Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 38262, for James Nickens, Virginia
Page 1

(3-1776)
Service                                 Number
Va.         Nickens, James       S.38262
             or Nickins.
CONTENTS
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[first column]
Let to W. G. Setle Nov 24 1836
Jas W. Campbel Jany 7 1856
faded sideways handwriting
[second column]
12,533
Virginia
James NIckens
of Falmo in the state of Virginia who was a private in the 1st artillery regiment commanded by Colonel Harrison of the Virginia line, for the term of three years War.

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 27th of Apl 1818 -
Certificate of Pension issued the 23 of July 181? and sent to Fontain Harvey Dept of State
Arears to 4th May 1819  82.09
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819 48.0
130.09
[Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818,}
illegible 10 mos. 80.00
illegible  4/31       2.09
82.09
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Declaration
James Nickens
Falmouth Stafford
County Virginia

The line in which the applicants served should be [illegible] stated.
the date of[ illegible the service must be given
Page 4



I James Nickens a Free Man of Color aged about Fifty Five Years do certify and declare that about the Commencement of the Revolutionary War I enlisted in the Naval Service of the United States for the
Term of Three years and served the said Term in succession on Board the Ships, Tempest, Revenge and Hero, then in the Service of the said States as I understood; the Two latter were Commanded by Captains Muter  and Westcott but I have forgotten the name of the
Captain of the Tempest that after having Served the Term of Three years and Received a discharge which I have lost, I enlisted in the Land Service for the War at Lancaster Court House in Virginia and was marched from thence by a Captain Nicholas Correll to Join the Division of the Army under the Command of the Baron Steuben then stationed as well as I recollect at Cumberland Court House where
I was placed under the Command of Captain Drury Ragsdale subsequently thereto I was detached from the Command of the Baron Steuben to Join the Army of General Greene in South Carolina and accompanied Captains Ragsdale and Flemming Gains of Colonel Harrison's Regiment of Artillery to that State and was present at the Battle of the Eutaw Springs than I continued with the
Southern Army until the close of the War and Returned from thence after Peace was Proclaimed with the said Captain D. Ragsdale to Virginia where I have since Resided having served as well as I can Recollect with the Army Between two and three years. I am illiterate and cannot Recollect dates but well Recollect the Leading Circumstances attending the Service I was Engaged in I never Rely upon
being able to produce Respectable and Satisfactory Evidence of having served my Country faithfully, from my advanced age, Infirmities and Reduced Circumstances I Require the assistance of my Country
for Support. Given under my hand at Falmouth in Virginia this 27 April 1818.
 James Nickens
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[handwritten]
[all text lined out except the signature]

Virginia to wit
I William A G Dade a Judge of the General Court do certify that the within James Nickens came before me on the 27 April 1818 and made oath to the Truth of the above declaration
Sworn under my hand & seal the day and year above -
Wm. A. G. Dade
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[handwritten]

Virginia To wit
I William A G Dade a Judge of the General Court of Virginia & Judge of the Third Judicial Circuit do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that James Nickens within subscribed did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the Common Enemy - and that the is in such reduced circumstances as to show the need of the provisions of the late Act of Congress for the "relief of [?] persons engaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" for his support - And I transmit the [?] & proceedings before me in said case, to the Secretary for the department of War pursuant to the directions of the said Act of Congress -
Under my hand & seal this 29 April 1818
Wm. A. G Dade

Virginia Stafford County, to wit:
I John Moncure Conway clerk of the superior court of Law for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that William A. G. Dade Esquire whose name is subscribed to the foregoing attestation, was at the time of subscribing the same and now is one of the Judges of the General Court of Virginia acting & presiding in the third Judicial Circuit, which comprehends the County of Stafford
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed a scroll, (there being no seal of office this 15th October 1818 & in the 43rd year of the Commonwealth
J M Conway
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[handwritten]

James Nickens
Nickins Jms. [lined out]
Decl: & Schedule} copy
12.553
Con
Sept. 1819
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Virginia, Stafford County, to wit:
On this 16th day of August 1820, in open Court, being a Court of Record, made so by Law, personally appeared James Nickens aged about sixty two years, resident in said County, who being first duly sworn according to Law, on his oath declares that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows: that he enlisted for the war under Captain Nicholas Currell at Lancaster Court House in the State of
Virginia but he cannot recollect the date, that he was marched from Lancaster Court house in the state of Virginia by the said Currell to the headquarters of the Baron Steuben, then at Cumberland Court house, as well as he now recollects, where he remained some time when he was placed under the command of Drury Ragsdale & Flemming Gains, commanding to the best of his recollection a company belonging to Colonel Harrison's Regiment of Artillery, with which Company he was marched, from the headquarters of the Baron Steuben to join the Southern Army under General Greene on the march Drury Ragsdale was taken sick and had to remain on the road. Flemming Gains continued to march with the men & joined the Army of General Greene previous to the battle of the Eutaw Springs,
at which battle, he the said James Nickens was stationed in the rear in charge of baggage belonging to he said Flemming Gaines & John T. Brookes, officers he thinks in Harrison's Regiment of Artillery – soon after the battle of the Eutaw Springs Drury Ragsdale resumed his command with whom, he the 
said Nickens continued until the close of the war – when he returned with
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with him to Virginia, and that
the number of his pension certificate, which commenced the 27th day of April 1818, being the date of his original declaration per Certificate of the Secretary at war War, granted the 23rd day of July 1819 is 12,553 --And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of An Act of Congress entitled “An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War, passed on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the Schedule hereto annexed and by me Subscribed—Viz: 1 Horse, bought with proceeds of pension heretofore received—2 sheep, 1 Chair & old Table exclusive of bedding & wearing cloathes) the whole valued by the Court at $23. His occupation is a farmer, that he lives alone, and in the general, enjoys good health.
 James Nickens, X his mark
Sworn to &declared in open Court, the day & year first written
Stafford Co
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[handwritten]

