Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31460, John Watkins, Va.
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Service
Va

Watkins, John

Number
S.31460

Contents
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1352
Kentucky
John Watkins
of Harrison in the State of Kentucky
enlisted as a private in the company commanded by Captain Lewis of the Regt commanded by Col. Scott in the Va. line for 11 month & 4 days


Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the
rate of 37 Dollars 10 Cents per
annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.


Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of May 1833 and sent to N.B. Coleman Cynthians arrears to the 4th of March 
[illegible] allowance ending [illegible]

74.20
18.55
$92.73

Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832. 

Recorded by Daniel Boyd Clerk,
Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 32
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John Watkins
Harrison Co Kentucky

from 1775 private
11 months 4 days

$37.10

Lewis Scott
Va

N.B. Coleman Cynthians Esq. 
Harrison Co.
Kentucky
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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 show 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.

A Statement shewing the Service of John Watkins, Garrison Co. Kentucky

[The following is in tabular/column form with the following headings]
[1] Period when the service was rendered
[2] Duration of the claimant's service. [a.]Years [b.] Months [c] Days.
[3] Rank of claimant.
[4] Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served.
[5] Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.
[6] Proof by which the declaration is approved.

1775  "  1  12  Priv  Col. C. Scott  Capt. C. Lewis  Lieut Marks  76 years Charlotteville Va    Traditionary
1776  "  1  12  [Priv]  Col. Brookings  Cap L. Jones
1776  "  1  12  [Priv] Col. I. Cabell  Cap. R. Cary
77  "  1  12  [Priv] Col. I. Cabell  Capt. R. Cary
Not recd "  "  28 [Priv]  Capt L. James
1780 "  3  "  [Priv] Gen Lawson or Gen Mulenburg  Maj B Jones Col A. Winston
1781 "  3  " [Priv] Gen Lafayette  Maj B Jones  Cap. Perkins  Col. Scott & Col. Lewis

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions.
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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, mucicians 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)
County of) ss.
On this  day of   personally appeared (a) before
A.B. a resident (b) of   in the county of   and State, Territory or District
of   aged (c)    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 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)  ,with and
served in the   (e) regiment of the line, under the following named officers:
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 entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged,
and the country through which he marched. >>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
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.   A. B.

(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              of the Court of
do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of
the application of         for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this
day of     & 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   and C. D. residing in (the same)
hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with     who has
subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be
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 days 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 that A.B.
who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the
and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the
and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I,    Clerk of the Court of    do hereby certify that the foregoing
contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of
for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal
of office, this    day of    & 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
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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 
attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be exexpected. 
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 and 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 now live?
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?
(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 the answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are
requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement 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 payments 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 by 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 conforming 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, the length of service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so
definite as to enable the Department to determine 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 he 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, 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 a 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 thereto 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 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 cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note (j) applies to continental troops only.
(k) This traditionary evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
(l) If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
(m) The answeres to  the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.


Joseph Rowen Esch
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State of Kentucky 
Henderson County: Sct.
On this 27th day of December 1832 before me Lewis Day an acting justice of the peace
and a member of the County Court of said County, which is a court of record, appeared John Watkins a resident of Harrison County aged upwards of seventy-six years, having been born in Buckingham County Virginia on the 7th day of June 1756, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the law of Congress passed June 7th 1832. He states that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as hereinafter stated. That whilst an apprentice in Charlottesville he volunteered in the Virginia Service for the United States in the first of the summer of 1775 for six weeks under Captain Charles Lewis & Lieutenant John Marks in Colonel
Charles Scott's Regiment, that he marched from Charlottesville through Richmond to
Williamsburg where he remained the balance of this tour: That afterwards as well as he
recollects, in the rotation in his company he served a tour of six weeks under Captain Landen Jones [Landon Jones], beginning in the latter part of the summer of 1776 in Colonel Brooking's [Vivian Brooking?] Regiment, that he marched from Buckingham County Virginia where he then resided through Richmond to Williamsburg, thence to Little York, thence to Hampton, thence to the day near the guard ships, where he remained the balance of the tour.
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that afterwards, in the latter end of 1776 or beginning of 1777, he served another term of six weeks, under Capt. Robert Carey in Colo. Joseph Cabell's regiment; that he marched from Buckingham Courthouse Va. to Charles City, New Kent & through the intermediate country to New Castle, Pamunkey & until the expiration of this tour.  That afterwards (time & years not recollected) he served a tour of four weeks, guarding the British prisoners & tories at Charlottesville under Capt. Lander Jones.  That afterwards, in the beginning of the year 17080, he served a tour of three months under Capt. Anthony Winslow in Colo. [blank] Regiment and Major Binns Jones in Gen'l Lawson's Brigade or Gen'l Mecklinburg - which not recollected - that he marched from Buckingham County Va. through Cumberland County to the Isle of Wight, & was stationed at Cabin point, thence to old James Town, through to Williamsburg, which finished this tour.  That in the Spring of 1781, he served a tour of three months under Capt. Perkins, as well as he recollects, in the regiment commanded by Colo: [blank] (not recol-lected) & Major Binns Jones under Gen.' Lafayette that he marched from Buckingham County Va. through most of the counties of Harrison, Caroline, Goochland, Spotsylvania & other counties Va which finished his tour.  That he knew and served with Gen'ls Lafayette, Lawson & Mecklinburg, Colo.s Charles Scott & Lewis, with many others whom he does not recollect that he rec'd several discharges, which have been long since lost or destroyed - that his age is recorded in
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his own family Bible, taken from that of his father, that he lived in Buckingham County Va. from the termination of the revolution up to 1818, when he moved to Harrison County Ky, where he now resides & has resided ever since.  He states that there is no person that he knows of living that he can prove his services by, except Robert Watkins, who served one of the three months tours with him, and known of his having served & going to serve the other tours above specified, who is now present testifying to the same.  He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present - that he verily believes that he served full eleven months in the service of Virginia for the United States, and finally declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of any state or territory whatever.
[Signature]
John Watkins

