Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31,677, William Finch, Va.
Page 1

(3--1776)

SERVICE
Va

Finch, William

NUMBER
S.31.677

CONTENTS
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12,030
Georgia

William Finch
of Oglethorpe in the State of Geo:
who was a private in the compy commanded
by Captain Martin of the Regt commanded
by Col Christie in the Va:
line for 1 year

Inscribed on the Roll of Georgia
at the rate of 40 Dollars -- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 15 day of March
1835 and sent to Geo: M Dudley - Lexington Geo:

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833           80-
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept         20-
                                                              $100

Revolutionary Claim
Act June 7, 1832.

Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk
Book E vol. 6 Page 90

[STAMP]
The National Archives of the United States

See letter to P. Agt. Sept. 25 1835
do. to same Oct 15 1835 - do. to same Nov. 23 1835 - do. to same Dec. 29 1835
Order to pay May 1, 1837

Paid at the Treasury under
the Act of the 6th April 1838
from 4th March 1839 to 4th
March 1840.  Agt notified 5 May 1841.

Died Nov. 22, 1842
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Claim of  Wm. Finch
Revolutionary soldier
to a Pension

19,592

Admd for 12 mo as a 
private in the Va Militia
Capt. Martin
Colo Christie

40$ per ann-

Geo M Dudley
Lexington Oglethorp Co
Ga
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Georgia
Oglethorpe County
Ss.
On this third day of December eighteen hundred & thirty two personally appeard in open court before the Justices of the Inferior Court of the County & State aforesaid while sitting for ordinary purposes William Finch aged seventy, who being duly sworn deposes and make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed on the seventh of June of the present year   That he entered the American service in the war with great Britain for our independence under such officers & performed such duty as is herein after stated.
That he was born in Cumberland County Virginia on the 15th of July 1762 according to the information he has received from his family, he having no record of his age.  He lived in Pitsylvania County when he was called into service or rather he volunteered the first tour under a Captain Jos Martin.  He recollects the names of three colonels who were along with him during this tour & they are Christie Lewis & Russel.  He marched from town to the big Islands of Holston in N. Carolina where he rendevouzed untill the [illegible] were collected together.  He thinks he left home about the first of July the year he does not distinctly recollect but he believes that he was about 15 or 16 years old at the time.  He knows that the officer had to obtain his father's consent for him to enlist.  From the Long Islands of Holston we marched out to attack the Cherokee Indians on the Tennessee River, where we took their stock, burnt their houses & got them so subdued that they agreed to treat in the following spring.  We did not remain here longer than three or four weeks.  The army marched back to the Holston where most of the men were dis-
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charged but deponent & others were kept back as a guard on the frontiers, & performed guard service during the whole winter until the spring when he was discharged.  His discharge has been lost for many years for he never supposed it would ever be of any service to him.  This tour was of nine months duration, perhaps more but he is willing to put it down at nine months, that he may state what he knows to be true & no more.
Served three years [?] after he volunteered against the tories under one Colonel Penn & this was taken as a release from liability to stand a draft for three months, but we were not in service as long a time as three months, but a good deal.
In 1781 he was drafted he thinks about the month of July to perform a tour of three months, under one Major Waller who conducted us to the main army & by some means or other deponent does not know how he & his company was delivered up to the command of other officers who were strangers whose names are now forgotten.  During this last tour of three months deponent served at the siege of York from the beginning to the end of the siege & here he obtained a discharge which is also lost.  He has been a citizen of this county & state between forty & fifty years.  He has no documentary evidence by which he can support his claim nor is there any one living that he knows of that can testify in support of the same.  He can appeal with confidence to all his neighbors for his character as an honest man & a man of truth.  He hereby relinquishes all claims whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state in the Union.
William Finch  x his mark
Sworn to in open court the day & year aforesaid
William H. Smith CCO
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We Wm. Lumpkin Jno Beasly & John Hendricks do hereby certify that William Finch who has sworn to & subscribed the forgoing declaration for a pension is a neighbor of ours   that we have been well acquainted with him for a long time   that we believe him to be of the age stated in his declaration   that he is reported to have served in the Revolutionary was as a faithful militia soldier, & that we concur in that opinion.
John Beasley
Wm Lumpkin
John Hendricks
Sworn to in open court the day & year aforesaid
William H. Smith Clk

