Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5565, for Thomas Jeffress, Virginia
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Va. Jeffress, Thomas. Jeffrys, Mary C. R 5565
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Certificate of County
as to VAs deaths
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At a County Court held for Lunenburg County the 10th day of January 1853.
     On motion satisfactory evidence was exhibited to the Court that Thomas Jeffress late of this County, died in the same on the 9th day of May 1822 leaving Mary C Jeffress his widow surviving him. 
    I Thomas Winn Clerk of the County Court of Lunenburg in the state of Virginia do hereby certify that the above is a true transcript from the records of the said Court. 
   Given under my hand and official seal this 10th day of January AD 1853
Tho. W Winn Clerk
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[illegible]
Thomas Jeffress
Marriage license 
Bond
Married in 
Aug '94
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Know all men by these presents that are Thomas Jeffress and Thomas Walker are held and firmly bound unto Henry Lee esquire governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the sum of one hundred and fifty Dollars to which payment well and truly to be made to our said governor and his successors for the use of the Commonwealth we find ourselves our heirs and C firmly by these presents sealed with our seals and dated this 9th day of August 1794
The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas there is a marriage suddenly intended to be solemnized between the above bound Thomas Jeffress and Polly Hamlet. If therefore there be no lawful cause to obstruct the same then the above obligation to be void. Else to remain in full force and virtue.
Sealed and delivered in presence of 
Edm'd Read
Thomas Jeffress (seal)
Thomas Walker (seal)

State of Virginia Charlotte County To wit.
I Winston Robinson Clerk of the County Court of the County of Charlotte in the state of Virginia aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of an original marriage license bond on file in my said office, and that no return of the marriage herein contemplated has been returned to and worded in this office.
Given under my hand and the seal of my said office this tenth day of April in one thousand eight hundred and fifty two.
Winston Robinson
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Mary C. Jeffress
Widow of Thomas
No 1.137 Va
Married Aug 1794
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Declaration of Mary C Jeffreys

Revolutionary Pension Claim
Act July 1848

[illegible] of Hon T. H. Averett
M.C.

Attorney William Hunt
Washington City
DC
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State of Virginia
County of Lunenburgh
Be it known that on this 14th day of June 1852, 
personally appeared before the county Court of Lunenburg in the said State. (crossed out text).
 Mary C Jeffrys, a resident of the said State and County, aged seventy eight years, who being duly sworn according to law doth on her oath, make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed on the 29th of July 1848.
That she is the widow of Thomas Jeffrys, a Revolutionary Soldier who was a Private soldier in the Virginia State Line. That the said Thomas Jeffrys was born in Nottaway Co Virginia on the 10th day of June 1761, and died at his residence in Lunenburg Co Virginia on the 9th day of May 1822. That she was married to the said Thomas Jeffrys in Charlotte County Virginia by one John Williams, a Baptist Minister on the 2nd day of September 1794. Her name before marriage was Hamlet.
That the said Thomas Jeffrys entered the service at Nottaway County Virginia with one Hampton Wallis of the same place being both privates. He marched from Nottaway Co and was in the battle of Guilford Court House. She has no means of knowing the exact time he served but it was quite a long time. She therefore refers to the accompanying certificate from the Auditor of Virginia, which will show the amount of money paid to her deceased husband the said Thomas Jeffreys
She further declares that her eldest child was born on the 4th day of September 1797, that she was not married to the said Thomas Jeffreys prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January eighteen hundred at the time above stated. She further declares that she's now a widow, and that she has never before made any application for a pension.
She also declares that she has and does appoint William Hunt of Washington City DC her true and lawful Attorney to act for her in this matter and to receive and take charge of her certificate of pension should the same be granted.
Sworn to and subscribed to the day and year above written and the (county doth) certify that there does not appear to it any doubt but that the applicant is the widow of the said Thomas Jeffreys a Rev Soldier.

Mary C Jeffreys
Lister T W Winn Clerk
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State of Virginia Lunenburg County, to with
I Thomas W Winn Clerk of the County Court within and for the County and State aforesaid, do certify that the within declaration was this day made in open Court by the within named Mary C Jeffress. In testimony whereof I hereunto [illegible] my hand and office the seal of this said Court this 14th day of June 1852.
T. W Winn Clerk

Note I understood this widow's health could not permit her to attend Court, and made our VA form to suit a declaration before a Judge at her residence. It will be seen however that she was carried to the Court Room, this will explain this attention made to suit the circumstances.
W Hunt. Attorney.
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Mrs. Mary C Jeffress
Laurel Hill
Lunenburg Va.

[upside down]
Affidavit of James Hamlet
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State of North Carolina 
Person County May 8th 1852
    This is to certify that Mary C Hamlett of Charlotte County Virginia and Tho's Jeffress of Lunenburg County Va was lawfully married in Charlotte County Va in the latter part of the year 1794 or 1795 and that Mary C Jeffress was the said Mary C Hamlett and is now the lawful widow of the said Tho's Jefress. Given under my hand this day and date first above written.
    James Hamlett

This day personally appeared before one [illegible] Hamlett and made oath in one form of law that the matters set forth in this above certificate was true to the best of his knowledge and belief. Given under my hand this day and date first above written. 
Squire Meadows

State of North Carolina
Person County
I Charles Mason Clerk of the Court of [illegible] and [illegible] Sessions, hereby certify that Squire Meadows Esquire is magistrate as above and the signature purposing to be his is genuine: in testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 11th day of May AD 1852. 
Charles Mason Clerk
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Mary C Jeffreys 
wid of Thomas
No 1137 Va

May 20/53
nor found
29 July 1848
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Additional evidence
case of Mary C Jeffreys
widow of 
Thomas Jeffreys, Rev Soldier
Applications under act
July 1848

Attorney William Hunt Washington City, D.C.

Original application filed 
June 29, 1852
Letter calling for add evidence
Sep 4, 1852
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Certificate 
1st Auditor, Virginia
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This is to certify, That it appears from a list in this office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia State Line as settled their accounts and received certificates for the balance of their Full Pay, according to an act of assembly, passed the November session 1781, directing the Auditors of Public Accounts to settle and adjust the pay and accounts of the said Officers and Soldiers from the 1st January 1777 to 31st December 1781, (see Hening's Statutes at Large, vol. 10, p. 462,) that a settlement was made on the 26th day of April 1783 in the name of Thomas Jeffreys as Soldier of [illegible] and evidence of the indebtedness of the State to him for 193.11.2 delivered to himself but as the original settlements or copies thereof are not to be found in this office, the term of service embraced therein cannot be stated. 
Given under my hand at the First Auditor's Office, Richmond, this 29th day of March 1852.
Rev Johnston
First Auditor
[no seal of office]
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Certificate 
Rev a Johnson
1st Auditor Va
That this Jeffreys is the only person of that name on VAs Rolls
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This is to certify, That it appears from a list in this office of such Officers and Soldiers of the Virginia State Line as settled their accounts and received certificates for the balance of their Full Pay, according to an act of assembly, passed the November session 1781, directing the Auditors of Public Accounts to settle and adjust the pay and accounts of the said Officers and soldiers from the 1st January 1777 to 31st December 1781, (see Hening's Statutes at Large, vol. 10, p. 462,) that a settlement was made on the 26th day of April 1783 in the name of Thomas Jeffreys as Sol'r of [illegible] and evidence of the indebtedness of the State to him for 193.11.6 delivered to himself but as the original settlements or copies thereof are not to be found in this office, the term of service embraced therein cannot be stated. 
Given under my hand at the First Auditor's Office, Richmond, this 13th day of Nov 1852. 
Rev Johnston
First Auditor
[No Seal of Office]

I hereby certify that the above is the only Thomas Jeffreys to be found on the Virginia State Line Register as having received his  separation pay. Given under my hand at the Auditors Office. Richmond. This 13th day of Nov 1852.
Rev Johnston
First Auditor
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5565 
Mary C. Jeffreys
wid. of Thomas
REJECTED
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We Henry H Love and Jacton W. Knight of the County of Lunenburg and State of Virginia do hereby certify that we have been personally acquainted with Thomas Jeffress and Polly Jeffress formerly Polly Hamlett of Charlotte County for twenty years and feel no hesitation in saying that they have lived together as husband and wife for that length of time and further state that we believe they were lawfully married and it is generally believed by the people of Lunenburg County that they are lawfully married and have raised a large and respectable family of children and frequently in conversation with the said Thomas Jeffress we have heard him speak of his services in the revolutionary war and have also heard him speak of busy at the battle of Guilford Court house North Carolina. Given under our hands this 14th day of June 1852.
J. W. Knight
Henry H. Love
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Lunenburg County To wit
     The forgoing certificate of J. W. Knight and Henry H. Love was subscribed and sworn to before me William A Stone a justice of the peace this 14th day of June 1852.
Wm A Stone

State of Virginia Lunenburg County to wit
I Thomas W Winn clerk of the County Court within and forth County and State aforesaid do certify that Wm A Stone is a legally authorized acting Justice of the peace in and for said County, and that the above signature purporting to be his, is genuine for testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and office the seal of the said Court this 14th day of June 1852.
T. W. Winn Clerk
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Letter of William Hunt
Attorney
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In: Washington City D.C. June 29 1852
I herewith present the claim of Mary C Jeffress. (widow of Thomas Jeffreys, a Revolutionary Soldier) for a pension under the pension of the act of July 1848.

