Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 669, James Beard, Va.

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(3-1776)
SERVICE Va
Beard, James
NUMBER R 669
CONTENTS

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State of Virginia⎬
County of Rockingham SS
On this third day of November 1845 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace of Rockingham County and State of Virginia, James Beard a resident of said County and State aforesaid eighty four years of
age who being 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 under the following named
Officers, and served as herein stated;
He was under the command of Col Benjamin Harrison Capt John Rush and Capt. George Huston & Lieutenant Thomas Lewis
all of Rockingham County & State of Virginia, was a soldier and [illegible] for the term of six months, served out his term and was discharged by Capt. George Huston on the 19th of Oct 1781. He refers to his discharge.
He was acquainted with Capt Nathan Lam and Col Anthony Wayne in the regular service of the United States was in the battle of Hot water drawn up in a line of battle at James Town, at the end of York Town and at the taking of Lord Cornwallis
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity
except the present, and declares his name is not on the pension roll agency of any other State.
James Beard
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Geo W Kemper J.P.

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we Peter Miller a Clergyman residing in the County of Rockingham and state of Virginia Samuel Fisher residing in the same County and state aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Beard, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be eighty four years of age; that he is reported and believed in his  neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion
Sworn to and subscribed this day and year aforesaid 
Geo W Kemper I.P.
Peter Miller
Samuel Fisher
1 Where and in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born in Augusta County, and State of Virginia, in the year Sixty one (1761)
2 Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?
Ans. I had a record of my age but my mother took the book that contains it to Indiana some years since, she is dead, and I do not know what has become of it.
3 Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War; and where do you now live?
Ans. I lived in Rockingham County and state of Virginia, lived there since the Revolutionary war and now live there
4 How were you called into service, were you draughted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute; and if a substitute, for whom?
Ans. I was called into service by Competent authority & and was draughted
5 State the names of some of the Regular officers who were with the troops when you served; such Continental and militia Regiments as you recollect and the general circumstances of your service.
Ans. [illegible] Anthony Wayne and Capt. Nathan Lamun were Regular officers, and Col. Benjamin Harrison

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commanded a portion of the malitia [militia] at the time I was in service was in the battle of Hot water, drawn up in a line of battles at [illegible] at siege of Yorktown and at the taking or surrender of Lord Cornwallis.
6th To a soldier. Did you ever receive a discharge from service; and, if so, by whom was it given, and what has become of it?
Ans. I did, receive a discharge from Capt. George Huston, and I have it, and send it with this declaration.
7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood and can testify as to your character for veracity, and there belief of your service as a soldier of the Revolution? Ans Peter Miller a Clergyman and Samuel Fisher both of Rockingham county and State of Virginia also; Jacob Baker of said County & State of ones aid
And the said Justice of the Peace doth hereby declare, after an investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories proscribed by the war department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states, and cannot from bodily infirmity attend the court. And the justice further certifies, that it appears to him that Peter Miller of the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia who has signed the proceeding certificate, is a Clergyman resident in the County and state aforesaid, and that Samuel Fisher who has signed there statements is in [illegible]
Given under my hand this 3rd day of November 1845
Geo W Kemper J.P.

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State of Virginia Rockingham County To wit
 
I Henry J Gambill, Clerk of the Court of Rockingham County certify that George W Kemper is a Magistrate as above and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.

In Testimony whereof I have affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 4th day of November in the year 1845. 

Henry J Gambill, Clerk of 
Rockingham County VA

No .  
James Beard [sideways on right side of page]

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State of Virginia
County of Rockingham

On the third day of November 1845 personally appeared before me a Justice of the Peace for Rockingham County and State of Virginia James Beard a resident of said county and state aforesaid eighty four years of age, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an Act of Congress passed 7th of June 1832.  That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated.
He was under Col. Benjamin Harrison and commanded by Capt. George Huston, both of Rockingham County and state of Virginia.
He was a draughted [drafted] soldier for twenty days tour against the Tories from Capt. George Huston's company Rockingham County and State of Virginia, and entered service in the spring of 1781.  (the day and month not recollected) Served out the twenty days tour against the Tories, by crossing over the North Mountain at Brocks or dry River Gap to the west against  Genl. Claypole (who was the Commander of the Tories) Col. Benjamin Harrison with his command, Col Bird (from Shandore [Shenandoah] County Virginia) with the men and officers under his command at Genl Claypole's house on the west side of said North Mountain, Genl Claypole with the most of his Tory followers had left for the mountains, or places unknown.  However, some of his men came in and surrendered themselves, and Genl Claypole himself  sent in a letter to Col Benjamin Harrison asking for peace, and that he and his men

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willing to take up arms in favor of their own Country, afterwards Capt Johnson (who commanded a company under Genl Claypole) raised a company from among the towns and was with Col Benjamin Harrison at the Battle of Hotwater, during the battle one of his men left him as well as officers, except his Lieutenant (whose name I have forgotten)
During the campaign against the Tories one of them was shot in the calf of his leg, the ball lodged against his shin bone.  Doct Michael A Dacon (Surgeon to Col Benjamin Harrison Regiment) was requested to extract or cut it out and dress the wound of the Tory, he refused and said dam the Tories let them find their own doctors.  The Tory was then carried in a sheet by five or six of Col Benj Harrisons men to Genl Claypole's house and left.  There were no regular officers, or soldiers out on that expedition that he recollects.  He has no documentary evidence and he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service.  That he served as a draughted soldier, served with an [illegible] corps, called unto service by competent authority, that he was in the field and for the time during which the service was performed he was not employed in any civil persuits [pursuits].
He hereby relinquishes any 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. 
James Beard [signature]

Sworn and subscribed the 
day and year aforesaid.
  Geo [George] W Kemper, J. P.