And the Court having investigated the foregoing claim according to the requisitions of the War Department in such cases [illegible], do hereby certify their opinion that the claimant is a soldier of the revolution of the age which he has stated & that he has served as declared.  It further appears to the Court that John Beasley William Lumpkin & John Hendricks are respectable men of Oglethorpe County  that the last mentioned is a minister of the Gospel & that their statement is entitled to the fullest faith & credit.
John Banks J.J.C.
Edwd. Cope J.J.C.
Robert Freeman J.J.C.

I William H. Smith Clerk of the Court of Ordinary of Oglethorpe County & State of Georgia do certify that the above is the original proceedings of said Court in the matter of the application of William Finch for a pension.  Given under my hand & seal of office this third day of December eighteen hundred & thirty two.
William H. Smith Clk.
[SEAL]

[STAMP]
The National Archives of the United States
Page 7

February 25, 1936

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

WILLIAM FINCH
S. 31677
BA-J/MLB

Mrs. F. D. McDowell
Monticello, Georgia

Dear Madam:

The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claims, S. 31677, based upon service in the Revolutionary War of William Finch.

William Finch was born July 15,1762, in Cumberland County, Virginia; the names of his parents are not given.

While residing in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, he volunteered about July 1, 1777 or 1778, served as private in Captain James or Joseph Martin's Virginia company, marched to Long Island of the Holston River in North Carolina, went on an expedition against the Cherokee Indians on the Tennessee River, took their stock, burned their houses and subdued them, then returned to the Holston River where he served as guard on the frontiers and was discharged after having served a tour of nine months. Some time after this tour, he again volunteered and served a short tour as private under Colonel Penn in the Virginia troops. He enlisted about July, 1782, and served three months as private under Major Waller in the Virginia troops and was at the siege of Yorktown.

William Finch was allowed pension on his application executed December 5, 1832, while a resident of Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He died November 22, 1842.

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

In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, and name of person paid, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following:- William Finch, Certificate 12030, issued March 18, 1833, rate $40 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act June 7, 1832, Georgia Agency.

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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31677
Revy
Invalid

File No. 31,677
William Finch
Pri Rev War
Act: June 7" 32
Index:-Vol. 2, Page 138
Arrangement of 1870

1925-Mch. 13-Hist. to Mrs. L.B. Curry MMHF
1936 Feb 25-Hist. to Mrs. F.D. McDowell  See ltr in [illegible] W.25703 of Wm. Melton MLB
1939 July 13 HIst to Clifton F. Davis  MLB
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Pension Office  Planters Bank
Savannah 14 April 1837

JL Edwards Esqr.
Commr of Pensions

Sir
I enclose the Pension voucher of William Finch, whose application is for Eighteen Months pension, for your approval and authority to pay.
Respectfully
Yr Obt Sevt
J Marshall, Cashier
& Pen Agt.
Page 10

[postal stamp]
[illegible]

[STAMP]
FREE
JL Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Oct 14
Wm. Finch
12030 GW
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Planters' Bank, Savannah, Oct 6th 1835

JL Edwards Esqr
Commr of Pensions,
Sir
I have received your letter of 25th ulto. returning William Finch's voucher, which was sent on in mine of 14th.
My object in sending on that voucher was to ascertain what was to be done in the case of the Pensioner who had suffer'd a lapse of two years to pass from his last receipt.  One of the blank forms sent on to me has a heading for reports of such cases.  Be pleased to say whether I shall pay it or not, as it has now remained for a considerable time on hand under doubt.
Yr. Mo: obedt Servt
J. Marshall, Cashier

The balance at my debit under act of 1832 is $1180.02 on this days settlement.
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Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
April 27th 1841.

Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act during the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Wm. Finch a Pensioner on the Roll of the Georgia Agency, at the rate of Forty Dollars per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March 1839 to the 4th March 1840.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
Present.