The claimant is the aunt of the Hon. T H Averett, Member of Congress from Virginia whose letter to me will be found enclosed, the following is a list of the papers filed
1st The widow's declaration
2 Letter of Hon T H Averett
3 Certificate of the Auditor of Virginia
4 Certified Copy of Marriage Bond
5 Affidavit of James Hamlett, a relative of the widow
6 Affidavit of J W Knight and H H Love
All of which is respectfully submitted by 
Your Obedient Servant
William Hunt
Attorney of Claimant

Hon J C Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
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Letter of Attorney
accompanying VA Add widow

2 papers
1st Certificate of Court as to deaths
2nd Certificate of Auditor, additional,

Wm Hunt Attorney
Washington City D.C.

Add end filed
January 18 1853
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Case of Mary C Jeffreys widow of Thomas Jeffreys, Act July 1848
Application for Revolutionary Pension,
Washington City D.C.
January 18, 1853

Sir, 
On the 4th of September 1852 you notified me that in the above application, it would be necessary to procure a certificate of the Court of the death of the husband.
This certificate I hereby enclose, It sets forth that his death took place on the 9th of May 1822.
You also required evidence that he is the identical man mentioned in the certificate of the Auditor of Virginia.
We have not been able to find any person alive who served with him, but in the absence of such proof we beg to submit an additional certificate from the Auditor. 
That there is no other Thomas Jeffreys to be found on the Virginia Sate line register, as having received his depreciation pay or,
Therefore as he was the only person of that name on the register, it is respectfully submitted that the evidence of service is conclusive.
The claimant is a relative of the Hon. T. H. Averett. Member of Congress from that District, and he certifies in his letter on file, to the past of service, although he cannot state particulars.
Very Respectfully, 
Your Obedient Servant
William Hunt
Attorney

Hon. J E Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
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20 
Wm Hunt
Sept 4/52
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46
Pension Office 
Sep 4 1852

Sir
The application of Mary C. Jeffress of VA has been received and filed under the Act of 29 July 1848.
She must furnish a certificate of Court showing the date of her husband's death. 
She must show by the testimony of comrades that her husband and the soldier mentioned in the certificate of the Auditor of Virginia are identical. This is the more necessary. As I observe that the declaration was evidently found upon that certificate.
Wm Huntly 
Present
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Letter from 
Hon. T. H. Averett

[upside down]
Mr. Wm Hunt
Washington D.C.
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House of Representatives
Washington, April 28 '52

Sir
Your letter of the 20th ought to have been answered earlier but sickness and urgent business have occasioned the May.
Mrs. Mary Jeffress of Lunenburg County, VA is my aunt. I have known her from my earliest childhood 
and have all my life understood that Thomas Jeffress, her husband (now dead) was a revolutionary soldier and that he fought bravely at the battle of Guilford Court house N.C. Of course, I can know nothing of his services - but, in compliance with Mr. W Hunt I state that I have no doubt of his leaving service faithfully in the war of the Revolution - Whether his term of service was such as [illegible] his widow to the benefits of any
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of the Pension Laws now in force, 
I am unable to state -
Respectfully
T. H. Averett
Reprs. 3rd Cong. Dist.
Va.
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Evidence in Mary C. Jeffreys case
of Thomas Jeffress and Polly Hamlet

Thomas Walker and Thomas Jeffress
Marriage License Bond dated
9 August 1794 and certified by Clerk to be true Copy of original on file

J. W. Knight
H. H. Love

testify that they were personally acquainted with Thomas and Polly Jeffress for twenty years that lived as H and wife. 
that they have raised a large family of Children and heard him speak of being at battle of Guilford.

James Hamlet 
deposition that they were married in 94 or 5 no reason given for recollecting date

Certificate of Court
Thomas Jeffress died 9 May 1822 leaving Mary C. Jeffress his widow

Auditors Certificate
Thomas Jeffress soldier of [illegible] in VA state line recd $193.11.6 depreciation pay and is the only Thomas Jeffreys found on the VA state line Register who recd depreciation pay.

Letter from Hon. T. H. Averett
Mary C. is his Aunt, Knows that her Husband was in war, but knows nothing of his service -