Virginia, Stafford County, to wit:
I John M. Conway clerk of the County Court aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court - and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is seventy-three dollars
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court on this 18th day of August 1820.
J M Conway clk of the Court for the County of Stafford

State of Virginia, Stafford County, to wit:
I John Moncure presiding Judge of the Court of Stafford County in the state aforesaid, do hereby certify that the attestation hereto annexed, made by John M Conway clerk of the said Court is in due form & by the proper officer appointed by the laws of the said state for that purpose & that full faith & credit is due thereto in every Court or office in the United States - Given under my hand at the County of Stafford in the state of Virginia aforesaid, this 18th day of August 1820 & of the Independence of the United States the forty-fifth
John Moncure
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[handwritten]

Manassas Gap
Free
Nov 15}
Nov 21
Jas Nickens
Va
J. L. Edwards Esqr
Com. of Pensions
Washington /City
(D C)
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[handwritten]

Manassas Gap Warren County Va
Nov. 14 1836
Sir
At the insistence of the Heirs of James Nickens who was a seaman of the Virginia State navy, in the Revoy. War, and who died in the year 1818, I am presenting a claim for bounty land, due for the services of said James Nickens - the records at Richmond, report the name of James Nickens entitled to Bounty Land - The Records further show that James Nickengs [underlined] a soldier [?] bounty land - although the two names are not exactly the same, it is contended that Nickengs [underlined] was intended for Nickens, this is reasonable, unless it can be shown that there were persons of both names entitled to bounty land -
I am informed that there is a man now residing in Stafford County, Virginia, who is in the Receipt of a Pension for Revolutionary Services, and think it probable that he may be the man who drew bounty land in the name of James Nickengs, - my object is to assertain [sic] what discretion [underlined] of services Jas Nickens or Nickengs performed to entitle him to a pension, can you favor me with a short extract from his declaration, stating how long her served, and whether land or naval service.
Very Respectfully
your obt servt
Wilford G. Settle
Col. J. L. Edwards
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[handwritten]

Frederick being May 20th 1819 I do hereby ^[insert] certify that the first Regiment of Artillery upon continental Establishment during the Revolutionary War belonged to the Virginia line,
John T Brooks
N B this fact would certainly be ascertained by the War Department
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I do hereby certify that John T. Brooks whose name appears on the paper was a Lieutenant a Regt of artillery commanded by Col C. Harrison on Continental Establishment and that he served to end of the War.

Fontaine Maury
a Clerk in Department of State
July 23, 1819
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[begin stamp]
WINCHESTER Va.
DEC 17
FREE
[end stamp]

James Nickens
Cole Va. 18th 1818

Minot Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington City
DC
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38262
INVALID.
Revy [illegible]

File No. 38.262
James Nickens
Pri Rev War

Act: 18 March 18
Index: -- Vol. 2, Page [?]12

{Arrangement of 1870}
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Winchester Virginia Dec 14 1853

J. Minot
[illegible]

Commissioner of Pensions
James Nickins a coloured individual served under Col Gaskins in _____ Virginia Regt in the Revolutionary War.


Will you do this favor to say in what capacity he served how long to what [illegible] of [illegible] he was enlisted, to whose order it was drawn and where

Very Respectfully
John W Campbell

J Minot Esq
Commissioner of Pensions
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Virginia Court
This day Charles West came before me and made oath that he knows when James Nickens[ illegible] on board the Sally "Norfolk Revenge" and he [illegible served] on board that ship with  [illegible] Two years and three months Given  under my hand & seal this 27 Apl 1818
Wm. A. G. Dade JP
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Taken before me in support of James Nicken's declaration
Wm. A. G. Dade
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April 14th 1813

I do hereby testify that James Nickens a man of colour was a soldier in the first Regiment of artillery upon continental [illegible] and was commanded by Col Charles Harrison and that he served until the end of the war. 

John T Brooke

Stafford County
Oct 13 1818
this day J T Brooke made oath before me Justice of the Peace for the County afore
to the above certificate

John G. Hedjinian
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Exhibit by James Nickens in support of his declaration before me 

Wm A G Dade
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Stafford County [illegible]

Thomas Seddon this day personally appeared before me one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the Peace in ad for the County afore[illegible] and made oath that he is acquainted with James Nickens who intends applying for a pension under the law Act of Congress for the relief of Certain Persons engaged in the [illegible] and Naval Service of the United States in the Revolutionary War. That the said Nickens is in indigent circumstances and depends upon his bodily labour for support  Given under my hand & seal this 23rd September 1818
Harvay Forbes
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Exhibition before me in support of James Nickens 
Declaration ---
Wm A G Dade