[STAMP]
The National Archives of the United States
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Power of atty
From Wm. Finch
to
George M. Dudley

Geo M. Dudley
Lexington
Oglethorpe Co
Ga
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Know all men by these presents-
That I William Finch a revolutionary soldier of Oglethorpe County & state of Georgia & a pensioner of the United States do hereby constitute & appoint George M Dudley of the same place my true & lawful attorney for me & in my name to receive from the Agent of the United States for paying pensions in Savannah in the State of George  my pension from the fourth day of March 1831 to the fourth day of March 1832. and at such other days & times thereafter as the same may become due according to the act of Congress passed 7th June of the present year & according to the regulations of the War Department of the United States made for the purpose of carrying said act into effect.
Witness my hand & seal this third day of December 1832.
William Finch x his mark
Sealed & delivered in presence of 
H.T. Dawson J.P.

State of George
Oglethorpe County Ss
Be it known. That on the third day of December 1832, before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in and for said County personally appeared William Finch above named & acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney to be his act & deed.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day & year last above mentioned.
H.T. Dawson J.P
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State of Georgia
Oglethorpe County Ss
Be it know, that on the third day of December 1832, before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in & for said County personally appeared George M. Dudley the attorney named in the foregoing power of attorney & made oath that the same was not given him by reason of any sale transfer or mortgage of the pension or arrears of pension therein authorized to be received by him.
George M. Dudley
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year last above mentioned before me
H.T. Dawson J.P.
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[STAMP]
Savannah
Ga
Nov 16

[STAMP]
FREE

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Nov 23

Wm Finch
Georgia
[illegible]
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Planters Bank of Geo
Savannah 11th Nov. 1835

J.L Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions

Sir
I again enclosed Wm. Finch: application for 4 1/2 years pension corrected as required in your letter of the 25th Sept. Be pleased to inform me if I am at liberty to pay the amt due him upon this voucher.
Yours very Respectfully
J. Marshall, Cashier
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Pension Office Planters Bank Savannah
September 14 1835

Sir
The Enclosed voucher in the clase of William Finch is enclosed for your approval & authority to pay

Yr Mo. obt. St
J Marshall. Cashier
& Pens Agt

JL. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Page 19

[STAMP]
Savannah Geo
Dec 18

[STAMP]
FREE

J.L. Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City

Dec 26
Wm Finch
Geo roll
[illegible]
No 12,030
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Planters Bank of Ga
Savannah 17th Decr. 1835

JL Edwards Esqr
Commissioner of pensions
Sir
William Finch, whose informal application was returned in your letter of the 23" ult:, has had new papers made out, which are herewith presented for your inspection.  Be pleased to state, on their return, if I am at liberty to pay him.
I am very Respectfully
Your obt  servt:
J Marshall  Cashier
& Pens Agt
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Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear sir:
Will you please send me any war records you have of William Finch from Charles City Co. of the wars of 1812 or the revolution
Sinceely
Mrs. L.B. Cuny
812 Richmond Road
Houston Texas

[STAMP]
U.S. Pension Office
S
Feb 4 1925
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CLIFTON F. DAVIS
ATTORNEY AT LAW
GIDDENS-LANE BUILDING
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA

July 8, 1939

Veterans Administration,
Washington, D.C.

Sirs:

On June 3rd 1939 I wrote you requesting information relative to the Pension Papers of WILLIAM FINCH of OGLETHORPE COUNTY, GEORGIA, appearing as pensioner of the war of the Revolution.

Up to this time no reply has been received and I am writing to inquire whether my request was received and filed or not.

It is my recollection that heretofore I have received replies from such queries, which have been few, in 2 or 3 weeks.

CFDeh

Very truly yours,
Clifton F. Davis
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CLIFTON F. DAVIS
ATTORNEY AT LAW
GIDDENS-LANE BUILDING
SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA

June 3, 1939

Veterans Administration,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:

"Georgia Roster of the Revolution" shows WILLIAM FINCH as a pensioner in Oglethorpe County.

