Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 3494, William Wells, Virginia
Page 1

[Heading] SERVICE
Virginia

Wells, William

[Heading] NUMBER
S 3494.

Carded
Page 2

[Heading]
13,874
West Tennessee


William Wells
of Giles Co in the State of Tennessee
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Ruffin of the regt commanded
by ------ in the Virg'a
line for 3 yrs from 1777


Continental Service Records corrected


Inscribed on the Roll of W Tennessee Feby 29 34 [?]
at the rate of 80 Dollars --- Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.

Certificate of Pension issued the 3 day of July
1833 --- and Sent to Hon
J. K. Polk, Columbia


Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $160.--
Semi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sep " 40--
$200--

[in brackets] Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by Wm Allison Clerk,
Book E Vol 7 Page 101
Page 3

No 15 523 [?]

William Wells
Giles County
Tennessee

from 1777 [illegible]
3 yrs. $80.
on Roll

[handwritten in pencil?] 16

German Lester [illegible]
Clerk Court Giles County
Tenn
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BRIEF in the case of William Wells
County of Giles in the State of Tennessee
(Act 7th June, 1832.)

1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge?  Justice of the Peace
2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  Yes. disabled by bodily infirmity
3. How old is he?  78 years
4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed.

[Column headings: Period. Duration of Service: Years, Months, Days. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.]

Enlisted In 17. 3 -- --. As a private in the reg [illegible] service. Genl Muhlenburg. Capt Ruffin

5. In what battles was he engaged? at Brandywine & at Germantown
6. Where di he reside when he entered the service? Prince George Virginia
7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? 
 traditionary evidence
8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect?  Not properly attached

Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.

J W Clagett Examining Clerk
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[handwritten page number in upper right] 1

State of Tennessee
Giles County

Before William B. Pepper Esq.

On this 6th day of October in A. D. 1832 personally appeared before the said William B. Pepper Esq. a justice of the peace for said county William Wells a resident of said County & State aged seventy eight years since December last, who is unable to appear in Court by reason of his bodily infirmities, & 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, passed June 7th 1832.

That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers & served as herein states --- When he entered the United States service he resided in the County of Prince George in the State of Virginia. He listed in the regular service for the term of three years. He went into said service under the command of Capt. Thomas Ruffin & Lieutenant [illegible], in General Muhlenburg’s Brigade. The troops to which applicant was attached [illegible] at Williamsburgh in the said state of Virginia. He thinks they [illegible] from there to the White Plains [?] the state of New York, but of this applicant is not positive he being very old& his memory [illegible]. He thinks the head quarters of his [illegible] troops, [illegible] some time at White Plains. He was marched extensively through the state
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[handwritten page number in upper right] 2

of New York, from thence they marched into the State of Delaware and to Brandywine [illegible], and he was at the celebrated battle fought on the plains of Brandywine, [illegible] spoken of in the history of the Revolutionary War. He was actively engaged during this whole action. Then he was [illegible] of crossing the Brandywine frequently. There he was marched to Germantown in Pennsylvania, and he was also in the battle fought there between the British & American [illegible]. This battle commenced early in the morning at the beating of the revilee. The United States troops have pursued the British on to Philadelphia, [illegible] they retreated back by Germantown – into the state of New Jersey. He was found [illegible] in the neighborhood of the Valley Forge in the [illegible] --- which place is about twenty miles distance from Philadelphia as [illegible] as he recollects. And after marching on [illegible] expedition he was finally discharged at end of his term, having served the entire term of three years, the period for which he had enlisted as above stated. He received his discharge from General Weedon [?], but believing that it would rather be serviceable to him he has long lost [“lost” crossed out] since lost it. Applicant set out & entered into the above [illegible]. After he was discharged he returned home, into Prince George County within state of Virginia in which state, he resided during the Remainder of the
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[handwritten page number in upper right] 3

war, & until about [illegible] years ago, when he removed to the state of Tennessee, Davidson County, then he removed to Giles County & said state where he has resided for the last twenty two years. Applicant both from infirmities of body & mind, cannot, now, remember, so as to [illegible] with certainty, many [illegible] occurred to him during his service in the United States Army --- He [illegible] has no documentary evidence of his service, and knows of no person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service, [illegible] Lester Morris of said County & State, who Applicant supposes, has some knowledge of the circumstances of his said service. He hereby relinquishes any claim whatever to a pension or [illegible] the present, & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the Agency of State. 
his mark [hand drawn X] William Wells

Questions put by the said justice to said applicant.
1st Where & in what year was [illegible] born?
Ans. I was born in the County of Prince George in the State of Virginia _ in the month of December in year 175[illegible], or thereabouts.

