Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8735, for Zachariah Rhodes, Maryland
Page 1

(3-1776)

SERVICE
Md. 

Rhodes, Zachariah 

NUMBER
R8735

CONTENTS
Page 2

30,350
Declaration
of Z. Rodes

[illegible]
JJ Arnold agent

[illegible] to J J Allen of [illegible]

name not to be found
upon any of the [remainder of note illegible]
Page 3

State of Virginia }
Jackson County } Ss

On this 19th day of November
in the year of our Lord Christ 1833 personally appeared
[illegible] Ephrain S Evans a Justice of the peace in and
for the said County of Jackson & State of Virginia
Zachariah Rhodes a respectable citizen of the County
& State aforesaid aged 77 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 Act of Congress 
of 7 June 1832 that he entered the service of the
United States under the following named officers
and served as herein stated that at the County
of Washington & State of Maryland on or 
about [illegible] days of April of the year 1777
Declarant states that he was drafted for
a tour of six months under Capt. Richard 
Davis of the Maryland millitia [militia] from Washington
County. Affiant has forgotten his [illegible]
Officers names Capt Davis company under [illegible]
at Ringolds Manner & state aforesaid & in 
obediance [obedience] to the orders of his said Capt
Davis declarant was marched from
Ringolds Manner aforesaid to Hagerstown
& State of Maryland aforesaid affiant was
marched from Hagerstown in the direction
of Brandywine [illegible] & State of Delaware 
Declarant has forgotten the names of
Page 4

places on his march from Hagerstown to Brandy
wine arrived in the neyghborhood [neighborhood] of Brandywine
about a month previous to the battle at that place
Declarant says he was stationed at a fort or 
garrison in the vicinity of the above named
place & that he remained there untill [until] the day
of the battle of Brandywine he now thinks 
Sept-77-he also states that he was
engaged in that memmorable [memorable] action
& he further states that previous to the
engagement that he became acquainted
with Col. Wm Washington & Major 
Williams & he further says that after the
battle he was marched about [illegible] miles from
Brandywine in the direction of Baltimore
affiant has forgotten the name of the place
from the above named place affiant
was marched to Ringolds Manor & State
of Maryland his tour of six months having
expired he was discharged by his said
Capt Richard Davis after having served
six months a private soldier in Capt
Richard Davis company of Maryland
millitia [militia] from Washington County & 
State of Maryland on or about [illegible] day
of October 1777 at Ringolds Mannor [Manor] aforesaid
again in the year 1778 on the day of April
Page 5

at Ringolds Manor & State aforesaid declarant
volunteered his service for a tour of six months
under Capt Richard Davis aforesaid [illegible]
officers names not recollected Declarant says
Capt Davis prevailed uppon [upon] him in consequence
of the distresed [distressed] situation of the country
and the want of men to volunteer his service
and further that he was marched from Ringolds
Manor aforesaid in the direction of Baltimore
to a certain place the name affiant has
forgotten where he states that he met with
Col or General Morgans command where he
became acquainted with Morgan & again 
saw Col Wm Washington Declarant states
that he was engaged during his 2d tour principally
with Morgans command he now thinks
Morgan was a general officer he recollects
that Marquis Layfayette [Lafayette] [word struck out ] retreated from a
British army shortly after he had
volunteered he also states that he was
marched in the direction of Monmouth
but he further states that Capt Davis
did not reach the field of action in 
time to participate in the action [illegible]
at Monmouth he now thinks June
of the year 78 declarant is very
infirm he cannot give his marches
with pricession [precisioin] he now thinks that
he followed the army of Washington to Hudson
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River he now thinks July 78 Capt Davis
company of volunteers remained a few
weeks and then retraced their steps
through a [illegible] country into the 
State of Maryland & he further states
that he was marched to [illegible] places in the
State of Maryland the names of which
Declarant has forgotten & he further says
that during his whole 2d tour he was
chiefly under marching orders
and that finally he was marched to 
Ringolds Manor & State of Maryland
his 2d tour having expired he was discharged 
by his said Capt Richard Davis after
having served six months as private
soldier from April of 78 untill [until] 
about October of 78.  Declarant
further states that at Ringolds Manor
& State of Maryland in the year
1781 he again volunteered his service
under his same Capt Richard Davis
for a 3d six months tour and was
marched on [illegible] day of June as well
as he can recollect from Ringolds
Manor to Hagerstown remained a [word struck out] days
thence to Harford Court house thence
Northeast to a place called
he now thinks Springfield where
he was engaged in a skirmish with
the enemy late in June or
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first of July he has forgotten which
Declarant says he was marched about
and through a very low & level
country till some time in July
he states the troop to which he was
attached then marched to the South
& entered Virginia crossing the
River Potomack [Potomac] above Georgetown passing
through [word struck out] Prince Williams & Staford 
Counties to a place called King
Georges Court house he now thinks
late in Sept of 1780 he also states
that great fears were entertained
in Virginia of an invasion by
Benedict Arnold and he was marched
to many different places in Virginia
the names of most of them he has
forgotten except that of Petersburg
he remembers of seeing a foreign officer
whose name he has forgotten but remem
bers that a report prevailed that said
officer was killed shortly afterward
in Carolina.  Affiant was engaged
in Virginia till some time in
December 80 when he was discharged
by Capt Richard Davis at Louison
Court house & State of Virginia
after having served [illegible] a
volunteer private soldier Declarant
was very sick on his way home
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and did not reach home till in January
of 1781. Affiant states that he has
given a faithfull [faithful] narrative of service
to the best of recollection he has no
documentary evidence to produce neither
does he know any person living that
he [word struck out] can prove his service [illegible] he is
two [too] old & infirm to attend at the Court
house of the said County of Jackson
from which he lives 8 miles he knew
in the service & became acquainted
with the following officers - Genl
or Col Daniel Morgan he [illegible]
the Marquis Lafayette [Lafayette] & Genl
Greene Col Wm Washington &
Major Williams he served
with Maryland Pa New Jersey
& Virginia troops declarant
does not recollect the number of 
any regiment whatever he has lost
his discharges many years ago 
[illegible] he says he did [illegible]
to preserve them he hereby relinquishes 
every claim whatever to a pension
or annuity except the present & he
declares that his name is not on the
Pension roll of the agency of any
State. Sworn to & subscribed the days
& year aforesaid Zachariah his X mark Rhodes
Page 9

