Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 2730, Zachariah Goff, Va.
Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE                                          NUMBER
Va.  Goff, Zachariah   W.2730 
Betsey   B.L.Wt.24164-160-55.

CONTENTS
Page 2

7456
Virginia
Zachariah Goff [handwritten] of ----- in the state of Virginia who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Charles Scott of the Virginia line, for the term of Three years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 14 of April 1818.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11 of March 1819 and sent to Jas. C Steptoe Esq. Liberty Virginia.
Arrears to 4th of March 1819             85.56
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sepr 1819    48.
                                                        $133.56
{Revolutionary claim, 
Act 18th March, 1818.}
[handwritten right side of page] Date of death not on AB
Page 3

Virginia
906
Betsey Goff
Widow of Zachariah Goff who served in the Revolutionary war as a private
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of Dollars
[illegible] per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of Feb [February] 1852
[illegible] to R.H. Gray present

Inscribed on Roll of Pensioners under of of 
illegible, 1848, Page 124, vol. 4

Let to R.H. Gray 28 [illegible Apl] 5
[illegible let same Aug.] 2/52
John K Martin
Dec [December] 4 1854
Same Dec [December] 8 1854

Date of death not on [illegible AB]

Reg [illegible] 160073 - see 243786
Page 4

160073 Act mar 3
243.986   June 5  '55 [1855]

Betsey Goff widow
Zachariah Goff Priv [Private]

Va [Virginia] Contl [Continental] Line

New

Enl [Enlistment]
Dis. [Discharge]

Revy [Revolutionary] War

Revy [Revolutionary] pensions
Va [Virginia] July 48-906

[illegible] 160 [illegible Acres] Apl [April] 15/56 [1856]

Boynton

Jno [John] K Martin
Richmond, Va [Virginia]

No [Number] 24164 of [or iss.] Apl. [April] 22/56 [1856]

Vol. [Volume] G. 97.
Page 5

Liberty Va 
North
Free
To the Secretary of War of the United States
Washington
Page 7

C. Steptoe whose name is subscribed to the predeeding certificate and attestation is Clerk of the aforesaid Superior Court of Law and that due faith and credit should be given to his official acts as such. And I do hereby further certify that Zachariah Goff and John Watts came before me and in open Court made severally oath in due legal form to the facts set forth in their respective affidavits which are above certified by the aforesaid J. C. Steptoe Clerk, and that I have full confidence in the truth of the facts which are stated and set forth as aforesaid, all which I do hereby certify and send to the Secretary of War of the United States under my hand and seal (there being no official seal) this the sixteenth day of April One Thousand Eight hundred Eighteen.

Wm. Daniel
Page 8

upside down
THIS BIBLE IS THE PROPERTY OF 
Elizabeth Goff

Records of the births of Zachariah Goffs children

Zachariah born March blot 1797
Tobey or Patsey Goff born July 4th 1800
Samuel Goff born Dec  30th 1804
Nancy Goff born May 15 1806
Robert Brown Goff born October 29th 1810
William illegible Goff born February illegible 1819.

Ben A.  [illegible Donald]
Page 9

This Bible is the Property of Elizabeth Goff

Ben A Donald, J.P. [Justice of the Peace]

Register of the birth of Zachariah Goff's children

Zachariah, born March [illegible] 1798

Patsey Goff born, July 4th 1800

Samuel Goff born [illegible] 30 18[illegible]

Henry Goff born May 15th 1806

Robert Brown Goff born [illegible] 24th [illegible]

William Marion Goff born February [illegible] 1819

Ben A. Donald, J.P. [Justice of the Peace]
Page 10

THE
HOLY BIBLE,
CONTAINING
THE OLD AND NEW
TESTAMENTS:
TRANSLATED OUT OF THE
ORIGINAL TONGUES,
AND WITH THE FORMER
TRANSLATIONS
DILIGENTLY COMPARED AND REVISED.

PHILADELPHIA: [Italics]
PRINTED BY MATHEW CAREY,
NO. 121, CHESNUT-STREET.

1817.

