Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 7647, for Isaac Nickell, Virginia
Page 1

Service: VA
Nickell, Isaac
or
Nickel
Number: R7647
Page 2

State of Virginia }    
Monroe County }  To wit

                               On this Twenty third day of 
January 1834 personally appeared before me
a Justice of the peace for the County and 
State aforesaid Isaac Nickell a resident
of the said County of Monroe and State of
Virginia aged Eighty two years on the 
thirty first day of March last who being
first duly sworn according to the Law, doth on
his Oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of
Congress passed June 7th 1832
                      That he entered the service
of the United States the first of September
1777 and was drafted into service under the
following named Officers and served as 
herein stated; that he was drafted for 
a three months tour and marched under
James Estill to Point Pleasant a
place situate on the Ohio River at the 
mouth of the great Kanawha River; that 
at the time he was drafted he live on
the farm near where he now lives now the 
County of Monroe then he thinks called
Botetourt County; that he marched directly
to Point Pleasant in company with ten others
that were drafted at the same time to 
go to the Point under the aforesaid Ensign
Estill where they joined Captain Arbuck
-kles Company that was then stationed there
that he served three months at the Point
under the aforesaid Captain Arbuckle.
Lieutenant James Gibson, Ensign Williams
and his siad Ensign Estill with whom
he had been drafted and marched into service
Page 3

that he served out his full three months tour
and was discharged by Captain Arbuckle
who gave him a written discharge, but
he has long since lost it, not now remem
bering to have seen it for fifty years
that during siad tour of service he was
not engaged in any Battle or Skirmish
there was however two men belonging
to Captain Arbuckles Company killed
by the Indians one by the name of Moses
Tarpin and the name of the other he has
forgotten, the manner in which they were
killed was in consequence of a report
coming into Camp that Indians had
been seen sculking in the neighbourhood
there being a parcel of Cattle belonging
to the Army on the opposite side of the 
Kenawha River a small party went
over the River to bring them in, when
they were fired upon and the aforesaid
two men were killed. That in the latter
part of the month of April in the year
1778 the settlers in his neighbourhood
becoming alarmed in consequence of a
report that Indians had been seen near
John Lewis near where the Town of Lewis
burg is now situated they all betook them
selves to Craigs Fort which stood within
about seven miles of where the Town of 
Union now stands which is the County 
seat of Monroe County: that on the first
day of May in the said year 1778 he
entered the service as an Indian Spy and
and continued in said service until the
first of November following. that the
nature of his service that summer was
to leave Craigs Fort and traverse the
Page 4

County and wilderness down New River to 
Cooks Fort, thence to Culbertsons Bottom, thence
to William Lafferty's plantation and thence
back to Craig's Fort a distance of about thirty
five miles, that he was usually out from 
three to four days in a week and that his
companions in spying was Samuel Glass, 
Philip Hammon, & John Rayburn. That
again on the first of May 1779 he entered 
the service as an Indian Spy and continued
in said service until the first of November
following making a tour of six months
and again on the 15th day of April 1780
and continued in [previous 3 words deleted] he entered the service as
an Indian spy and continued in said service
until the 10th of November following making
a tour of six months and twenty five days
during which two summers of 1779 and
1780 he performed precisely the same kind
of services as those discribed in the summer
of 1178 and had for his companions the same persons who were with him in the 
summer of 1778 that Samuel Glass and
Philip Hammon left the Country soon after
the close of the Revolutionary war and he
knows not what became of them but supposes
they are dead and that John Rayburn
died in this County about eight or nine
years ago. That he again entered the service
as an Indian Spy in the spring of year
1781 on the last day of April on first day
of May and continued in said service until
the fifteenth of November following making
a tour of six months and a half and again
on the 15th day of April 1782 he entered
the service as an Indian Spy and continued
in service until the 15th day of November
Page 5

following making a tour of seven months
and that the nature of his services during
each of the summers of 1781 and 1782
was to traverse the country round about
Craigs Fort, to watch the gaps and pass
ways on Traces up and down the Green
brier River and to guard the settler
while planting working and gathering
their corn. That the whole time of
his services as an Indian Spy amounts
to the term of two years eight months
and ten days which added to his services
while drafted makes two years eleven
months and ten days; and that during
his whole term of service as an 
Indian Spy he was not engaged in
any civil pursuit, and that he was
attached to and mustered during the whole [last word deleted]
time he served as a Spy in a company
of Militia command by Captain
John Van Bibber. That he now resides
in the County of Monroe aforesaid near
where he resided at the time he was
in the service of his Country. that he 
received no written discharge for any
of his services as an Indian Spy; that
he has no documentary evidence and
that he knows of no person living whose
testimony he can procure who can
testify to his services aforesaid.
He 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. [Isaac Nickell Signature]
Sworn to and subscribed before.
me a Justice of the Peace for the County
aforesaid the day and year aforesaid 
[Robt. Campbell Signature]
Page 6