To the [illegible] Interrogatories prescribed
by the War department & propounded
by the Justice of the peace, to 
the applicant he answereth as
follows-1st I was born in the year
1756 in the County of Washington
& State of Maryland on 13th
day of July as I allways [always]
heard & believed
2 I have no record of
my age
3 - I was living when I
& entered the service
in the County of Washington
and State of Maryland
I have lived since the
revolutionary war in
the State of Maryland
and [illegible] where
I know reside in Jackson County
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4 My first tour of six months I was
drafted my second tour I was
a volunteer of my own free
will & accord
5 I knew in the service
and became acquainted
with many officers I have
forgotten many officers
names I remember the names 
of Morgan Washington Lay
fayette [Lafayette] (also a foreign officer
I saw when in Virginia whose
name I have forgotten that was
killed in Carolina I [word struck out] do not
recollect the No of any regt whatever
I detailed all my services in my
Declaration to which I refer
6 My discharges I have lost
7 I am known to John Parsons & 
Isaac McKown citizens of Jackson
County & State of Virginia who can
testify as to my character &
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their belief of my having been a soldier
of the revolution
Sworn & subscribed the
day & year aforesaid  Zachariah his X mark Rhodes

We John Parsons and Isaac McKown residing in 
the County of Jackson and State of Virginia do hereby
certify that we are well acquainted with Zachariah Rhodes
who have subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration
that we believe him to be 77 years of age and that he
is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] where
he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and
that we concur in that opinion.
Subscribed and sworn
to the day and year aforesaid John his X mark Parsons
Isaac McKown

And I the said Justice of the peace do hereby 
declare my opinion after the investigation of the mat
ter 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
I the said Justice of the peace further certify that it appears
to me that John Parsons and Isaac McKown who have
signed the preceding certificate are credible persons
and that their statement is entitled to credit and I the
said Justice of the peace further certify that there is no
Clergyman residing in the neighbourhood [neighborhood] of the above named
applicant and that he from bodily infirmity is unable
to travel to the court house of the said County of Jackson
from which he lives 8 miles and I the said Justice
further certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of my self in the matter of the application of
Zachariah Rhodes for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal
this 19th day of November 1833  Ephraim S Evans [initials J.P. encircled]
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I Benjamin Wright Clerk of the County Court of Jackson
County in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that [struck out: the foregoing]
Ephraim S. Evans is and was an acting Justice of the Peace for said County at the
time of signing the preceding certificate and the signature annexed
is his genuine signature
[Blurred seal of office]  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set
my hand and seal of office this 17th day
of March 1834
Benjamin Wright
Page 13

Zachariah Rhodes
Virginia

Rejected

See Mr. Singleton's report
(Enclosed)

Let 16 March 1835 Co Clerk
8735
Page 14

[Following has been lined through]
Acts of July 14, 1862, and March 3, 1876.

8735
P.O. [Blank]
Zachariah Rhodes
Service: [Blank]

REJECTED

Enlisted: [Blank], 18 .
Discharged: [Blank], 18 .

Application filed: [Blank], 18 .

Alleges: [Blank] 

Re-enlisted: [Blank]

Attorney: [Blank]
P.O. [Blank]

[Blank] Recognized. [Blank] Contract.
[Blank] Cert. of Dis.  Searched for [Blank], 18 .
Page 15

Zachariah Rhodes - Suspended -

I the undersigned Zachariah Rhodes in [illegible] the 
requisition of the Secretary of War give the following [illegible] of 
my age and Revolutionary Service to wit: I am about eighty
one or two years of age, can't tell exactly-have no record of
my age.  I was drafted in Hagerstown Maryland for six
months under Capt Richard Davis, can't recollect the year
but it was sometime during the war of the Revolution-the 
company rendezvoused at Ringolds Manner [Manor]-whilst there 
Capt Davis was promoted to the office of Colonel.  I am not
certain who succeeded Capt. Davis, but think it was Capt 
Nathan Williams, there were two other companies with 
us.  Col. Davis commanded the which remained at Ringolds
Manner [Manor] the [illegible] then marched to Little York-was joined 
by many other soldiers at Little York & had a battle with 
the British army, there many killed, hundreds of lost parties-
can't recollect who commanded the American army-
remained at Little York until my [next words are illegible] had
nearly exposed. When peace was made & he was discharged.
This is all the service I done against the British.

After I was drafted as above stated, I can't tell how long,
I marched as a volunteer from Hagerstown to Fort Pitt. [illegible]
about 60 others-can't remember the name of our Captain.
Shortly after my arrival then I was taken back-discharged 
& returned home-can't say how long seems the [illegible] this latter 
trip.

James Arnold of Louis County wrote my Declaration.
I swore to it before Ephraim Evans at the House of [illegible]
[Signatures illegible]
Page 16

[Written vertically in left margin]
Jany 2. 1830

Zachariah Rhodes -
Applicant
Jackson Cty-

[illegible]
Reported
Page 17

[illegible] in Jackson Cty-I was then unable to go to the Court
House 6 miles distant-agreed to give Arnold one [illegible]
In witness of an which I have to subscribe my name. 
29th Decr. 2834
Witness  Zachariah his X mark Rhodes
J M Stew

Note-this old Gentleman's mind is almost entirely gone, such
was the state of his mind when he made his declaration -
I understand from the Clerk of County Court of Jackson-Rhodes
is wholly in capable of making a Declaration
W. G. Singleton
Jany. 2. 1830
Page 18

Z Rhodes
Page 19

Lower Hanhoway
Lewis County Va
June the 7th 1834

Dr Sir.

I received yours of the 24th of April sometime in. 
the past month the day I have forgotten in which
I find the Declaration of Zachariah Rhodes sent back 
for some explanation as his alleged services was not in
a company of Maryland Militia.  Great pains has been
taken to ascertain that mistake.  I live a distance
of about 70 miles from this affiant which has 
created great delays.  I seen the applicant and had
an interview with him upon the duasion [duration] in which
he says he can tell nothing further about his service
or to depose to any thing further than he has done in
his former Declaration but as to him serving with
militia he says he was very likely be mistaken as
he was only a private soldier and unacquainted with 
the terms of the several classes and as he has no Docu
mentary Record to advert to he says he may be mis
taken as to the time he entered the service for others
he thinks he is not mistaken at the time he was drafted 
and when he was discharged as he recollects that it was 
before planting of corn that he was drafted and was discharged
when the corn was hard in the field and some gathered 
and for his name not being found in the land
office he states he never was a land holder in that 
place and as to the pay rolls he says he never recd 
any pay and that was one great cause he remained 
so long in the service as he could not get his pay 
without staying longer and for that cause he [illegible]
volunteered for another term and he states that
Page 20

that he now thinks it most probably that he was
not drafted for more than 3 months as he recollects that
a great many of Capt. Davis Company went home some 
time in the summer and contended that they had served 
their tour but they went without their discharge he thinks 
as they would not give him his discharge at that time 
and he continued until the time he has mentioned as aforesaid 
altho [although] living at a great distance from the applicant I have [illegible]
considerable acquaintance with Mr. Rhodes and more especially  
with his neighbours [neighbors] who all think him deserving a pension 
as he is allways [always] known as one of the old Revolutionary 
soldiers and has been known to detail the these circum 
stances set forth in his Declaration long before he had 
any expectation of a pension. I am unacquainted 
with the business myself and what I do is mealy [merely]
through gratitude as attorneys ask high fees for doing 
business of this kind and also that they do not set 
forth the services as they are alleged to have been served
Mr Rhodes is very infirm and his mind appears to be 
quite frail with his body his is an expense to the County 
of Jackson was sold the last year at some thing upwards 
of $50.  He is unable to perform any labor his wife 
lives in the same county but she has to be separated  
as she is able to work and if he could get his pension 
it would be the means of enabling them to spend their 
few remaining days to gether they are both members of
the methodist society and he's been they say this 30 years 
He is [illegible] a very pious man. I think his claims ought 
not to be rejected [word struck out] He is not able if he could pay 
an attorney to go to the court house to have his business 
done in court.  I got the magistrate to go to the house 
where he was living at to qualify him I think he will 
not have many years in this world
JL Edwards } I have the honor to be your most obt. servant &c
Department of War }  J J Arnold agent for [illegible]
Pension Office }