Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 32463, for Robert Rayburn, Virginia
Page 1

(8-1776)
SERVICE
V[irgini]a.
Rayburn, Robert
NUMBER
S.32463
CONTENTS
Page 2

[Left hand fold]
Date of Death 


[Right hand fold] [Image Blurry]
Illinois 29.851
Robert Rayburn
of Sangamon Co[unty] in the State of Illinois
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Kincaid of the Reg[imen]t commanded
by Col[onel] Matthews in Viriginia mil[itia].
[time?] for 7 1/2 months
Inscribed in the Roll of Illinois
at the rate of 25 Dollars_______Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March,1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13th day of March
1835 and sent to Pensioner
Springfield, Ill[inoi]s.
[Increase?] to the 4th of March [18]'35 100.00
Semi-an[nual?] allowance ending 10 Sept[tember]. [18]'35.                               12.50
                                                               $112.50
{Revolutionary Claim.
{Act June 7, 1832          [Document Cut Off]
Recorded by D. Brown  Clerk
Book E 2        Vol. 8     Page 130
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30.800
Robert Rayburn
Illinois
f 178
Payment[?] $25.-

Applicant 
Springfield
Illinois.
Page 4

And the said Court do hereby declare their opin
ion after an investigation & after putting the inter-
rogations 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 Thomas Hargass who had signed the pre
ceding Certificate is a Clergyman Resident
in the County of Sangamon and that 
Stephen Stone, who has also signed the same
is a Resident of Sangamon County and is 
a Credible person and that their statement
is entitled to credit

County Commissions}
for Sangamon           }
County                       }

Josiah B. Smith [original signature]
Thomas Moffett [original signature]
Reuben Harrison [original signature]

I Charles R. Matheny Clerk of the Court
of County Commissioners for Sangamon County
do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the
Original proceedings of the said Court in the 
matters of the application of Robert Rayburn
for a pension.

In Testimony whereof I [illegible]
hereunto set my hand & seal
of Office this second day of Sep-
tember in the year One Thousand
eight hundred & thirty three
C.R. Matheny Clerk [original signature]
Page 5

Declaration of Robert Rayburn of Sangamon
County Illinois

On this 2nd day September in the year of our
Lord One Thousand eight hundred and Thirty 
Three personally appeared in open court before
the County Commissioners Court for the County
of Sangamon now sitting Robert Rayburn
a Resident of Sangamon County State of 
Illinois aged Seventy One years and ten months who
first being duly sworn according to the Law doth
on his oath make the following declaration
in order to obtain the benefit of the Act 
of Congress passes June 7th 1832

I was born on the 23rd of October in the year
One Thousand seven hundred and sixty one
in the County of Augusta State of Virginia
where I resided when I was called into 
the service_ I have no Record of my age but
have given the above account of it; from a 
knowledge and recollection of the Records 
kept by my father which I well remember

In the year 1783 I left Augusta County Virginia
where I had resided until that time and removed
to Kentucky and settled in the County of Lincoln
in that State. I resided in Lincoln County K[en]t[uck]y
until the year 1804- or 1805. I could not be certain
which, and removed into Cumberland County
in the same state, where I resided until the
year 1815 when I removed into Adair County K[en]t[uck]y
where I resided until the year 1831. At which
time I removed from the County of Adair K[entuck]y_
to the County of Sangamon State of Illinois
where I have ever stayed and still resided
[crossed out-illegible] On the 15 April in the year 1777 or 1778
[crossed out-illegible] I was enlisted by Draft as a Private
in a Company of Militia commanded by Captain
Page 6

William Kinkaid Lieutenant Robert Campbell
Ensign Samuel Steel - This Company was divided into three Divisions, and placed in garrison in three different Forts in the State of Virginia. I belonged to the Divisions of said Company that was com-manded by the Lieutenant and was stationed at Fort Nuller on the West Fork Manongahela where I remained on garrison duty except when sent out on scouting parties until the first of July next ensuing after my enlistment where I was discharged after being marched back to Augusta County having served two months and  one day. I received a Discharge from the Cap-tain at this time which I have lost- There were no Regular or Continental Officers with the troops to which I belonged. My Company was never attached to any Regiment. My discharge was signed by the Captain having served 2 1/2 months.  On the 11th of January in the year 1781 still residing in Augusta I again enlisted as a substitute in the room of one John Jasper [illegible] a private in a company of Militia commanded by John Givens Captain George Givens Lieut[enant]. Before the terms of this service had expire, this Company was divided into two companies. Capt[ain]. Charles Cameron was the Captain of the Company formed out of that of Capt[ain] Givens. After this Division of the Company I belonged to the Company com-manded by Capt[ain]. Cameron the Lieutenant and Ensign not remembered. The Regiment to which both of the Companies of Givens & Cameron belonged was Commanded by Col[onel], Sampson Matthews other officers of the Regiment not remembered---This Regiment was stationed at a place which we called Camp Carson about 24 miles West of Portsmouth. I remained in Camp nearly all the time watching the British Troops who were com-manded by Arnold then stationed at Portsmouth and [executing?] his depredation through Virginia
Page 7