2nd Have you any record of your age, & if so where is it?
Ans. I have no record of my age, & only know it from memory of what was told to me from my infancy.

3rd Where were you living when called into service?
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[Document is handwritten]

where have you lived since the Revolutionary War [illegible]
Where do you now live?
Ans. I have answered this question in in the above declaration
4th. How were you called into Service? Were you drafted Did you volunteer or were you a substituted? & if or substituted from in-house?
Ans. I was listed as above stated.
5th. State the names of the Regular officers, [illegible] with the troops, where you served, Such Continental & Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, & the general circumstances of your service.
Ans. The whole of the services of above stated were performed in the Continental Army.
6th Did you [illegible] a discharge from the service & if so from whom was it given and what has become of it? Ans. This question is answered above
7th. 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 [illegible] of your services as a soldier of the Revolution?
Ans. Capt Marcus Mitchell, Isaac Mason Esq. Charles C Abernathy, Lester Morris William B. Pepper, Alexander Traply, Lewis Brown, Thomas Brown Esq. William Brown Esq, [illegible] Browen & David Brown, William D. Abernathy & many others are resident and my present neighbor.
William [X] Wiles
[his mark]
Page 9

June 20, 1939.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

BA-J/ady
William Wells
S.3494 [illegible handwritten]

Mrs. Bertie Gifford
Route #2
Booneville, Mississippi

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter relative to William Wells, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.3494, based upon the military service of William Wells in that war.

William Wells, or Wills, was born in December 1753, in Prince George County, Virginia. The names of his parents are not shown.

While a resident of Prince George County, Virginia, William Wells enlisted early in the Revolution, date not given, as private in Captain Thomas Ruffin's Virginia Company, served three years, and was in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.

About 1808 he moved from Prince George County, Virginia, to Davidson County, Tennessee, and about 1810 moved to Giles County, Tennessee.

He was allowed pension on his application executed October 6, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Giles County, Tennessee. 

He died August 20, 1833, place not stated.

There are no family data.

No claim for pension or bounty land was ever made on account of the above services of this soldier by his widow or any one, except the soldier who received his pension as cited above.
Page 10

In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and the address you should apply to The Comptroller, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D., C, and cite the following data: “William Wells, Certificate No. 13874, issued July 3, 1833, rate $80.00 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, West Tennessee Agency”.

Very truly yours
A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator
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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William Wells --- which require further proof or explanation.

I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?
Yes

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?
Yes

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?
--

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?
Yes

V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?
Yes

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?
Yes

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?
Yes

VIII. Has the Court given their opinion?
Yes

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?
Yes

X. Is the Clerk’s seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal?
Yes
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2

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service?
Yes

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
[hand-drawn line]

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?
1 Witness

XIV. [dagger symbol] If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?

If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
The Court has

Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
Yes

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?
Yes

XVI. [double dagger symbol] Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?
No

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is now so answered?
All answered


EXPLANATORY NOTES.

* QUERE V. 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 service I claim a pension.
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3

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 [italics] about three or four months [italics] is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state 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 shewn 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.

[dagger symbol] QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of 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.

[double dagger symbol] QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.

[pointing hand symbol] In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.


Pulaski April 19th 1833
Col. Polk
Dr sir you will find inclosed the papers in the application of William Wells for a pension. They were received
from the [illegible] [illegible] postment
a few days since, with but one objection that is, as you will observe, that the papers are not properly authenticated. The only defect that I can see is the one mentioned in the letters clause of the above directions. That when the clerk [illegible] who certifies has no public seal of office, the Department requires a certificate from some member
Page 14

of Congress, shewing that he is clerk [illegible] Charles C. Abernathy, who made one of the
above certificates has no public seal. I wish you to certify that he is clerk of the Chancery Court at Pulaski. He certainly is such & you may further learn the fact from Mr. [illegible] Please certify & send the papers on to the War Department as soon as possible & you will greatly oblige your
humble st.
[signature] E. J. Shields for
William Wells

[illegible] put your certificate on the same piece of paper that Mr. Abernathy's certificate is on. Yours [illegible]
[signature] E. J. Shields
Page 15

5

State of Tennessee}
Giles County}

I William B. Pepper an acting justice of the peace in and for said County and also one of the justices of the Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions for said County do hereby certify, that the above named applicant, William Wells, is so aged & infirm, that he could not attend court
without great inconvenience to himself from his bodily infirmities & great age __ That
I believe ^him^ to be of the age he has above state himself to be, & that he subscribed & swore to above declaration before me on the day & date above written. __ & that he is a citizen of said ^county. Given under my hand and seal this 6th day of October in the year 1832

William B. Pepper (Seal) Justice of the Peace and also one of the Justices of the Said County
Court
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6

State of Tennessee}
Giles County}

Chancery Court Oct. Term
1832

We Gilbert D. Taylor, a clergyman residing in the county of Giles and said State and Lester
Morris residing in the same County & State, hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Wells who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be about seventy eight years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that
opinion.