Will you kindly let me know if you have his application, certificates or supporting statements, and what photostats of same will cost.

I presume these show where he was born, what family he had and his service. Am hoing he was from Charles City County, Va., and that he was a brother of my ancestor, Edward Finch, of Newberry County, S.C., and that there will be something of value in assisting to find the father of Edward.

Thank you for your attention in due course, I am,

Very truly yours,

CFDeh Clifton F. Davis
Page 24

July 14,1939

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/MLB

Mr. Clifton F. Davis
Giddens-Lane Building
Shreveport, Louisiana

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letters of recent date, in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Philip Allen, a pensioner of Clarke County, Georgia; Thomas Bonner, who served in South Carolina but died in Clarke County, Georgia, in 1804, and of William Finch, a pensioner of Oglethorpe County, Georgia, who served from Virginia and who had a brother, Edward Finch.

There is no claim for pension or bounty land on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Thomas Bonner, under any spelling of his name. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by the Veterans Administration. It is suggested that information relative to the military service of that soldier might be obtained from The Adjutant General, War Department, this city.

The Revolutionary War records of Phillip Allen and William Finch are furnished you herewith.

It is regretted that your letters could not have been answered at an earlier date.

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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February 25, 1936

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

William Finch, S. 31677
William Melton, W. 25703
BA-J/MLB

Mrs. F. D. McDowell
Monticello, Georgia

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of the following soldiers of Georgia: James Drake, of Telfair County; William Finch, of Oglethorpe County, who was a pensioner; John Finch; Robert Melton, of Stewart County; William Melton, of Walton County, who was a pensioner; Colonel John Melton, and Bordit Finch.

There are no claims for pension or bounty land on file based upon service in the Revolution of James Drake, John Finch, Robert Melton or Milton, and John Melton, as described by you, or of any Bordit Finch. Such claims are the source of Revolutionary War data furnished by this office.

The records have been found of William Finch and William Melton, of Georgia, and they are furnished herewith.

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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Rev. and 1818 Wars Section

March 13,1925

Mrs. L. B. Chuny
812 Richmond Road
Houston, Tex.

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 31677 it appears that William Finch was born July 15, 1762 in Cumberland County, Virginia.

While a resident of Pittsylvania County, Virginia he enlisted in 1777 or 1778 and served nine months as a private in Captain James or Joseph Martin's Virginia Company.

About two years after, he served a short tour under Colonel Penn, in the Virginia Troops.

He enlisted in July 1781 and served three months as a private under Major Waller in the Virginia Troops and was at the Siege of Yorktown.

He was allowed pension on his application executed December 3, 1832 while a resident of Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He died November 22, 1842.

There is no data on file as to his family.

Respectfully,

Acting Commissioner
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July 14, 1939

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

WILLIAM FINCH
S. 31677
BA-J/MLB

Mr. Clifton F. Davis
Giddens-Lane Building
Shreveport, Louisiana

Dear Sir:

You are furnished herein the record of William Finch as found in pension claim, S. 31677, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.

William Finch was born July 14, 1762, in Cumberland County, Virginia; the name of his parents were not given.

While residing in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, he volunteered about July 1, 1777 or 1778, served as private in Captain James or Joseph Martn's Virginia company, marched to Long Island of the Holston River in North Carolina, went on an expedition against the Cherokee Indians on the Tennessee River, took their stock, burned their houses and subdued them, then returned to the Holston River where he served as guard on the frontier and was discharged after having served a tour of nine months. Some time after this tour, he again volunteered and served a short tour as private under Colonel Penn in the Virginia troops. He enlisted about July 1781, served three months as private under Major Waller in the Virginia troops and was at the Siege of Yorktown.

William Finch was allowed pension on his application executed December 3, 1832, white a resident of Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He died November 22, 1842.

It is not shown in the claim whether William Finch was ever married.

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension and name and address of the person paid, you should write to the
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Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data:

William Finch
Certificate #12030
Issues March 18, 1833
Rate, $40 per annum
Commenced March 4, 1831
Act June 7, 1832
Georgia Agency

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator