Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 8563, for Williamson Rainey, Virginia
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Va. Rainey, Williamson R.8563
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Mecklenburg County State of Virginia January 19th 1842 for. This is to certify that at the dwelling house of Williamson Rainey few have enquired into the cause of his not making an earlier application for a pension under the act of Congress of the 7th June 1832 - who declareth and saith that some short time after the passage of the act he was called on by William Inscoe to testify as to his services as a Revolutionary Soldier and at the same time Inscoe and himself both went to Col. George Rogers. About a mile and a half from his house who was an acting Magistrate and he and Incoe made affidavit in support of each others claim being contemporary soldiers in the Revolutionary War. And that he left the affidavit in the hands of Col. Rogers in order for him to make out his declaration after taking the affidavit of William Coleman and Thomas Tanner contemporary soldiers also. At the same time he was unable to ride any distance from home to procure the affidavit of Coleman and Tanner. but shortly after Tanner died, Coleman living the distance of 20 miles off some time after the taking of Inscoes affidavit Col. Rogers informed him that it was mislaid or lost and has not been since seen, Col. Rogers being his neighbour and friend moved from his immediate neighbourhood to the county seat (Baydton) about 22 miles off a distance he has not been from home but once for the last 20 years past, since the removal of Col Rogers he has not made an application to any person to make out his declaration, or that any person have undertaken but myself. I hope the above statement will be sufficient reason for the delay of W. Rainey not making an application sooner. his son William Rainey came to see me a distance of about 50 miles to undertake for his father William Coleman and William Inscoe were living somewhat in our local we concluded it would be as well to call on them and take their affidavits previous to taking Mr. Raineys declaration thinking it were unimportant either before or after the the fact of his service is proved W. Rainey is a man in good circumstances and of much truth and honesty as any man. I therefore think his statement made in his declaration is entitled to credit and ought to receive what is justly due him. If therefore the affidavit of Inscoe and Coleman be necessary to be taken again you will please give me
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Information this will be handed you this the potitioners of Mr. O Goode I am respectfully yours [signature] Jd. Edwards Esqo St.P.Pool commissions of [illegible] 
I recollect that some six or more years since Williamson Rainey had made his declaration before me and had as proof the testimony of Mr. Inscoe and wanted to obtain the further proof of Wm. Coleman before the obtaining of which I removed from the neighborhood- given under my hand this [illegible] Jany 1842 Geo Rogers Baydton
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Hon. W.O.Goode HR.
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Mecklenburg Va. March 29th 184 
Mr. Edwards [illegible] in answer to your favour of the 5th of Nov. I ask requiring an explanation from Mr. Rainey the cause of his not making an application sooner is hereto annexed and the affidavit of William Coleman and William Inscoe some what objectionable I had in the latter clause of Mr. Raineys reasons endured for not making an application sooner desiring you to inform me if it were necessary to take the affidavits of Coleman and Inscoe again since then I concluded to take their affidavits again which are herein enclosed Mr. Goode who will hand you those papers who is well acquainted with Mr. Rainey who I think will be able to remove all doubts respecting Mr. Raineys claim for a pension.
I am respectfully your [illegible] St.P.Pool
Jd Edwards Esq commissioner of pensions City of Washington
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State of Virginia County of Mecklenburg
On this 23rd day of October 1841 personally appeared before me Stephen P Pool a Justice of the Peace in the County aforesaid Williamson Rainey of Mecklenburg County State of Virginia a resident thereof aged eighty years eleven months and 20 days who is being first duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed June 7th 1832 that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officered and served as herein stated Col. Masklin of Brunswick County Virginia Maj. Anderson of Mecklenburg and in Capt. Burtons company of the malitia of the Virginia line were rendezvoused at Mecklenburg Courthouse in the year 1776 or 77 to the best of my recollection and took up the line of march from thence some time in the month of July and marched thro the counties of Brunswick Prince George thro the town of Smithfield crossed the Nancymun river at Sleepy hole ferry from thence to Portsmith and joined the main army under command of Gen. Harrisson as well as I can recollect and were there stationed until discharged for a tour of three months some time in the months of Sept. or Oct. in the same year the day of the moth of starting and the day of being dischared cannot be recollected. If I received a writing discharge I cannot recollect it, If I said it is either lost or mislaid. I serced this tour as a substitute for a man by the name of Jeter a resident of Mecklenburg County Va and I was also there in the year 1779. I was called out to serve a second tour of Malitia in duty three months under Capt. Marshal or Capt. Mabry (I cannot recollect which) of Mecklenburg County Va rendezvoused at Mecklenburg Court House and took up the line of march some time in the month of June marched thro Brunswick County to Dinwidis Court House and were stationed till discharged serving only three weeks to the best of my recollection the days of starting and being discharged cannot be presently recollected and if under and field officer I do not recollect him I was drafted into the service from the County of Mecklenburg Virginia
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There in the year 1781 I was called out to serve a third Tour of Militia duty under Col. Tucker, Maj. Holcomb in Captain Whitens Company Militia of Mecklenberg County, Virginia line we rendezvoused at Mecklenberg Court house and took up the line of March some time for the Month of April (the day not recollected)  Marched. but at the time of marching I were sick and obtained a furlough for 10 days at the expiration of my furlough I joined my company and the main Army at Point of Fork on James River under Command of Barron Stubard and Gen. Lawson in the view of the Enemies Camp on the opposite side of the river. we were generally moving, not long stationed at any one place, were in no engagement we marched thru Cumberland County, Prince Edward, and into the County of Charlotte and remained there a while. Whilst there I was taken very sick and were confined to the hospital and there got a substitute to finish my tour of duty after serving two and a half months to the best of my recollection. I was drafted and I have not and documentary evidence to prove my service only the affidavits of William Coleman & William Inscoe which is here appended-