We William Adair a Clergyman and John
McDowell both residents in the County of Monroe
do hereby certify that we are well acquaint
-ed with Isaac Nickell of the County
aforesaid who has subscribed and sworn
to the foregoing declaration; that we
believe him to be Eighty two years of
age; that he is respected and believed
in the neighbourhood where he resides
to have been a Soldier and Indian
Spy of the Revolution and that we
concur in that opinion
William Adair [Original Signature]
John McDowell [Original Signature]
Sworn to and subscribed
before me
Robert Campbell [Original Signature]
a Justice of the peace for the
County of Monroe aforesaid
the day and year aforesaid
Robt Campbell [Original Signature]

And I the said Robert Campbell
a Justice of the peace for the County of
Monroe aforesaid do hereby declare my
opinion after the investigation of the 
whole matter and after putting the
interrogatories prescribed by the War
Department that the above named
applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier
and Indian Spy and served as he states
I do further certify that from age and 
bodily infirmity the said applicant (Isaac
Nickell) cannot attend the County Court
of Monroe County and I do further certify 
that it appears to me that William
Adair who has signed the preceeding 
certificate is a Clergyman resident
Page 7

in the County of Monroe and that John, 
McDowell who has also signed the same is a
resident in the said County of Monroe and 
is a credible person, and that their state-
ment is entitled to credit

Robt. Campbell [Signature]

Interrogatory 1. Where and in what year were you born

Ans. I was born in Augusta County Va. in the year 1751.

2. Have you any record of your age
and if so where is it

Ans. I never saw a record of my age altho, I have it from information

3. Where were you living when 
called into service; Where have
you lived since the Revolutionary
War, and where do you now live

Ans. I lived when called into service on the
farm where I now live and lived there ever since

4. How were you called into service
were you drafted did you volunteer
or were you a substitute and if 
a substitute for whom

Ans. I was first drafted for three
months & served at Point Pleasant
and the balance of my service
I acted as a Volunteer spy-

5. State the names of some of 
Regular Officers who were with 
the trops, where you served; such
Continental and Militia Regiments
as you can recollect and the general
circumstances of your service

Ans. I cannot give any other answer to
the 5th interrogatory than what is detailed
in the forgoing declaration
Isaac Nickell [Signature]

Sworn to and subscribed before me
a Justice of the peace the day & year aforesaid
Robt Campbell [Signature]
Page 8

I John Hutchison Jr Clerk of the Court of
Monroe County do hereby certify that Robert
Campbell is a magistrate as aforesaid
and that the foregoing signatures
purporting to be his are genuine
In Testimony whereof
I have hereunto set my
hand & seal of office
at Union this 23rd day
of January 1834 and in 
the 58th year of the
Commonwealth
Jno Hutchison Jr. Cml [Signature]
[Seal]
Page 9

November 1, 1935

Isaac Nickell-R.7647
BA-J/AWF

Mrs. Rebecca Scott
419 S. Essey Avenue
Compton, California

Dear Madam:

The data pertaining to Isaac Nickell furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, R. 7647, based upon his service in the War of the Revolution.

Isaac Nickell was born March 31, 1751 in Augusta County, Virginia; the names of his parents are not given.

While residing in Botetourt (which was later Monroe) County, Virginia (West Virginia), Isaac Nickell volunteered in August or September, 1774, served three months in Captain John Lewis'  company and was in the battle of Point Pleasant. He served from about September 1, 1777, three months under Captain Arbuckle and Colonel Lewis at Point Pleasant. He stated that he served in 1778, 1778, 1780, 1781, and 1782, and about six months in each year, as Indian Spy, stationed at Craigs Fort and scouting through the country down New River to Cooks Fort to Culbertson Bottom and back to Craigs Fort, part of the time in Captain John Van Bibber's company.

He applied for pension April 15, 1833, then living in Monroe County, Virginia, near where he was living when he was in the service.

The claim was [illegible] the ground that the ser-
Page 10

-vice rendered was exclusively against the Indians, and did not come under the provisions of the Act of June 7, 1832, under which he applied for pension.

