Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7962, Jesse Wood, Va.
Page 1

Va.
Wood, Jesse
S. 7962
Carded
Page 2

Date of death not on A. B.

1[2]696
Virginia
Jesse Wood
of Fluvanna Co in the State of Virginia
who was a private in the Compy commanded
by Captain Hickman of the Regt. commanded by Col. Daves int the Virginia
line for 3 years
$80

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia
at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 20th day of May
1833 and sent to George Hillman Columbia F. Co. Virg

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1833   160.00
Sem-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 1833  40.00
$200.00

{Revolutionary Claim Act June 7 1832}

Recorded by Wm R. Palmer Clerk
Book E Vol. six Page 31
Page 3

20791  12696
Jesse Wood
Va

look on Va roll
on roll
Adm for 2 years
from 1778

Geo. Stillman
Columbia
Fluvanna Co
Va.
Page 4

War Department,
Pension Office,
183

Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has
been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of
your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules and
the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed,
before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is
necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed,
you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: } ). You will, when
you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and
you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your
claim.

[Printed form filled in with handwritten entries]
A Statement, showing the Service of Jesse Wood (a free man of color) [Flenama?]

Period when the service was rendered|Duration of the Claimant's service. Years.| Months.| Days.| Rank of the claimant.| Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served.| Names and Rank of the General and Field officers.| Battles in which the applicant was engaged.| Country through which he marched.| Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period.| Evidence by which the declaration is supported
1778| 3| -| -| Pr.| Cap Hickman| Col Daves| -| Va| 73, Virg William| None if not on roll -
Va. State or Continental Troops| -| -| -| -| -| -| -| -| -

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 5

2
Regulations under the Act of June 7, 1832

The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army,
and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all
persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who
were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to
Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are
also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged
in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.

Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
1. The Regular Troops.
2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.
3. Persons employed in the Naval service.
4. Indian Spies.

As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming 
the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance,
make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of
Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is
considered a Court of Record.

Declaration,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of County of } ss.
On this [blank space] day of [blank space] personally appeared (a) before [blank space]
A.B. a resident (b) of [blank space] in the county of [blank space] and State, Territory or District
of [blank space] aged (c) [blank space] 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 provion [provision] made by the act of Congress, passed
June 7th, 1832. That he enlisted in the Army of the United States in the year (d) [blank space], with [blank space] and
served in the  [blank space] (e) regiment of the [blank space ] line, under the following named officers: [blank space]

(Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served
under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he enered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and thr country through which he marched. [image of hand pointing to the right] This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons
who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.)

He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he
declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of
the Agency in the State of [blank space]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a 
revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I [blank space] of the Court of [blank space]
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of [blank space] for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
[blank space] day of [blank space] &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be
found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia,
except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and
subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the [blank space] and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank space], who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be [blank space]
years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
(And then will follow the certificate of the Court.)
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 the Court further certifies, that it appears to them the A. B.
[blank space] who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the [blank space] 
and that C. C., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank space]
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank space] Clerk of the Court of [blank space] do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the applicacation [application] of [blank space]
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this [blank space] day of [blank space] &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission;
but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if
possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services
of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light
upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will
also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful
in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his
alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person
Page 6

                                   3

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case.  The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected.  All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case. 
     The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire ad the State troops of Virginia.
      1. Where and in what year were you born?
      2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
      3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you live now?
     4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute?  And if a substitute, for whom?
    5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.
   6. {To a Soldier.{ Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it?
    6. {To an Officer.{ Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?
    7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution.
     The Court will see that he answers these questions embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statements of the applicant.
     The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons - one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion.  If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
     The traditionary evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party.  And the courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper County, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payment can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the court upon the whole matter.
         ___________________________________

[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides.  If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not confirming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had.  Every claimant must state , with precision, he length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled.    In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long e served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
     "Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but, according to the best of his recollection, he served not less that the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: --For____ year _______months, and _____days, I served as a ___________.  For__________months and _______days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."
      It is important, in all cases, to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service.  The use of the phrase   about three or four months  is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.  Some persons who apply for pensions merely state that they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours, the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service.  This form of declaration is highly objectionable.  It must in every case, be clearly shown under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement: the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he has no public seal of office, the certificate of a Member of Congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

       Mode of authenticating papers.

In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which  contains the affidavit, or other papers authenticated, the certificate must be attached by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.

                        Proof of Service

[j] In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their  affidavits the time of the claimant's entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged.  The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses,  and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
**  The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the case of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops.  The proof required by rate in not [j] applies to continental troops only.
[k] This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.} - 
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration. }-
                   [Signature] W. L. Williams  Cx Clk
Page 7

Jesse Wood
Declaration

Jesse Wood
20791
Page 8

State of Virginia Fluvanna County to wit
On the 26 day of November 1832 personally appeared before the court of the said county Jesse Wood a free man of colour resident in said county aged seventy three years who being duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the summer of 1778 in the county of King William, that he enlisted under Capt J Hickman to serve for three years, that he marched to Chesterfield Court House & was under the command of Coln Daves, that he remained there through the fall & winter, that he marched to Cabin point in a company under the command of Capt Hastings Marks, that he returned through Petersburg to Chesterfield Barracks, that he marched from thence to the south in a company under command of Capt John Peyton, and joined General Green at Ramsays Mill the day after the Battle at Hillsboro, that with Capt Peyton who acted as superintendent of military cloathing & stores, he returned to Chesterfield Barracks, Lieutenant Tebbs also  belonged to the detachment, that from Chesterfield Capt Peyton removed the stores under his command to Charlottesville from thence to Albemarle old C House crossed James River at Englishs Ferry into the County of Buckingham thence up James River, recrossed the River & on to Staunton in the County of Augusta remained at Staunton6 weeks and returned to Albemarle Barracks. remained there until after the surrender of Cornwallis in 1781 after which moved to the Barracks at the point of Fork in the County of Fluvanna where he was discharged by major Kirkpatrick. that his discharge was burnt together with many other papers by his home accidentally taking  fire in the year 1820 that he [illegible] his name is on the roll of  the Va State or Continental Troops, as he has drawn his warrant for land & disposed of the samehat he has [illegible]
Page 9