[Decorative boarder around outside edges of page]
Page 11

State of Virginia [illegible] will.
On this 25th day of September 1851, before me Ben A Donald a Justice of the peace in and for said County, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appealed Betsy Goff, a Free Negroe, a resident of said County and State aged [blank] 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 by the law of the United States, passed the 29th day of July 1848, granting provisions to widows of those who served in the Revolutionary War and was married prior to the 1st day of January 1800 and subsequent to the 1st day of Jany 1794. That she is the widow of Zachariah Goff decd of said County who was a private in the Va Contl. line of service in the Revolutionary War and a U. States pensioner from said County, at the rate of $96 pr An. at the time of his death. He was a Free Negro also. She further declares that she was married to the said Zachariah Goff in the county of Campbell, in said State by the Rev. Dr.  blank Lesley a minister of the Gospel on the [blank] day of June 1796. And that her husband the aforesaid Zachariah Goff, died in the county of Bedford, on the -day of - 1823. That she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the 2nd of January 1800- viz: at the time above stated. She further  swears, that she is now a widow, and that she has never before made any application for a pension. Her maiden name was Betsy Moss. Betsy Goff  her X mark 
Sworn to and subscribed on the day and year above written. Before me Ben A Donald JP.
In presence of H. H. Chilton John A Moore
Page 12

Declaration further states, that the family register containing the names of his children Zachariah Goff, and Betsy Goff [illegible] is in the hand writing of [illegible, crossed out]. Benjamin Rice who has been dead for a number of years Ben A Donald J.P.
I Ben A Donald a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Bedford do hereby certify that the 2 leaves above affixed to this declaration with my own name written on each, by myself was taken from the family Bible of Elizabeth Goff, alias Betsy Goff in my presence she being a free Negro. I know nothing of her and husband he having died before I came to the County, say some 25 years ago. Given under my hand this 25th day of September 1851. Ben A Donald JP.
Page 13

declar- of Betsy Goff
Act July 29/48
Robt H Gray 
Agent
Page 14

State of Virginia Campbell County to witt. 
On this 20th day of September 1851, before me Richard Morgan a Justice of the peace in and for the County aforesaid, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, personally appeared Richard Daniel, a resident of said County and a man of credibility, who having duly sworn according to law declares that he is 70 years old and was well acquainted with Zachariah Goff a free Negro, who lived about 3 1/2 miles from deponent at Bells-Mill, now called Wests old Mill - and kept said Mill as a Miller - and while acting in said capacity of Miller about the year 1795 or 96, he married Betsy Moss - who was also a free Negro, and the daughter of W. Moss a free Negro - deponent being about 13 or 14 years old at the time of their marriage. Deponent was not at their wedding, but that he was at their house a few days after they were married as aforesaid, and frequently afterwards - when he went to said [the word Mill is smudged] Mill , to get corn or wheat ground - he being but a mill boy at the time - and that said Goff, and wife was legally married he has no doubt; he always so understood it. They being very respectable for their class, and thought much of by their white neighbors. W. Robt Alexander was clerk of the county at the time and kept his office at his house, near Mollys creek in said County - which office was burned down some years after said marriage of Zach. Goff, to said Betsy Moss. That during the course of the years that said Goff and wife was married as above, or the next year, they moved away from the county of Campbell to the county of Bedford, and has not heard from them since, that he now [illegible]
Richard Daniel x [signature]
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year above written before me - Richard Morgan JP. [signature] 
[Signature in bottom left corner illegible]
Page 15

Deponant Richard Daniel for this states that there was a minister of the Gospel - by The name of Lesley, who married people in The neighborhood that Goff, lived and about The Time he was married to Betsey Moss
To witt - about the year 1795 or 1796. 
Richd Morgan JP [signed]

State of Virginia, Campbell County To witt
On this 20th day of September 1851. Before me Richard Morgan a Justice of the peace in and for Said County, personally appeared Micajah Hubbard a resident of Said County and a man of creditabilty, who being sworn according to law, declares that he is about 70 years old being considered about age of Richard Daniel, who has given The foregoing affadavit as to the marriage of Zach Goff to Betsy Moss in Said County about the year 1795 or 96 - That deponant, concurs with said Daniel in his statement as to The Time and place of the marriage of Said Goff to Betsy Moss the [illegible] of Wm Moss he being a mill boy also at The Time, and went To Bells-Mill now Wests Mill to get corn and wheat ground. The [illegible] office Said County was burned down after Said Goff, and wife was married as above stated - and he has no doubt but that They were legally married. There was a Mr. Lesley a minister of The Gospel, who married people in Said neighborhood of Wests Mill, about the time said parties were married as above. Said Goff, as a wife, moved from Said County to The County of [empty space] shortly after They were married as above. 