Sworn to & subscribed the day & year afor'd.
Lewis Day JPP

State of Kentucky Harrison County Sct - I Lewis Day a justice of the peace in & for Harrison County Ky do hereby certify that the above named application, John Watkins, Sr, is in my opinion, unable from bodily infirmity, to allow the court, being very old, decreped [sic], confined in bed with a cancer, infirm & living some distance from the Courthouse - Given under my hand this 27th day of December 1832
[Signature]
Lewis Day, JPHC

Mr. Robert Watkins and Samuel Chambers residing in the County of Harrison and State of Kentucky hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Watkins Sr. who has sub-
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scribed & sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be upwards of seventy five years of age; that he has been, still is reputed in the neighborhood where he resides, to be a man of veracity, and to have been a soldier of the revolution, & that we concur in that opinion.

[Signatures]
Robert. B. Watkins
Samuel Chambers

Sworn to & subscribed on this day & year afor'd.
Lewis Day JPHC

I Lewis Day an acting justice of the peace in and for the county of Harrison & State of Kentucky, before whom the foregoing declaration was made by the s'd applicant, in person, do hereby certify and declare it as my opinion, after the s'd investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the war department, that the above-named applicant, was a revolutionary soldier, & served as he states.  And I do further certify that the said Robert B. Watkins & Sam'l Chambers who have signed the above-certificate are residents of Harrison County, and are credible persons and that this statement is entitled to credit.

Lewis Day JPHC

Commonwealth of Kentucky, Harrison County ss

I Samuel Endicott, Clerk of the County Court of Harrison County, do certify that Lewis Day, whose name is subscribed to the fore-going proceedings and certificates, is now, and at the time of sub-scribing his name thereto, was an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the s'd County, duly appointed and Commissioned; and that full faith and credit, are due to all his official acts & deeds as seen; and that the signatures annexed are his genuin signatures.  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name & affixed by seal of office this 5th day of January A.D. 1833 and in the 41 years of the Commonwealth.
[Signature and Seal]
Samuel Endicott CHC

[Side writing]
23646
John Watkins
Declaration
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Rev. and 1812
War Section.
February 12, 1925.

Miss L. Cunningham,
Violet Bank,
Petersburg, Va.
Madam;

I have to advise you that from the papers in the
Revolutionary War pension claim, S. 31460, it appears
that John Watkins was born June 7, 1756 in Buckingham
County, Virginia.
He served as a private in the Virginia Troops as
follows --
In the summer of 1775, six weeks under Captain
Charles Lewis, Colonel Charles Scott's Regiment.
In the summer of 1776, six weeks under Captain
Lander Jones, Colonel Brooking's Regiment.
In the latter part of 1776 or first of 1777, six
weeks in Captain Robert Carey's Company, Colonel Joseph
Cabell's Regiment, and later, four weeks under Captain
Lander Jones.
In 1780, three months under Captain Anthony Winston
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and Major Binns Jones.
In the spring of 1781, three months under Captain
Perkins and Major Binns Jones.
He was allowed pension on his application executed
December 27, 1832, while a resident of Harrison County,
Kentucky.
It is not stated whether soldier was married.
Respectfully,
Acting Commissioner.
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Jan 28
Kentucky
[Postmark]
Cynthiana, KY

Ky
23646

Hon. Lewis Cass Scy War
Pensions Bureau
Washington, City
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Cynthiana Ky Jany 7th 1833

Sir

Inclosed [sic] you will receive - John Watkins declarations for a pension, under the late law.  Please give me as early an answer as you can and oblige your respectfully.

N.B. Coleman
Att. for John Watkins

Hon. Lewis Cass Scy War
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31460
Revy INVALID

File No. 31, 460
John Watkins
Pvt Rev. War

Act:  June 7th 32
Index: -- Vol. 2, Page 468
[Arrangement of 1870]

[Right panel]
April 7 1905 Hist. to M.A. Winter
Washington D.C.
1925 Feb. 12 - Hist. to L. Cunningham Esq.
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[Letterhead of The M.A. Winter Company, Washington, DC]

My dear Colonel:

Will you kindly see if John Watkins was a Revolutionary soldier from Virginia.  I am informed he drew a pension.

Thank you in advance for any trouble you may be put to on account of this request.  I beg to remain

Yours Truly
M.A. Winter
1317 R St. N.W.
[Received Stamp]
OLD WAR & NAVY
MAR 183 1905
FILES

[Unclear] a Rev. Soldier John Watkins was no doubt in War of 1812.
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January 19, 1945
Petersburg, Va.

Bureau of Pensions 
Rev. War Records Sec.
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen,

I am very anxious to secure the military history of John Watkins, listed as a pension from Virginia, but of Harrison, Kentucky; Edward Watkins, Powhatan Co. Va., and Joseph D. Watkins of Goochland
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County, Virginia.  Any further details or family data as to these three Revolutionary soldiers will be much appre-ciated by me.

Thanking you for your assistance.

Yours very truly,
(Miss) L. Cunningham

Violet Bank
Petersburg, Va.