as from the nature of the service rendered the numerous wound received, and the documents accompanying this petition he may appear to be justly entitled to and your petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray

16 Dec. 1813

Ambrose (his mark) Lewis
Page 33

Jany 8. 1816
Ref to the Committee on
Pension & Revolutionary Claims

Petition of Ambrose Lewis,
praying that the pension allowed him
may commence 16th Augt 1780)
=
5th Decemr 1812
Ref to the Comm of Claims
=
13. January 1815
Ref to the Committee on Pensions &c &
(For arrearages of pension)
1815 January 27th
Report made & concurred in, and petition rejected.

resided no
testimony to warrant
an increase of pension
The arrearage cannot
be allowed
1815 & again
March 1816
Mr Barbou
[illigable]
Page 34

To the honorable the Senate House of Representatives of the and United States in Congress assembled

The petition of Ambrose Lewis humbly sheweth that your petitioner having been a soldier in the revolutionary war under general Gates that on the 16 August 1780 he was badly wounded by receiving a ball through his thigh and five thrusts of a bayonet through different parts of his body and limbs which wounds have so disabled your petitioner that he is now obliged to go on crutches. Your petitioner has a family but no property therefore the distress of his condition will be easily conceived by the wise representatives of a grateful country.
If your petitioner attempts to beg he is referred by individuals to the government of his country as the source whence the distressed disabled and destitute old soldier should seek relief
Your petitioner feels grateful to his country for the relief which was granted to him on the 13th July 1809 but at the
Page 35

same time ventures most humbly to think that that relief should have commenced on the 16th August 1780 the period at which your petitioner received the wounds which have ever since disabled him more or less. Your petitioner therefore with deep respect for the dignity and wisdom of your honorable body prays you would be pleased to grant that the pension granted to your petitioner on the 13th July 1809 may be allowed to him yearly from the 16th August 1780 - The documents proving the verily of the representations set forth in this petition are with the this secretary of War

Ambrose Lewis
Alexandria
December 2nd 1812
Page 36

Mr Dawson
refd claims
Page 37

Payable semi annually,
on 4th of March and 4th
of Sept in each year
at the Branch Bank
U.S. City of Washington
Page 38

This pensioner was placed on the roll under the Law of the 27th of April, 1810, at $2.50/100
per month to commence on the 19 July, 1809, his allowance was increased to $3.75/100 per
mo commencing on the 9th Mar 1811, by Law of 5 of July, 1812, and further increased to six dollars per month by the Law of the 24th of April, 1816.
to take effect from the passage of the act.
War Department
Pension Office,
February 16th 1820
Duplicate
J. L. Edwards

WAR DEPARTMENT.
Duplicate.
I CERTIFY, That in conformity with the Law of the UNITED STATES,
of the 27th of April, 1810.
Ambrose Lewis, late a private in the
Army of the U. States ---
is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Dist of Columbia Agency,
at the rate of two dollars fifty cents per month,
to commence on the nineteenth day of July
one thousand eight hundred and nine. The payment by the Agent to commence from the time to which this pensioner was last paid as an Invalid; deducting the amount paid him under the Law of the 18th of March, 1818, it having been discovered that his services in the
Revolutionary war, were not on the continental establishment.
GIVEN at the WAR OFFICE of the UNITED STATES,
this sixteenth day of February
one thousand eight hundred and twenty-
Calhoun
Secretary of War.
Page 39

not [illegible] to Rev pension
= will again receive his pension
upon the act
27 April 1820

(272)
Dist. of Columbia,
Ambrose Lewis,
4
private
Ship Dragon, Calunder, 1777 3 years
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War.
-
Inscribed on the Roll of Dist. of Columbia
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on
the 7th of April, 1818.
---
Certificate of Pension issued the 28th of Apr 1818.
and delivered to himself-
Arrearages to 4 Sept 1818. 4.29/31 mo. $39.48
[illegible] off $39.48
a revolutionary
{Revolutionary claims,
Act 18th March, 1818,}
reinstated as an
Invalid pensioner at
6$ [illegible] letters 4th Nov 1819 from 4 Sept 1819

Alexandria [illegible]
Page 40

Corporation of Fredericksburg to wit

This day David Henderson personally appeared before me Thomas Goodwin a Justice of the Peace of the corporation aforesaid and made oath that Ambrose Lewis a Black Man was on board the Dragon for near three years during the American Revolution, as an ordinary seaman that he is the only person of that name and color on board the said vessel, that this affiant was Clerk of the said vessel and well recollects the said Ambrose Lewis - Given