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present; and declares that his name is not on the pension Roll of the agency of any State, or, if any, only on that of the Agency of the State of Virginia. Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid

St.P.Pool JP.M.C.V

Williamson Rainey sir

1 Where, and in what year were you born
Ans: in Mecklenberg County State of Virginia - 2 day Nov. 1760
2 Have you any record of your age and if so where is
Ans: I have, and in the large Church Bible
3 Where were you living when called into service, where have you lived since the revolutionary war, and where do you now live?
Ans: In Mecklenberg County State of Virginia and nowhere else
4 How were you called into Service, were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute, for whom
Ans: in the first tour a substitute for Peter. the other tours drafted 
5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with
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the Troops where you served, both Continental and Militia Regiments, as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your service
Ans: Barron Stuband and I think General Harrington, Regiments not recollected, my services a private soldier
6 did you ever receive a discharge from the service and so, by whom was it given and what has become of it
Ans: I believe I read a discharge cannot tell from whom and it is lost or mislaid-I have it not now-
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, Philip Rainey and George Rogers

We George Rogers Philip Rainey Residing in the County of Mecklenburg State of Virginia do hearby certify that we are well acquainted with Williamson Rainey who had subscribed and sworn to the above  declaration that we believe him to be Eighty years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neighbourhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that affirmation.
Sworn and subscribed before me a Justice of the Peace for the County of Mecklenburg State of Virginia the 25th day of October

St.P.Pool J.P.M.C Va
State of Virginia 
Mecklenberg County

(signature to right is that of Philip Rainey and George Rogers)

 J Stephen T Pool a magistrate in the County aforesaid ds hearby declare my opinion after investigation of the matter and after putting the Interrogations prescribed by the war Department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states. and do further certify that Robert Rogers & Philip Rainey - residents of the said County who signed the preceeding certificate are credible Persons, and that their Statement is entitled to credit- and I do further certify that Williamson Rainy, the applicant who informed me that from his bodily infirmity is not able to ride to the court house of his County being the distance of 20 miles without mortally injuring him and perhaps endangering his life. Given under my hand this 23rd day of October 184
J St. P.Pool JP.
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State of Virgini Mecklenburg County Oct 23rd 1841
Personally appeared before me the man secured a Justice of the Peace in the County aforesaid Williamson Rainey who being duly sworn [illegible] and saith that by reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear [illegible] as to the precise length of his service but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than six months as a private soldier in the revolutionary war and for such service I claim a pension 
St.P.Pool JP.M.C.Va

Virginia, Mecklenburg County Clerks offices set.
I Richard B. Baptist Clark of the County Court of Mecklenburg County as hereby certify that Stephen P. Pool is a magistrate in and for the county of mecklenburg only commissioned and [illegible] according to law and not before your [illegible] your [illegible] to be his arrangement.
In testimony whereof I hereto act my hand and after my seal of office at office this 23rd day of October 1841 in the 66th year of the commonwealth.
[illegible] Rich a B Baptist Cl
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8563
Williamson Rainey
Service:
Enlisted:    ,18
Discharged: Rejected, 18
Application Filed:   ,18
Alleges:
Re-enlisted:
Attorney:
P.O.
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3572
Virginia
rejected
Williamson Rainey Sen.
Lit. to S.P.Pool 5 Nov. 1841
Lit: 25 May [illegible] to [illegible]
W.O.Goode
Act 7 June 1832
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State of Virginia
Mecklenburg County
Be it known that before [illegible] the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in the County aforesaid personally appeared William Coleman a revolutionary soldier and being duly sworn according to Law
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Sworn to and subscribed this 22nd 
day of March 1842 before me
Wm Coleman
HP Pool [illegible]
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Affidavit of
William Coleman
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State of Virginia
Mecklenburg County [illegible]
The affadavit of William Coleman a citizen of said county a Revolutionary Soldier being sworn [illegible] and South that he is personally acquainted with Williamson Raney(sic) of the said County [illegible] to the [illegible] spaces [illegible] for the space of sixty one years past and in the year 1781 we were both in the army of the revolution in Captain Whittens Company of Virginia Malitia(sic) and took up the line of March from Mecklenburg Count(sic) house and joined the Virginia line at Prince Edward Court house and served a tour of Malitia [illegible] three months; commencing some time in the month of April and discharged some time in the Month of July following in the same year the day of starting and being discharged is not precisely recollected and served in the Redgment(sic) commanded by Col Tucker further this affiant saith not
Wm Coleman
Sworn and subscribed before us on the 21st Oct 1841 before the subscriber a Justice of Peace for said County
H [illegible] Pool J.P.
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May 21 1842
Va.
Williamson Rainey

WO Goode

J L Edwards Esq
Com: Pensions

Hm W.O. Goode
H.R.
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House of Representative
May 20. 1842.
Dr Sir
The enclosed papers were received by me a few weeks since + should have been presented at an earlier date but for circumstances which diverted my attention from [illegible] - They refer to Williamson Rainey [illegible] of Mecklenburg County Virginia + seek to establish his claim to a pension for services in the War of the Revolution - If they have deemd sufficient to establish that claim, I can only say that a pension has been bestowed on but few more of superior worth. Be kind enough to acknowledge the receipt of the papers + shortly enable me to reply to Capt Stephen
P Pool
Very Respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
WO Goode
Virginia

JL Edwards Esq
Com: Pensions
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State of Virginia
Mecklenburg County
Be it  that before the subscriber a Justice of the Peace in the County aforesaid Personally appeared William Inscoe a revolutionary soldier aged 85 years, and being duly sworn according to Law deposeth and saith that he is Intimately acquainted with Williamson Rainey [illegible] and has been [illegible] from our boyhood and in the years 1776 or 77 we were both in the revolutionary war together we entered the service under Capt Burton the subaltern officers not recollected we took up the line of March some time in the spring of the year the month and day cannot be recollected from Mecklenburg Court house and went the most direct Route to Portsmith and there Joined the main Army and I believe we were attached to Col Macklins Redg. and continued there until we were discharged serving a tour of three months and in the course of one or 2 years either in the year 1777 or 78 we both entered the Service again under Capt Marshall [illegible], subalterns not recollected we took up the line of March from Mecklenburg Courthouse sometime in the spring or summer went on the most direct route to Dinwidie(sic) Court house remained there to the best of my recollection three weeks and were from thence discharged again we entered the service together under Capt Whitten the subalterns not recollected we took up the line of March some time in the spring either April or May from Mecklenburg Court house and went the most direct route to Prince Edward Court house and Joined the Main army commanded by Gen Lawson and it appears we were attached to Col Tuckers Redg. from thence we were Marched to James River at Point of fork we were frequently moving in different directions but at length the Enemy retreated and we marched down the James River and to the best of my recollection we went to Portsmith and were there discharged for a tour of three months further this deponent saith not 
Sworn and subscribed this 22nd day
of March 1842 before me
HP Pool [illegible] William Inscoe his mark
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State of Virginia
Mecklenburg County
The affidavit of William Inscoe a citizen of said County a revolutionary Soldier being sworn deposeth and saith that he is well acquainted with Williamson Rainey of the said County of Mecklenburg and has been for the space of sixty odd years past and Boys together. we were both in the Army of the Revolution at the same time and served two tours of Malitia(sic) duty of three months each in the same regiments and to the best of my recollection threee weeks in a third tour. we in the first tour to the best of my recollection took up the line of March in the spring of 1776 or 77 under command of Capt Burton from Mecklenburg Court House and marched direct to Portsmith and there Joined the troops of the Virginia line in the Redgt. commanded by Col Macklin and were discharged some time In the summer following the Months and days of starting and being discharged cannot be recollected.  The second tour we took up the line of March some time in the summer or fall of 1779 or 80 under Capt Marshal as well as I can recollect from Macklenburg Court house and Marched to Dinwidie(sic) Court house or somewhere in the Neighbourhood of Petersburg and were discharged after serving in or about three weeks the days of starting and being discharged cannot be recollected neitherthe Months.
Third Tour. We took up the line of March in April or May 1781 as well as can be recollected under Capt Whitten from Macklenburg Courthouse and Marched direct to Prince Edward Court house and Joined the troops of the Virginia line of Infantry in the Redgt. commanded by Col Tucker and discharged some time in the Month of July to the best of my recollection the days of starting and being discharged cannot be recollected further this deponent saith not
Sworn and subscribed the
22nd day of October 1841 before the 
subscriber a Justice of the Peace for
the County aforesaid
HP Pool J.P M.C. Va

William Inscoe his mark
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35,272
Williamson Rainey
at June 7 1834
Va
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White [illegible] 1oz $100
Oct 27th 1841

Nov 1 1841
P mail

Va
Wm Rainey
Oct 1832

Honb. J. L. Edwards
Commisioner of Pensions
City of Washington D.C
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State of Virginia
Mecklenburg County ⎬
October 26th 1841-
Mr Edwards (illegible) therewith enclose to you a declaration of
Mr Williamson Rainey for a pension under the act of Congress passed
7th June 1832. upon examination you find him entitled to a pension
You will please enclose his pension certificate and direct it to white
house Post Office Mecklenburg Virginia to yr Hble Servt
SVP Pool