[signature, illegible]

[illegible] The day and year 
above written
in presence of Mr. A Pooro

Before me, Richard Morgan [JP?]
Page 16

State of Virginia
Campbell County } S.S.
I Geo Wm Dabney Clerk of the County Court of the County of
Campbell in the State of Virginia, do herby certify that Richard
Morgan, who hath given the foregoing certificates in and was at the
time of giving them, an active Justice of the Peace in and for the
County aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified, that he is fully
empowered to take acknowledgments and certify the same, and that
the signatures to the foregoing purporting to be his, are genuine and
in his own proper handwriting.  In witness of which I have here to
set my hand, and the seal of said Court
at office this 20th day of September 1851
in the 76th year of the Commonwealth.
Geo. Wm. Dabney. C.
Page 17

State of Virginia
County of Campbell | To W [illegible]

I George Wm Dabney, Clerk of the County
Court of Campbell, hereby certify that when a strict search of the 
records [illegible] furnished in the office of the Court aforesaid. I
do not find any record [illegible] of the marriage of Zachariah
Goff and Elizabeth Moss, having married. The said records from
the year 1782 up to the present time, and no [illegible]of such
marriage is not conclusive evidence, that said marriage was never
identified

The testimony whereof I have hereto set my
hand and affixed the seal of [illegible]

office this 9th Sept. 185
Geo Wm Dabney, []
Page 19

160073 Bounty Land Act 3 March 1855 
Betsey Goff widow of x Zachariah Goff. [illegible] Pension Certificate is [illegible] under act 29 July 1848 x Revolutionary Soldier
Filed by John K Martin Richmond Virginia
Page 20

State of Virginia County of Bedford
On this 28th day of May 1855 personally appeared before Mr Tandy K Jones a minister of the peace duly authorized to administer oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid Betsey Goff aged [blank] years a resident of Bedford County in the state of Virginia who [illegible] duly from according to law declares that she is the widow of Zachariah Goff who was a private in the Revolutionary War and that she is the identical Betsey Goff to whom Pension certificate no 906 issued on the 13 February 1852 under act 29 July 1848 which is now in her possession.
She further declares that she was married to the said Zachariah Goff in the year 1796 and that her name before marriage was Betsey Ashberry that her said husband died in the county of Bedford in the year 1823 and that she is still a widow.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the bounty land to which she may be entitled under act approved March 3rd 1855. She also declares that she has not received a [illegible] for bounty land under this, or any other act [illegible], not made any other application Therefore, she refers to her said declaration under act 29 July 1848, for her marriage and of the death of her husband.  Betsy X Goff
M Samuel Harris and Harrison Mansfield residents of Bedford County in the state of Virginia upon our oath declare that the foresaid declaration was signed by Betsey Goff in our presences and that we believe from the appearance and [illegible] of the applicant that she is the identical person she [illegible] herself to be: That we know intimately Zachariah Goff the husband of the aforesaid declarant.
Page 21

That the said Zachariah Goff and the said Betsey Goff lived together as man and wife and were known and reported as such in the neighborhood, and that the marriage of the parties has never been disputed to the knowledge of the affiant; that the said Zachariah Goff died in the County of Bedford, Virginia about the year 1823 leaving the said Betsey Goff a widow, and that she is now know and reported as the widow of Zachariah Goff declared B.H. Mansfield Samuel Harris
The [illegible] declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed before me, in the day and year above written, and I certify that I know the affiants to be [illegible] person, that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be, And that I have no [illegible] in this claim and that the said Betsey Goff has appeared before me in my official capacity to execute certain papers to enable her to draw the money due her from the Pension agent at the City of Richmond. Tandy K Jones J.P.
Page 22

State of Virginia County of Bedford
I Allen A Arthur Clerk of the County Court in the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Tandy K Jones whose name is signed to the written certificate is and was at the time of signing the [illegible] was acting Justice of the Peace in and for the said County of Bedford, duly commissioned and gratified as such and that the signature purporting to be hi, is his, genuine signature, and that I was in no [illegible] intersected in this claim. Given under my hand + good of [illegible] this [arrow drawn] day of June 1833. A A Arthur [signature]
Page 24

State of Virginia
At a court held for Bedford County at the court house on Monday the 27th day of October 1861.
Betsy Goff a free negro presented to this court her declaration claiming a pension from the General Government (as the widow of Zachariah B Goff deceased late of the County and who was also a free negro) pursuant to an act of Congress of July 29 1848, and the court having examined the same together with the affidavits of Richard Daniels, Benjamin Armstrong & Micajah Hubbard of the county of Campbell and the affidavit of Elizabeth Thomas and Daniel Aunspaugh of the county of Bedford and the marriage & family register of said Zachariah and Betsy Goff doth certify to the Department of the Interior that the said Betsy Goff whose maiden name was Betsy Moss is the widow of Zachariah Goff deceased of this county who was a United States pensioner from the county under the Act of Congress of March 18th 1818 at the rate of $96 per annum and that he died in this county on the [blank] day of [blank] 1823 or thereabouts leaving a widow the said Betsy Goff who from the evidence before the court seems to have been legally married to the said Zachariah Goff in the county of Campbell in the year 1794 or 1796, and from thence removed to the county of Bedford a short time after said marriage
and that the said Betsy Goff is still living in this county and unmarried and the court doth further certify that Elizabeth Thomas and Daniel Aunspaugh are respectable residents of this county and whose statements are entitled to full faith and credit and that [illegible]
Page 25