Our Regiments and detachments from it frequent-ly had skirmishing with the British in two of which I was engaged. One on the 17th the other on the 19th of march 1781 near Portsmouth-Col[onel]. Mathews Regiment was not attached to any Brigade, nor was it commanded by any Regular or Continental Officer; Gen[era]ls LaFayette and Morgan
once visited us at our Camp. I remained in this service until the 18th of April 1781-when I was marched to Richmond and there discharged I received a discharge, which I have lost, signed by my Captain on the 15th of July 1781. I was drafted a third time as a Private either in Thomas Rankins, or ________ Dickey's company which I cannot remember and belonged to the Regiment commanded by Col[onel] William Boyers. I was drafted this time at Augusta. From this we were marched to Charlottesville the place of Rendesvous-I would not be positive that Charlottesville was the place of Rendesvous, but I think it was At the place of Rendesvous we were joined by General Wayne with his regulars who had the Command From  Charlottesville we marched and were sometimes in pursuit of and sometimes pursued by the enemy, until at length we came in contact with and fought the enemy at Jamestown, were we were defeated--Gen[eral] Wayne commanded at the this Battle The British were commanded by Cornwallis after the battle Cornwallis marched towards York Wayne I think joined shortly after the army of Gen[era]l Washington. A few days after this battle Boyers Regiment was discharged,-I received my discharge [about the middle-scratched out] on the 15th of September when  Boyers Regiment was discharged-[I had-scratched out]
Page 8

I was with Wayne ever since he took his command of Bayers Regiment and stayed till the regiment was discharged - I was in the battle of Jamestown - I have lost my discharge.

I have no documentary evidence of my service, nor do I know of any person whose evidence I can procure - who can testify to my service. I do hereby relinquish every claim whatsoever to any pension or annuity except the present and declare that my name is not on the roll of the agency of any state - Thomas Hargass a clergyman and Stephen Stone are well acquainted with me and can testify to my character for truth and veracity and their belief of my services as a soldier of the revolution.

Sworn and subscribed to the day & year above written.

Robert Rayburn [signature]

We Thomas Hargass Clergyman and Stephen Stone both residing in the county of Sangamon hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Robert Rayburn who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration. That we believe him to be seventy-one years and ten months old. That he is a man of veracity and that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion.  

Tho[ma]s Hargass [signature]

Sworn and subscribed to the day & year aforesaid.

Stephen Stone [signature]
Page 9

April 24, 1935
xxxxxxxx
Robert Rayburn-S.32463
BA-J/AWF
The Quartermaster General
Memorial Branch
War Department
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your request for the Revolutionary War record of Robert Rayburn, who died August 16, 1836 in Illinois.

The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S.32463, based upon the service of Robert Rayburn during the War of the Revolution.

Robert Rayburn was born October 23, 1761 in Augusta County, Virginia, names of his parents not given.

While residing in Augusta County, he enlisted and served as a private in the Virginia troops, as follows:
From in April 15, 1777 or 1778, two and one half months in Captain William Kincaid's company, was stationed at Fort Nutter and out in several scouting parties; from January 10, 1781 in Captains John Given's and Cameron's companies, Colonel Sampson Matthews' regiment, was in two skirmishes near Portsmouth, and was discharged April 18, 1781; from in July, 1781 in Captain Thomas Rankin or Dickey's company, Colonel William Boyer's regiment, was in the battle of Jamestown, was discharged in September, 1781.

Robert Rayburn moved from Augusta County, Virginia in 1783 to Lincoln County, Kentucky in 1804 or
Page 10

1806 moved to Cumberland County Kentucky in 1815 to Adair County Kentucky and in 1831 to Sangamon County, Illinois.

The soldier, Robert Rayburn, was allowed pension on his application executed September 2, 1833, then residing in Sangamon County Illinois.

There are no data in the claim relative to the family of Robert Rayburn.

The application for headstone for Robert Rayburn is returned herewith; there was no correspondence enclosed.

Very truly yours

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

32463
Revy INVALID

FIle No 32463
Robert Rayburn
Pri[vate] Rev[olutionary] War

Act June 7th [18]'32

Index Vol 2 Page 338
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1907 June 6 - Hist[ory] to Nola R Rayburn
1908 Aug 9 - Hist[ory] to Cora Brittin
1923 Oct 4 - Hist[[ory] to Cora B McMahon
1925 Aug 5 - Hist[ory] to John Gehlmann
1930 Aug 27 - Hist[ory] to C.H. Wright
1930 Dec 19 - Photostatic copies to C.H. Wright
1935 Apr 24 - Hist[ory] to Memorial Branch
Page 12

FREE
Pension Papers
MAIL STAMP - Illegible

The Honorable the Secretary of War
Washington City

Nov 5
Rob Rayburn
Ill's
Page 13

Springfield Ill. Oct 23, 1834

I herewith enclose the amended papers in my case of claims for pension.
The errors have been corrected and an additional seal put to them.