Reference was made in 1780 or 1781 to the family of the soldier, Isaac Nickell, but no names were given.

One Andrew Nickle was referred to as commanding a company of militia in 1780 or 1781; it is not shown that he was related to the above noted Isaac Nickell.

Very truly yours

A. D. HILLER
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 11

Isaac Nichols
V[irgini]a.

7647

June
Page 12

Isaac Nickle
V[irgini]a

7671
Rejected See let[te]r 17 [Could not find this letter acc[oun]t]
June 1833 to
J. Hutchison

Union C[ourt] H[ouse]
V[irgini]a

Act 7 June 1832
Page 13

[tab] Isaac Nickell

Huntersville V[irgini]a 24th Jan[uar]y 1834

Sir,
I enclose you the declarations
of Isaac Nickell a soldier
and Indian Spy of the Revolution
which is authenticated I believe
according to the regulations of 
the War Office. You
will please enclose his pension
certificate to me at Huntersville and 
give the case as early attention as
the nature of your arrangements 
will admit

Y[ou]r Humble Serv[an]t
W[illa]m McCord
Page 14

December 11, 1930

Hon. Arthur Capper
United States Senate

My dear Senator:
Reference is made to your communication of December 8, inclosing a letter from Mr. Klmer Y. Nickell, Clerke Box, Parsons, Kansas, desiring information relative to Isaac Nickell, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

You are advised that it appears from the papers is the Revolutionary War pension claim, R. 7647, that Isaac Nickell was born March 31, 1751 in Augusta Country, Virginia.

While residing in Botetourt (which was later Moarse) County, Virginia, he served with the Virginia troops, as follows:

From August or September, 1774, three months in Captain John Lewis' company, and was in the battle of Point Pleasant; from August or September, 1777, three months as Indian spy in Captain Arbuckle's company, Colonel Lewis' regiment; from Mau 1, 1778 to November 1, 1778, as Indian spy in Captain John Van Bibber's company; from May 1, 1779 to November 1, 1779 as Indian spy in the same company; from April 15, 1780 to November 10, 1780 as Indian spy in the same company; from April of May, 1781 to November 15, 1781, as Indian spy in the same company; from April 15, 1783 to November 15, 1783, as Indian spy in the same company.

He applied for pension April 15, 1833, at which time he was living in Monroe County, Virginia.

The claim was rejected on the ground that the service rendered was exclusively against the Indians and did not come
Page 15

under the provisions of the Act of June 1834 under which he applied for pension.

There are no data as to family.

Very truly yours

H. W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner
Page 16

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3‑525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D.C., _________________, 19
R. F. 7647
In reply to your request of ________________, received ________________ for a statement of the military history of Isaac Nickell a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT  LENGTH OF SERVICE  RANK OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED STATE 
CAPTAIN      COLONEL
Aug Sept 1774  3 mos   John Lewis  Va
Aug Sept 1777  3mos Indian Spy  Arbuckle  Lewis
May 1 1778  Oct 1 1778  " " John Van Bibber
May 1 1779  Nov 1 1779  " " " " 
Apr 15 1780 [Unreadable] 1780 " "   " " " 
Apr or May 1781  Nov 15 1781 " "  " " "
Apr 15 1782 Nov 15 1782 " "  " " "
Battles engaged in, * Point Pleasant
Residence of soldier at enlistment:  Monroe Co. Va then Botetourt CO. 
Date of application for pension: Apr. 15, 1833
Residence at date of application: Monroe Co Va
Age at date of application: [illegible] 31, 1751 in Augusta Co. Va
Remarks:
No data as to family.
The claim was rejected on the ground that the service rendered was exclusively against the Indians and did not come within the provisions of the Act of June 7, 1832 under which he applied for pension

Respectfully,
Commissioner.
Page 17

CONGRE
No.
NAME OF CLAIMANT:
P. O.
NAME OF SOLDIER:
War of the Revolution
Co. Reg't.
Inquiry
The above-named claimant is to the best
of my knowledge and belief, a bona fide
resident of the District which I represent;
and this inquiry is not made at the request
of any pension attorney or claim agent.
I desire to be advised as to
[stamp] DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FEB 18 1914
Hon James T. Lloyd, M.C.
Feb. 18, 1914
These slips are exclusively for the use of Representatives
in Congress, and when used by any other person
will not receive consideration
Representatives will greatly aid the Bureau of Pensions
in giving them an early answer, if they will fill and use
these slips in making calls in pension cases.
M Satzgaber
Commissioner
6-16
Letter to Hon, James T Lloyd from Mr. Boulware. Returned Feb. 19. 1914
Page 18

February 19, 1914,

Hon. James T. Lloyd,
        House of Representatives,
My dear Mr. Lloyd:
       In response to your personal inquiry of the eighteenth instant, and the enclosed letter of Mrs. T.M. Boulware of Monroe City, Missouri, I have the honor to advise you that this Bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the Revolution, unless a claim for pension or bounty fund has been made on account of his services and a careful search of the records fails to show such claims on file for Andrew Hamilton, Robert and James Madison Nickell, and John and Robert Burdette, described by Mrs. Boulware.