Otay and Benjamin A. Donald before whom the several parties were qualified, are acting Justices of the peace in and for this county, duly commissioned and qualified, and that the signatures purporting to be theirs affixed to the papers in this case are genuine.  In testimony that the forgoing is a true transcript from the records of the County Court of Bedford, I John R. Stepler Clerk of said Court have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this 27th October 1851
Jno R. Steplar clk 
[seal lower left]
Page 27

Richmond VA Agency
Betsey Goff widow of
Zachariah who was a private
Virginia troops
[illegible] 2 years private
$80 per Annum
Act July 28, 1848
Con March 4 1848

R.H. Gray
Lynchberg,
Va.
Page 28

Revy 
WIDOW, 7c.

File No 2730  Oin 
Betsy Goff 
Widow 
Zachariah Goff 
Pri. Rev. War 
Act: July 29, 1848 
Index: - Vol. A , Page 278 
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 29

[circular stamp upper left]
LIBERTY VA
APR 29
FREE
I Mrnat Commissioner of Pensions [handwritten]
Washington City [handwritten]
DC [handwritten]

243986 [handwritten vertical lower left]
Page 30

1050 Betsey Goff widow of Zachariah 
Virginia 
Act 29 July 1848
RH Gray Esq. Lynchburgh [sic]
Page 31

[illegible]
24,164
[illegible]
Page 32

[illegible] Act 29 July 48 Va;
Boynton
Page 33

160073 [handwritten vertical left side]
2 [handwritten vertical left side]
RICHMOND Va. JUN 4 [circular stamp upper right]
FREE

[handwritten]
The Hon
Loren P Waldo
Com of Pensions
Washington City
DC

Ack 3 March 55
Brook- Land
Page 34

243986
Lee
160073

Act Mar 3/53
May 1s/56

24164
160

Betsey Goff
widow
Zachariah Goff [illegible]

Revolution War &
Pensioner

July 48-906

Posey & Gate
Liberty
Va
Page 36

FREE
E Heath Esq
Com- of pension
Wash- City D.C.
Page 37

Enclosed is the [illegible] of Betsy Goff of
Bedford Co Va. Act July 29/48 and all
accompaning evidence which you
will find abundant and satisfy [page town]
Please forward the certificate ($96 [page torn]
as soon as practicable
yours Robt H Gray
Page 38

[illegible] Apr 16 1852
Sir
Since the [illegible] the pension [insert] Bedfore Co Va certificate to Betsy Goff widow of
Zach a[Zachariah] a U.S. pension Act 1818 I called on her and she says that
her husbd [husband] died about 3 weeks after drawing his pension and which was
the only time he drew. The pension Rolls show that his pension
commenced the 14th of April 1818 and that [illegible] [illegible] in all and $ 133.59 (which must have been up to the time of his death I suppose) and which must
have occured in Sept 1819 and consequently before the act
of May 1 1820 was [illegible] by which his name was dropped
from the Roll and he having died [illegible] to that time
his name of course could not be restored [insert] under the act of May 1 1820 but it is very
clear that he being in the [illegible] of $96 [illegible]
death his widow is also entittled to the same and that
he drew. His wido coul dgive me no certain information
in regard to the original pension certificate
whether it has been returned to Wash. for the [illegible] of the [illegible].
[illegible] [insert] at his death or whether it is still among the papers of Wm R. Cook Esq.
[illegible] you will please inform me whether the balance due
at his death has been paid and if so the exact day of his death
will appear in the certificate of the Court and whether
he Goff having died in the enjoyment of $96 for his prior
Page 39

to the 1st of May 1820 where he [illegible] dropped is not
his widow entitled to the same [illegible] for him
I did not procure evidence to prove the exact [insert] year and day of
his death because a the time I did not deem it
necessary not forseeing that a question of this kind
would arise.  Respectfully Robt H. Gray

[upside down]
In Betsy Goffs case
Jas E Health Esq.