R Rayburn

An immediate return is earnestly requested.
Page 14

105 No Elizabeth St Peoria, Ill
August 17th 1923

Pension Office
Wahington D.C.

Will you kindly send me revolutionary record of Robert Rayburn born in Augusta Co Va Oct 23, 1761, and who entered service in 1781 (Jan)

A descendant of this man wishes to join Sons of American Revolution. Thanking you in advance for this service.

Sincerely Cora B McMahon, Registrar Peoria Chapter D.A.R.
Page 15

Will you kindly tell me of the revolutionary record of Col John Gill Humphrey who was born near Wheeling West Virginia. This for a descendant who is granddaughter of Col Humphrey and wishes to join Peoria Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

Cora B McMahon
Registrar Peoria Chapter
Page 16

STAMP - Revolutionary War Section

Aug 21, 1923
Page 17

Middletown, Del
5-28-1907

Com of Pensions
Washington D C

Will you kindly give me information concerning enlistment etc. of Robt Rayburn in Revolutionary war? I am anxious for these dates so I can join D.A.R. and was referred to your office for same. Think the four following are all that are necessary namely
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Date of Birth
Date of Death
When enlisted and in what capacity did he serve.

Thanking you for same

I am 
Respt
Nola C Rayburn
P.M.
Page 19

O W & N Div Stamp June 1907

US Pension office stamp - May 31, 1907
Page 20

Superior Neb July 29 1908
Dept Interior
Bureau of Pensions
Wash DC

Will you kindly send me a statement of the military record of Robert Rayburn who enlisted from Augusta Co Va in 1780 and oblige.

Mrs. Cora Brittin
Superior Nebr

US Pension Office Stamp Aug 3, 1908
Page 21

164 Forest Avenue
Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Bureau of Pension Dec 20/30
Rev & 1812 Wars Sect
Gentlemen,

Dec 11 I mailed to you an order for photostatic copies of papers in claim of Robert Rayburn S32x63 & enclosed PO order $1.05. Have you rec'd this letter where are the photos.

Yours Truly

C H Wright
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Request for Rev record of Robert Rayborn dec'd August 16 - 1836 in Middletown, Illinois. Application for headstone returned - see correct

April 24 '35
Rev & 1812
Page 23

War Department
Office of the Quartermaster General
Washington

4-16-1935

Memorandum for

The Surgeon General
Bureau of Navigation Navy Department
Commandant, United States Coast Guard, Treasury Department, The Commissioner of Pensions, Interior Building, General Accounting Office, F Street between 4th & 5th N.W.

1. The attached application has been submitted to this office for Government headstone to be erected at the grave of the descendant named thereon. In order that the proper inscription may be placed on the stone it would be appreciated if your office would verify the name and service on the application, checking and making such corrections in red ink as may be necessary to show the correct spelling of the name and complete designation of the organizations.

2. In addition, please advise State from which descendent came.
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Bureau of Pension Stamp Aug 13 1930

August 16th, 1930

Bureau of Pensions
Rev war Section

Gentlemen:

Please send me a list of names of all revolutionary war pensioners under the name of Rayburn variously spelt, Reburn, Rabon, Raiborn, Raburn, Rabourne, etc.

If there is any charge for this, I will remit upon presentation.

Yours Truly
C H Wight
Page 25

M.O.#66339 - $1.05
164 Forest Avenue
Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Dec 11 / 30
Commissioner of Pensions
Rev & 1812 War sect
Dear Sir
In answer to yours of the 8th I enclose money order for $1.05 in payment of Phostatic[Photostatic] copies of papers re Rev War claim of Robt Rayburn S 32463. Please send me the 7 pages at your early convenience 
Yours Truly,
C H Wight
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Old War & Navy Section Revolutionary Pensions Stamp - Dec 12, 1930
Page 27

December 12, 1930
541

Bureau of Pensions
Rev & 1812 Wars Section

Rev War claim for pension of Robert
Rayburn, File No S.32463

Actual 1 of each page

C.H. Wight
164 Forest Avenue
Glen Ridge, New Jersey

$1.05.....7 pages

Kindly leave margin of 1-1/2 in at top of each page and return papers in each case in folder with corresponding name and number.

The word "omit" written in pencil on those pages which are not to be copied.