Sworn to ^& subscribed^ in open Court the 10th day
of October 1832

Charles C. Abernathy _____

[signature] G. D. Taylor
[signature] Lester Morris

State of Tennessee}
Giles County}

Said term of said Court

And the said Lester Morris after being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath
in addition to the Statement made above ^ make^ the following __ That he the said affiant was himself a soldier of the Revolution and shortly after he quit the service in said War, that he became acquainted ^with^ the said William Wells in the State of Virginia Brunswick County & that from conversations, that he had with the said Wells the affiant is satisfied, that the said Wells was
Page 17

[Document is handwritten.]

a solider of [illegible] Revolution, and that this said Wells was [illegible] and reputed to be a soldier of the Revolution in the neighborhood where he resided in Virginia. and that afferent never heard it disputed.
Lester Morris

Subscribed & Sworn to in
Open court th 10th day of
October 1832
Charles C. Abernathy Clerk of Masterton.

And this said court does hereby declare a pension after the investigation of the matter, and of the [illegible] above named applicant was a soldier of the Revolution and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears  [illegible] herein that Gilbert E. Taylor who has signed the preceding certificate in a [illegible] of [illegible] and resident in the said County and State, and that Lester Morris who has also signed the same is also a citizen of said State & County of Giles and is a creditable person, and that their statement is certified to Credit.
Will A Cook Chancellor of the Western Division of the State of [illegible]
Page 18

[Document is handwritten. The ink from the writing on the other side appears to have soaked through, obscuring some text.]

State of Tennessee
Giles County Sct

I Charles C. Abernathy clerk of the Chancery Court at Pulaski, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of William Wells for a pension In testimony whereof, I have hereunto let my hand and affixed my private Seal there being no Seal of Office at office, in Pulaski this 12th day of October 1832.
Charles C. Abernathy, clerk [illegible] of the Chancery Court at Pulaski

State of Tennessee
Giles County Sct

I German Lester Clerk of the Court of Please and Quarter Sessions holder for the County of Giles aforesaid do hereby certify that William B. Pepper whose name is signed to the foregoing certificate and before whom the above declaration was sworn to and subscribed is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid duly commissioned and as such due faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of said Court at office this 12th day of October 1832.
German Lester Clk
by [illegible] seal & [illegible]
Page 19

State of Tennessee }
Giles County }

I Arthur M. M. Upshaw, Presiding justice of the Court of Pleas and  Quarter Sessions holden for the County aforesaid do certify that German Lester whose name is signed to the foregoing certificate is clerk of said court and that Nathl. S. Neal is his legal deputy and that due faith and credit is and ought to be given to all his official acts as such and that his said certificate is in due form of Laws. Given under my hand and seal this 15th day of Octr 1839 [1832?].

[signature] Arthur M. M. Upshaw {JP} [seal]
Presiding Justice of the Court
of Pleas and Quarter Sessions


I certify that Charles C. Abernathy Esq. whose signature is affixed to one of the foregoing certificates is Clerk of the Chancery Court, & that German Lester Esq., whose signature is affixed to the foregoing certificate is Clerk of the County Court, of the County of Giles, that these signatures are genuine, and I have no doubt but that the foregoing declaration of William Wells, and the certificates thereto annexed are the original papers acted on in Court.

[signature] James K. Polk
May 19th, 1833
Page 20

1926 - Oct. 26 - Hist. to Mrs. G. O. Gifford [illegible]
1937 Feb. 2. Hist. to Ida Wells
Howard, A.D.Y.
1939 June 20. Hist. to Mrs. Bertie Gifford. A.D.Y.



Rev War

3494

INVALID.

File No. 3494
William Wells
Pvt. Va. line

Act: June 7, 1832
Index: -- Vol. A, Page 397

[Arrangement of 1870.]

Continental Service Records corrected
Feby 29 '04 [1904?]

9
Page 21

[Document is handwritten.]

Booneville Miss.
The Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.
Dear Sir
Will you please tell me if "William Wells Sr." who lived in Giles Co. Tenn. after 1809 was a Revolutionary Pensioner? I am trying to identify his services so I can join the D.A.R. He is my great, great grandfather.
Respectfully
(Mrs.) G.O. Gifford

[ink stamp]
U.S. PENSION OFFICE
S
Sep
1
1926
Page 22

[Document is a handwritten postcard front, with stamp and assorted postmarks and an ink stamp.]

[ink stamp]
REC'D
Jan 19 1937
MAIL [illegible] DIV
[illegible]

[postmark]
NORMAL, ILL
Jan 15
7-PM
1937

[preprinted on postcard]
THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS

[handwritten]
Revolutionary War Dept. Records
Washington 
D.C.
Veterans Administration

[postmark upside down]
WASHINGTON D.C.
[illegible]
4-PM
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[Document is a handwritten postcard.]

Gentlemen:
Please send me a statement of the Revolutionary War record of: 
1. Matthew Wells (or Matt Wells)
2. Barney (or Barnabas) Wells
3. John Wells
4. Richard Wells
5. Charles Wells
6 William Wells
All 6 from Virginia and if possible, the names of their children.
Thank you so much
Ida Wells Howard
1009 So. Fell Ave. Normal, Illinois

1/15/37
Page 24

[Document is a typed letter. "Received" ink stamp located at the top.]

[Ink stamp]
RECEIVED
Mar 29 1933
MAIL [illegible]
3

[typing]
Booneville, Mississippi
March 27, 1939

Bureau Of Pensions
Washington, D.C.

Gentlemen: My ancestor, William Wells, a Revolutionary soldier received a pension claim S. 3494. He was born in Prince George County Virginia in December 1753 and served three years in the war as a private in Captain 'Thomas Ruffin's Virginia Company and was in the battles of Germantown and Brandywine.
Will you please search the records for this information? Where did he live and in what year did he apply for a pension. Did he also receive a Bounty Warrant [cross out] also [end cross out] for his service? What was the date of his death and where was he living or when and where did he receive his last check or pension money? Also during the time he received a pension did he live in more than one place? Did his widow draw a pension for the above stated service after his death? What year were Revolutionary pensions first paid? Thanking you for this information, I am.
Yours truly,
[handwritten] Mrs. Bertie Gifford [end handwriting]
Mrs. Bertie Gifford
Booneville, Miss.
Route # 2
Page 25

[Document is a typed letter.]

February 2, 1837 [sic]

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Ida Wells Howard
1009 South Fell Avenue
Normal, Illinois

BA_J/ady
Williams Wells
S.3494

Dear Madam:
The data contained herein were obtained from the papers on file in the Revolutionary War claim for pension, S.3494, based upon the military service of William Wells in that war.
William Wells, or Wills, was born in December 1753, in Prince George County, Virginia. The names of his parents are not shown.
While a resident of Prince George County, Virginia, William Wells enlisted early in the Revolution, date not given, as private in Captain Thomas Ruffin's Virginia Company, served three years, and was in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.
About 1808 he moved from Prince George County, Virginia, to Davidson County, Tennessee, and about 1810 moved to Giles County, Tennessee.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 6, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Giles County, Tennessee.
He died August 20, 1833, place not given. [hand written] On A.B. [end handwriting]
There is no family data.
Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 26

[Document is a typed letter.]

February 2, 1937
XXXXXXXXXXXXX

BA_J/ady

Ida Wells Howard
1009 SouthFell Avenue
Normal, Illinois

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter relative to soldiers of the Revolutionary War.

Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon military service of soldiers in that war.

A careful search the records fails to show such a claim on file on account of the services of Matthew Wells or Barney Wells, all spellings of the name searched.

The record of the only Richard Wells that is found on a Revolutionary War records of this office was furnished you on February 23, 1933.

As a means of identifying the particular record of John Wells, in whom you are interested, should it be on file, as much as possible of the following data are essential: approximate dates of birth and death, places of residence at enlistment and after service and given names of widow.

The records of the only William Wells of Virginia, and the only Charles Wells, found on the Revolutionary War records of this office are furnished you herewith on separate pages, as found in the claims for pension based upon service in the Revolutionary War.

Very truly yours

A.D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator
Page 27

[Document is a typed letter.]

[handwritten initials at the top right of the page] MNHF

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

October 26, 1926

Mrs. G. O. Gifford
Booneville, Miss.

Madam:

I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 3494 it appears that William Wells, or Wills, was born in December 1753 in Prince George County, Virginia.
While a resident of Prince George County, Virginia he enlisted early in the Revolution, date not given, as a private in Captain Thomas Ruffin's Virginia Company, served three years and was in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown.
He was allowed pension on his application executed October 6, 1832 while a resident of Giles County, Tennessee to which place he moved from Davidson County, Tennessee.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,

WINFIELD SCOTT
Commissioner.