Betsy Goff
Va 29 July
Page 40

Jas E Health Esq
In Betsy Goffs case

Betsey Goff
Va 29 July
Page 41

May 7 52
Rel: to case of Zachariah Goff
R H. Gray
Lynchburg
F. F. C. Triplett Esq.
Chief Clerk
Pension Office
Washington City
D. C.
Page 42

Lynchburg May 3rd 1852
Dear sir, In yours of 28th Apl. in the case of Zach. Goff does not meet the point I made. which is this. That should it be made to appear that Goff died before the passage of the Act of the [20th is crossed out] 1st May 1820 - of course - his case, could not be brought under it - as he could not render a schedule, after he was dead - and you would have no right to infer that he would have failed to render a schedule according to the act of May 1. 1820 if he had lived until after that time. He being on the roll, when he died, his widow is entitled to $96 pr. am. the same that he was drawing at his death. Please reply to this, Respectfully Robt. H Gray
Page 43

State of Virginia County of Bedford
Be it known, that on this 24th day of November. A.D. eighteen hundred and fifty four, before the undersigned a Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, personally appeared Betsey Goff, a resident of Bedford [crossed out] County, and made oath according to law, that she is the identical Betsey Goff widow of Zachariah who is a Pensioner under act 29th day of July 1848: at the rate of $80. per annum and was paid at the Richmond [illegible] agency unto the 2[illegible]th day of March 1852.
That she is directly interested, as aforesaid, as a claimant, and makes this affidavit for the purpose of obtaining such increase of Pension as may be due under any of the Laws, Regulations, or decisions that have been or may hereafter be adopted. The said Affiant further declares that she hereby constitutes and appoints JOHN K. MARTIN, of the City of Richmond and State of Virginia, to be Attorney and Agent to prosecute said claim, with power of substitution, to examine all papers and documents in relation to it, and to do all things necessary and lawful in the premises; except drawing the money, which will be hereafter provided for.
Sworn to and subscribed, the day and year aforesaid, before me, Tandy K Jones [signed] J. Peace Betsy X Goff [signed]
I, Tandy K Jones Justice of the Peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Betsey Goff, above-named, is a respectable resident of this County, and is, as I believe, directly interested in said claim as therein set forth and acknowledges the above Power of Attorney to be her act and deed. given under my hand this 24th day of November eighteen hundred and fifty four.
Tandy K Jones [signed] J. Peace. B.C.
In testimony that the above-named Tandy K Jones was a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, at the date of the same, I hereby subscribe my name and affix the County Seal. This the 29th day of November  AD 1852 A A Arthur [signed] County Clerk.
Page 44

Richmond VA Feb 2nd 1852
Sir
Enclosed you will find a Pension Certificate no 906 under at 29 July 1848 issued to Betsy Goff for Eighty per annum I will [illegible] ask you to send me a certificate in the place of the one returned for the same amount of Pension that the husband Zachariah Goff [illegible] 
John K Martin
Loren P Waldo Com. of Pension
Page 45

Richmond Va
Dec 6th 1854
Sir
In reply to your letter of the 4th inst
I acknowledge the receipt of the certificate of Pension
of Betsey Goff widow of Zachariah Goff, and not [underlined]
widow of "Isaac [unclear]" as you have it, act 29 July 1848
Is it True That Zachariah [underlined] Goff was stricken from
the Roll of pensioners under act of 1820? And not
reinstated afterwards,
I will thank you for the date of marriage
and the time when Zachariah [underlined] Goff died as
shown by the evidence before you, in the papers
when which Pension certificate No 906 issued,
Very Respectfully 
Your Obt Svt
John K Martin

To the Hon
Loren P Waldo
Com of Pensions
Washington
Page 46

Bounty Land Declaration
of Betsey Goff
[illegible] in by [illegible Osay]
& Pate Agents for claims Liberty Bedford Va
243986

GLP
Page 48

Goff in our presence, and that we believe from the appearance Statements of the applicant, that she is the identical persons she represents herself to be  

                                      John R. Wilson
                                      Goodrich Moore

The foregoing declaration + affidavit were sworn to subscribed before me on the day + year above written: and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons: that the claimant is the person she represents herself to be + that I have no interest in this claim.
   
                                      Nathaniel F. Thaxton I.P State of Virginia
County of Bedford
} SS

I, Albon A Arthur, Clerk of the County Court in the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that Nathaniel F. Thaxton whose genuine signature is affixed to the above certificate was at the time of signing the same an acting justice of the peace in and for the said county of Bedford duly commissioned + qualified as such + that full faith and credit are due to all of his official acts as such + that I have no interest whatever in this claim.
                Given under my hand + to seal of said court this 29th day of June  A  B  1856
                          A A Arthur CER