You are herewith furnished the histories of Isaac Nickell of Monroe County, Virginia, and of the only John Byrd or Bird of Virginia found on the Revolutionary War Records of this Bureau.

In order to identify such a claim, if on file, for any person named Curry, in addition to the soldier's full name, some of the following data is essential: names of some officers under whom he served, places of residence at enlistment and

PAGE FOOTER: Isaac Nickell -2
Page 19

after discharge, approximate dates of his birth and death, given name of his widow.

Very truly yours,
GW Saltzgaber
Comissioner.

PAGE FOOTER: Isaace Nickell - 2
Page 20

[stamp at top left of page with number 1 - 12 in outer perimeter; inside there is an arrow at top pointing to 3:14; below it "RECEIVED OCT 28 1935"; next line illegible; next line " READER (number illegible could be a 10); next line "VETS. AMI"]
 419 So. Essey Ave.,
Compton, Californii. [looks like it was Californaa but last two a's were over-typed with ii]
Oc.t 20, 1935.

Veterans Administration,
Washington. D. C.
 [second i in Administration originally an s that was over-typed]

Dear Sir:

I wish the revolutionary war data on Isaac Nickell, who was a pensioner.

AlsoJacob Peters, [above written in cursive "only one more] who fought in the war of 1812.
Where did he inlist from? Was he a pensioneer?

Also Alexander Nichol, pensioneer, from Mason
County, West Virginia.

Do you take care of the Civil War pensioneers
in that department?

Thanking you kindly, I remain

Yours very truly
[signature Mrs Rebecca Scott]
Mrs Rebecca Scott,
Genealogist,

P.S. Isaac Nickell 13:1752. Served 3 month in
the Point Pleasant campaign under capt. John
Lewis. was a Pensioneer.  Affidavit . By Robert Coalter.
Where did he inlist from + who was his Parents?
Page 21

United States Senate
Washington, D.C., Dec. 8, 19 [last two digits of year are not clear]

Respectfully referred to

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

as requested.

{Dated stamp below US  DEC 9 1980 (there are words at top and bottom of stamp that are illegible)]

Respectfully, 

{signature illegible]
9-345          U.S.S.
Page 22

This came with letter addressed to Sen. Capper
from Elmer V. Nickell - his letter returned to 
Sen Capper with letter  AWJ

Dec 11-30
Page 23

C. H. THOMPSON PRESIDENT.
J. M. RODGERS, VICE PREST
No 6226
JAMES R. JOHNSON CASHER.
D. H. KAUFFELT ASST. CASHIER.
The Reverte Natinal Bank

January 12th, 1914

Commissioner of Pensions, 
         Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:-
          Will you kindly advise me if one Isaac Nickell ever applied or was granted a pension in the Revolutionary war. I have a copy of his declaration made on the 15th, day of April 1833 in open court of the County of Monroe Virginia (now West Virginia) and want to have this declaration verified by your statement. If he was not granted a pension were the any other Nickle's from Monroe County Virginia on you Revolutionary War Records. An answer will be very much appreciated by the writer,

Yours very truly,
James R Johnson
Page 24

[left fold handwritten notation]
1914 Jany 16 
Hist to Jas R. Johnson. V.L. 
1914. Feb. 18.
Hist to Mrs T. M. Boulware
 thro Hon Jas T. Lloyd. AW
1930 - Dec 11 Hist
to Sen. Coffee [Jones?]
Elmer V. Nickell [?] 
1935.Nov. 1. hist. to 
Mrs. Rebecca Scott Ans[wer]

[right hand fold]

Rejected
7647
P.O. Isaac
Nichols
Service:
Enlisted:____________,18
Discharged:_________,18
Application file:_____,18
The printed list for 1852 shows
reasons for rejection
Alleges:______________________
"Services were exclusively
Re-enlisted: against the Indians"
Attorney:______________________
P.O.____________________________
Recognized.
Contract.
Cert[ificate] of Dis[charge].
Searched for________________,18
Page 25

[the following in crossed out] Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1873

7671
P.O.
Isaac Nickle
Service:

Enlisted: REJECTED, 18   .
Discharged:           , 18   .

Application filed:   , 18  .     

Alleges:  

Re-enlisted:
Page 26

October 31, 1935

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA-J/MLB
Mrs. Rebecca Scott
419 South Essey Avenue
Compton, California

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request
information in regard to Isaac Nickell who, you state, received
pension on account of service in the Revolutionary War; Alexander
Nichol, pensioner from Mason County, West Virginia; Jacob Peters
who served in the Ward of 1812; and in which you desire to know
whether or not Civil War records are in the custody of this office.

The pension records of both Revolutionary War and War of 1912
have been searched and no claim for pension found based upon
service in either war of an Alexander Nichol, under any spelling
of the name. The pension which you state he received may have
been granted by the state from which the soldier served. The record 
of Isaac Nickell is furnished herewith.

In order to identify the record of the particular Jacob Peters
of the War of 1818 is whom you are interested, should it be on file, 
as much as possible of the following data in regard to him should
be furnished; approximate dates of birth and death, his place of
residence after the war, and at enlistment of you are able to secure
same, also, given name of widow. Upon receipt of that data, a
thorough search of the records will be made and a report furnished.

The Civil War claims for pension are in the custody of the 
Veterans Administration.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
Page 27

Isaac Nickle


Rejected
see let[ter]: to J.[ohn] Hutchinson
Union C[ourt]. H[ouse].  V[irgini]a.
June 17, 1833-
Page 28

At a Court held for the County of Monroe at the Court House
on monday the 15th day of April 1833 in the 57th year of the Commonwealth

On this 15th day of April 1833 personally appeared in open 
Court of the County of Monroe and State of Virginia now sitting
Isaac Nickle a resident in said County and State aged eighty
one years who being first duly sworn according to law doth
on his oath make the following declaration in order to
obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1833
that he entered the service of the United States under the
following named officer and served as herein stated; that in
August or September 1774 he volunteered for three months under
Capt. John Lewis to go against the Indians, and was marched
to Point Pleasant on the Ohio river and was in the battle
fought at that place. He does not recollect an other officer
except Lieutenant John Henderson who was in the same
Company: that he served out his full term of three
months and returned home in November or December in
said year: that in the year 1777 he was drafted from the
County  for three months to serve against the Indians in 
the month of August under Capt. Arbuckle and under Col
Lewis. He was marched to Elk river where the troops remained about three weeks and from thence to Point
Pleasant where he served out his time. He was discharged
by Captain Arbuckle in November of s[ai]d year, which discharge
he has lost long ago. That in the year 1780 or 1781 he
cannot recollect which he was drafted for three months
from the County of Greenbrier to go towards the Lakes against 
the Indians he was drafted out of Capt[ain] Andrew Nickles' company of militia but owing to the situation of his family
at that time he was compelled to hire a substitute, and 
give a mare worth fifty to Thomas Burchoniel who went in
hi place and served out the three months and returned
home with other persons who were drafted at the same
time who told him he got his discharge in Kentucky. Those
Troops were commanded by Col[onel] Brown. He does not know
Page 29

of any person by him he can prove his service as all are
dead or have left the country.  He hereby relinquishes
every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the
present and declares that his name is not on the pension
Rolls of the agency of any state.

Isaac X ["his" is written X] Nickle
Mark

We Samuel Clarke + Robert Coalter residing in Monroe County
and State of Virginia and Henry Alexander residing in the
same County and State. (a clergyman not being present)
hereby Certify that we in well acquainted with Isaac
Nickle who has subscribed and sworn to the above
declaration that we believe him to be eighty one years
old that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood
where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution
and we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed     }        
the day and year aforesaid  }
Sam[ue]l  Clark [Original Signature]
Robert Coalter [Original Signature]
Henry Alexander [Original Signature] 

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 that Court
further certifies that it appears to whom that Samuel
Clark Robert Coulter and Henry Alexander who have
signed the preceding certificate are residents in the said
County of Monroe and State of Virginia, and are credible
versions, and that their statement is entitled to credit
I John Hutchinson Jr. Clerk of the Court of Monroe County do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings
Page 30

of the said Court in the matter of the application of Isaac Nickle for pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office at
Union this 17th day of April 1833 and 
in the 57th year of this Commonwealth, 
J[o]n[a]t[han] Hutchison Jr. Cml[?]