Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 7,352, for Joseph Ranger, Virginia
Page 1

(8-1776)
SERVICE | NUMBER
Va. Sea Service | Ranger Joseph | S.7.352 [handwritten]
----------------- -----------------  --------
----------------- -----------------  --------
carded [handwritten]
CONTENTS
Page 2

Virginia 12.605
___________________________________________________________
Joseph Ranger
Elizabeth City in the State of Virginia
who was a seaman in the ship Hero Galy
Captain Thomas of
- - in the * Va
[illegible] for 2 years

* 
Sea Service
Records corrected July 5, 1904

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginiaat the rate of 96 Dollars per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831

Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of May 33 and sent to A. W. Jones Hampton Va

Arrears to the 4th of March 33 - 192.00
Sem-anl. allowance ending 4th Sept 46.00
238.00

{Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7 1832}

Recorded by Rush Neuman Clerk,
Book E - Vol. 6 - Page 24
Page 3

No 24074
Joseph Ranger
Elizabeth City Co
Virginia

Admt as seaman
Va State navy 2 yr.
$96.00

A. W. Jones
Hampton
Elizabeth City Co
Virginia
Page 4

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. These 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. showing the Service of Joseph Ranger Eighteenth City Court

[Denotes Table Categories: ||]
[Table Answers will follow Categories]

|Period when the service was rendered.|
Period of time of service not [illegible]

|Duration of the claimant's service| Years, Months, Days|
Service stated about 4

|Rank of the claimant|
Private
Seaman

|Name and rack of the Field officers under whom he served|
Captn Thomas Gally Officers:
Captn Callender
Captn Travis-
Com Barron

|Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service.|
72 Years
Northumberland
Co. Virginia

|Proof by Which the declaration is supported|
documentary evidence by B. Harrison for 3 years Naval service of applicant-

I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J.L. Edwards,
Commissioner of Pensions.
Page 5

2
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 an 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 of 
County of  } ss.
On this  [blank] day of [ blank] personally appeared (a) before [blank]
A.B. a resident (b) of [ blank] in the county of [blank] and State, Territory or District of [blank] aged (c) [blank} 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) [blank], with [blank] and served in the [blank] (e) regiment of the [blank] line, under the following named officers: [ blank]
[Here set forth the names an drank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one an one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;" the town or country 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. [pointing finger symbol] 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 [blank]
Sworn to and subscribed the day and y ear aforesaid. [blank] 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 [blank] of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this [blank] day of [blank] &c.
If, on examination of the proper record, the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will product 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 [blank] and C.D. residing in (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with [blank] , who has subscribed and sworn to the above declarations that we believe him to be [blank] 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 subscried 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. and that C.D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the [blank] and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, [blank] Clerk of the Court of [blank] do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of [blank] for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this [blank] day of [blank] &c.
Every applicant will product 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 a 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
Page 6

3
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 be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be ex-expected. 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 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 for 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 [handwritten 3]
[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 his service, and the grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the Department  to determine to 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, he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades: - For ----- year --- months, and ----- days, I served as a ---- . For ----- months and --- days, I served as a ----; and for such services I claim a pension."
It is important, in all cases do 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 that 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 affidavit the time of the 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.
[pointing finger symbol] The notes from [a] to [j] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to the 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 answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
Page 7

At a Court of Monthly Session held for the County of Elizabeth City the 25th day of October 1832
State of Virginia Elizabeth City County
This 25th day of October in the year 1832 before the County Court of Elizabeth City now sitting personally appeared Joseph Ranger a man of colour a resident of St. John's Parrish in the County aforesaid and State aforesaid aged about 72 years who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of a provision made by the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he the said Ranger entered the service of the State of Virginia in the Revolutionary war to wit as a private or seaman in the navy of said State, that he said Ranger resided at the time of his entering said service in the County of Northumberland in the State aforesaid, that he said Ranger entered the service early in the war of the Revolution, the [illegible]
time he cannot recollect, though he thinks in [illegible] early part of the year in which Independence [illegible] declared that he said Ranger entered first on boar[illegible] the Hero Gallery commanded by Capt. John Thomas on board of which he continued but a short time, too the best of his recollection about three months, when the said Ranger was transfered to the ship Dragon of the Virginia navy aforesaid an armed vessel of the same, that he said Ranger continued on board said ship about four years, that said ship was commanded while said ranger was on board first by Capt. Eliazer Callender and then by Capt. Edward Travis of Williamsburg, that Thomas Chandler was Lieutenant of said ship - that Edward Eskridge w[illegible] a midshipman of the same - That he recollec[illegible] also William Booth, who was a [pilot], that a Josep[illegible] or Josiah Saunders was also a lieutenant of the same
Page 8

That said Ranger was transferred from said ship Dragon to the Brig Jefferson of fifteen guns - The Dragon having been converted into a fire ship - That Lt. Chandler was also turned over from the Dragon to the command of the Jefferson, that the said Ranger served on board of said Brig Jefferson about 12 months, when she was blown up by the enemy at a place called Osborne's on James River, that the said Ranger was lastly turned over to the Boat Patriot about 5 or 6 months before the siege of York - That in an engagement near Newport News on James River the crew of the Patriot was taken prisoner and confined until after the siege of York, when he said Ranger with other prisoners was discharged. That he knows of James Burk and Com. James Barron and perhaps Thomas & William Jennings who can give evidence of his service. He hereby relinquishes [illegible] claim whatever to an annuity or pension ex[illegible] the present, and declares that his name is not [illegible] the pension roll of any agency of any state - [S]worn to and subscribed this 27th day of Septr. 1832
Joseph Ranger his mark
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Seaman and served as he states
a copy teste
B. M. Calvert Dpty. for W. S. Armistead clk.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of March 1833
W. S. Armistead clk
Page 9

Invalid
No 7352  Navy
Joseph Ranger
Seaman
* Rev War

Act: Jan. 7, 1832
Index: Vol. 5, Page 24

{Arrangement of 1870.}

* Sea Service  July 5, 1904
Records corrected
Page 10

Hampton March 13" 1833

Sir,
Inclosed is the Declaration of Joseph Ranger who served during the war of the Revolution in the Virginia Navy, which with the accompanying certificate from the Register of our Land Office establishes his right to a pension under the late act of Congress. The applicant is very indigent, and you would confer an obligation on him by apprizing me as soon as you conveniently can of the deposit of the amount due to him in the Branch Bank of the United States at Richmond.
Very Respectfully
Alex. W. Jones

Hon Secretary of War
Page 11

Certificate for Land bounty

For Alexr Jones Esq

Cl
75
Page 12

" Council Chamber June 4 1783
I do certify that Joseph Ranger is entitled to the proportion of Land allowed a Sailor in the State Navy for 3 years service
Th Meriwether
Benj Harrison "

Under the foregoing a [illegible] warrant for one for one hundred acres issued to the said Ranger on 4 June 1783
Teste my hand & seal of office
W  S[?]nas off Virga
L. off Virg
13 [decr] 1832