Chief, Rev & 1812 Wars Section
Page 28

Rev & 1812 Wars Section
MMHF

December 8, 1930

Mr. C.H. Wight
164 Forest Avenue
Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Dear Sir:

You are advised that photostatic copies of papers on file in Revolutionary War claim of Robert Rayburn, S.32463, will be furnished you at the rate of fifteen cents a page.

The number of pages to be copied is seven.

Should you desire to have them certified allow twenty-five cents additional for the set.

The proper amount should be forwarded to this bureau by money order drawn to the order of the Commissioner of Pensions.

Very truly yours,

E W Morgan
Acting Commissioner
Page 29

Letterhead
164 Forest Avenue
Glen Ridge, New Jersey

November 25, 1930

Bureau of Pensions
Rev & 1812 Section
[illegible]

Dear Sirs:

I wish complete copies of the papers in the pension claim of Robert Rayburn S.32463. Please inform me s to your charge for this and I will promptly send payment.

Yours very truly,

C H Wright

Received Stamp - Dec 1, 1930
Page 30

164 Forest Avenue
Glen Ridge, New Jersey

September 10, 1930

Bureau of Pensions
Rev & 1812 War Section
AWF:MLC

Dear Sirs:

Yours of August 27th duly received. I thank you for your attention.

I wish complete copies of the papers in the pension claim of Robert Rayburn S.32463. Please inform me as to your charge for this and I will promptly send payment.

Yours truly,

C H Wight

Law Division Received Stamp - Sep 12, 1930

US Pension Office Stamp - Sep 12, 1930

Rev & 1812 Old Records Div Stamp - Sep 11, 1930
Page 31

Soldier’s declaration dated Sept 2, 1833 & which ends with court affidavits, signed C R Matheny Clerk dated Sept 2, 1833. 5 pages -
Letter of the soldier dated at Springfield, Ill. Oct 23, 1834
1 page -
Certificate jacket - 1 page
Page 32

August 27, 1930

Rev & 1812 Wars Section
AWF:MLB

Mr. C.H. Wight
164 Forest Avenue
Glen Ridge, New Jersey

Dear Sir:

You are advised that there are only two soldiers with the surname Rayburn (all similar spellings searched) found on the revolutionary war records of this bureau, viz: - George Rayburn, S.38324 and Robert Rayburn S.32463.

You were furnished photostatic copies of the papers in the pension claim of George Rayburn, S.38324, on June 23, 1921, October 21, 1921, and December 29, 1928.

You are furnished herewith the history of Robert Rayburn S.32463.

It appears that Robert Rayburn was born October 23, 1761, in Augusta County Virginia.

While residing in Augusta County, Virginia, he enlisted and served as a private in the Virginia troops as follows:

From April 15, 1777, or 1778, two and one-half months in Captain William Kincaid's Company; from January 10, 1781, until discharged April 18, 1781, under Captains John Givens and Charles Cameron, in Colonel Sampson Matthews' regiment. He again enlisted and served in Captain Thomas Rankin or Dickey's Company, in Colonel William Boyer's regiment and was in the battle of Jamestown, length of service not stated.

He was allowed pension on his application executed September 2, 1833, while a resident of Sangamon County, Illinois.
Page 33

There are no data as to his family.

Very truly yours

E W Morgan
Acting Commissioner
Page 34

Rev War Section

October 4, 1933

Cora B McMahon
105 N. Elizabeth St
Peoria, Ill

Madam.

I have to advise you that from the papers in the revolutionary war pension claim S.32463 it appears that Robert Rayburn was born October 23, 1761 in Augusta County, Virginia and while residing in Augusta Co Va he enlisted in the service of the Va troops as follows: From April 15, 1777 or 1778 and served as a private two one-half months in Captain William Kincaid's company.

He enlisted January 10, 1781, and served under Captains John Givens and Charles Camerson companies in Colonel Sampson Matthews' regiment of Virginia troops until discharged April 18, 1781.

He again enlisted and served in Captain Thomas Rankin or Dickey's company in Colonel William Boyer's regiment and was in the battle of Jamestown, length of service not stated.

He was allowed pension on the application executed September 8, 1833, while a resident of Sangamon County Illinois. There are no data on file as to his family.
Page 35

This Bureau is unable to furnish the history of a soldier of the revolutionary war unless a claim for pension or bounty land has been made on account of his services and a careful search of the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of any Colonel John Gill Humphrey.

Respectfully,

Commissioner
Page 36

The Intermountain Institute
Weiser, Idaho
John Gehlmann, Principal
June 11, 1925
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
I am told that it is possible to locate Revolutionary War records thru your office. Family tradition tells that our great-great-grandfather Robert Rayburn fought in the Revolution. We desire greatly to verify this tradition and shall be very grateful for any help. We do not know what colony he enlisted in, tho it was probably Virginia.
Yours Truly,
John Gehlmann.
[Stamp: U.S. Pension Office A Jun 15 1925]