in the County of Fluvanna since the year 1782, and still resides in said County - That he hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that he his name is not on the pension roll of any agency in any state 
sworn to & subscribed the day & date first here written
Jesse Wood his mark

And the said Court of Fluvanna County do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant Jesse Wood was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states
Jno R Park[illegible]

I Abraham Shepher Jr Clerk of the Court of Fluvanna County do hereby certify that  the foregoing
Page 10

September 26, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mr. Walter A. Wood 
1433-35 Junction Avenue
Racine, Wisconsin
Francis Wood, S. 18290
Jesse Wood, S.7962
BA-J/MLB
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your request of September 15, for the Revolutionary War records of Francis Wood, of Bedford County, Virginia, and of Jesse Wood, of Fluvanna County, Virginia.
You are furnished herein their records as found in pension claims based upon service in the Revolutionary War. 
FRANCIS WOOD. S. 18290
Francis Wood was born April 4, 1763, in Charlotte County, Virginia, the names of his parents are not stated. 
While residing in Amherst County, Virginia, he volunteered and served as a private in the Virginia troops as follows: from November, 1780,  three months in Captain Charles Christian's company; in February, 1781, one week in Captain Benjamin Rucker's company and was engaged in guarding prisoners which were taken at the battle of the Cowpens; immediately after the expiration of this tour, three month in Captain James Franklin's company, under Colonels Peter Rose and Gabriel Penn; from August, 1781, three months in Captain John Stewart's company, under Colonels Tucker and Vance, was at the siege of Yorktown and surrender of Cornwallis, after which he guarded British prisoners to Fredericktown, Maryland, and was discharged the last of December, 1781.
Francis Wood lived in Amherst County, Virginia, until sometime between 1790 and 1800, when he moved to Bedford County, Virginia. 
He was allowed pension on his application executed September 23, 1833, while a resident of Russell Parish, Bedford County, Virginia.
Page 11

     No reference was made in the claim of Francis Wood to wife or children.

     In 1833, one Charles Wood was residing in Bedford County, Virginia, his relationship to soldier not shown
                      ********************

[underlined] JESSE WOOD, S.7962

     The date and place of this soldier's birth and names of is parents are not shown.

     Jesse Wood, a free black man, enlisted in the summer of 1778, in King William County, Virginia, served as private in Captain I. or J. Hickman's company, Colonel Davis' Virginia regiment, also in Captain Hastings Marks' and John Peyton's Virginia companies, and was discharged after the surrender of Cornwallis, exact date not given.

     He was allowed pension on his application executed November 26, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-three years and residing in Fluvanna County, Virginia, where he had lived since 1782.

     There are no family data in the claim.


                    Very truly yours

                              A.D Hiller
                              Assistant to Administrator

                            - 2 -
Page 12

Jesse Wood
Va [illegible] 32
No-12,695

Com [illegible]
Nov 17- [illegible]
Page 13

Mr Anderson will sent the Com^r the
pension papers in the case of Jesse Wood a free
negro, pensioned un the act of June 1832.
RMH

Virginia
I believe it is under the act of June 1832.
Page 14

The pension papers of Jesse
Wood.  Virginia-Revolutionary
service - but the act not known-
[illegible] old [illegible]

Mr Cole will please have
a search made for the case
& send me the papers
JE.H-
Com
Nov 185? [very faint]
Page 15

[address side of post card]
[stamp]
GLENCOE, ILL.
SEP 15
530 PM
1933
[/stamp]
[ postage stamp]
[illegible]
[image of Jefferson]
ONE CENT
1 JEFFERSON 1
[/postage stamp]

THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS
Pension Bureau,
Washington, D. C.

Rev. War Section
Page 16

Racine, Wis., Sept. 15, 1933.
Dear Sir:
Please send family and war record of the following Rev. War Pensioners:
Francis Wood, Bedford Co., Virginia, 10-2, 1833
Jesse Wood, Fluvana Co., Virginia, 5-20-1833
Address: 14333-45 Junction Ave.
Yours truly
Walter A. Wood
[signature]
Page 17

[left side of page]
1930-Oct 16 - Hist to
Adj. Gen.   Carbon copy
of letter filed under
C. H. Bridges in
Misc File - EEL
______________
1933 Sept 26 - Hist to Walter
A. Wood -    MLB

[right side of page]

7962
Rev War
√INVALID.
_______________
File No. 7962
Jesse Wood
Priv Rev War
________________

Act:  June 7th  1832
Index: - Vol. 1[?] ,  Page 414

[Arrangement of 1870.]
Page 18

Columbia Rev}             Free
19th Dec 1832}


Department of War
                           Pension Office
                           Washington City

[written vertically on this page]

Dec 21  
Va

20790
      91
Page 19

Communication relative to pension claims from Fluvanna County Va unless[?] allowance specially requested, which mails to George Stillman
Post Office Columbia.
                                                [initials] G S