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We Peter Miller a Clergyman residing in the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia and Samuel Fisher residing in the County and State aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with James Beard of Rockingham County and State of Virginia who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration: that we believe him to be eighty four years of age, that he is reputed to be and believed to in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion.
Peter Miller
Samuel Fisher

Sworn and Subscribed to
the day and year aforesaid
Geo [George] W Kemper J.P.

1      When and in what year were you born?
Ans   In Augusta County and State of Virginia in the year (1761) sixty one

2       Have you any record of our age and if so where is it? 
Ans    I had a record of my age, my Mother took it to Indiana some years ago since.  She is dead and I do not know what was done with it.  

3       Where were you living when called unto Service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary War, and where do you now live?

Ans     In Rockingham County and State of Virginia at the time, since and I now live there.

4        How were you called into Service; were you draughted [drafted], did you volunteer, or were you a substitute; and if a substitute for whom?

Ans     I was draughted [drafted]

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5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers who were with the troop when you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the usual circumstances of your service.

Ans. Col. Benjamin Harrison Capt. George Huston and Capt. Ezekiel Harris from Rockingham County and Col. bird and Capt. Bird of Shanandoa County, State of Virginia were militia officers and out at the time - Col. Bird was at a troop west of the

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6 To the Soldier} Did you ever receive [letters crossed out] discharge from the Service; and, if so, by whom [caret] was it given, and what has become of it?

Ans. I do not think I did; If I did, I have lost 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 serves as a soldier of the Revolution?

Ans. Peter Miller a Clergyman, and Samuel Fisher, both of the State of Virginia and Rockingham County. Also; Jacob Baker of said County & State aforesaid.

And the said Justice of the Peace doth hereby declare his 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 [caret] and cannot from bodily infirmity, attend the Court. And the Justice further states [crossed out] certifies that it appears [letters crossed out] to him that Peter Miller of Rockingham [caret] County & State of Virginia, who has signed the preceding Certificate, is a Clergyman, Resident in the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia, and that Samuel Fisher who has signed the same, is a Resident in the said County and State aforesaid, and is a creditable person, and their Statement is entitled to credit. Sworn under my hand this 3d day of November 1845
Geo. W. Kemper J.P.

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State of Virginia Rockingham County To Wit

I Henry J Gambill, Clerk of the Court of Rockingham County certify that George W Kemper is a Magistrate as above and that the [illegible, obscured by seal] Signatures purporting to be his are genuine.

In Testimony whereof I have affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name that 4th day of November in the year 1845.

Henry J Gambill Clerk of Rockingham County

No James Beard
Va
Act 7 June 1832 [sideways on left of page]

State of Virginia to wit

At a court held for the County of Rockingham on the third Monday being the 19th day of January 1846.  The within declaration of James Beard a Revolutionary Soldier made before George W Kemper a justice of the peace for this County, in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June 1832, was presented in open Court and it appearing to this Court, that the said order [ ] and the proceeding [ ] before the said Justice is same is ordered to be certified to the War Department. 
In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed the seal of my said County this 20th day of January 1846 and in the 70th year of the Commonwealth. 
H J Gambill, Clerk of Rockingham County Virginia

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[back of previous page]

James Beard
Va R:669 [at bottom of page]

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I do certify that James Beard who had been [illegible] as a draft from Capt John Rush in the State of Virginia for six months has been discharged from service October 19th 1781.

George Houston, Capt
8th Virginia

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[Printed page]
________  Ex'r.        Invalid

Rejected [stamped on right side]

James Beard

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The undersigned have long been acquainted with James Beard of Rockingham County Virginia and believe him to be a man of great integrity and strictly honest.   He is respected and believed to have been a soldier of the Revolution.  Any declaration he may make in regard to his services, as a soldier of the Revolution, full credit would be given to it by us for there is no man who stands, or ought to stand higher among those who know him, than he does, for truth and veracity.  Dec 27, 1845

F Davisson
Jas [James] Craig
Alexr [Alexander] Givens
George Rosebush
Joseph Stephenson
Alexr [Alexander] McGilvray
Peachy Harrison
Abraham Smith
R Van Pelt 
Robert McKyle
John Roller
James Edward
John Dundore
Stephen Harnsbarger

[sideways on left side of page]

I am personally acquainted with most of the the gentlemen whose names are appended to the above certificate, & I take pleasure in stating that they are among the most intelligent, respectable & upright men I have ever known, in any station in life.  The most perfect confidence may be placed in any statement they would make.

Alex [Alexander] H H Stuart
Staunton VA Jany [January] 26th 1846

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Jas [James] Beard

papers

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Washington City, Feb the 9th 1846

I am personally acquainted with the several of the gentleman referred to by Mr. Stuart & I take great pleasure in saying they are what Mr. Stuart represents them to be & that this certificate is  entitled to entire belief.

I S Pennybacker

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No 37134
James Beard
VA
Act of June 1832

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Washington, Nov 8, 1845

Sir

Enclosed I send you two Declarations of James Beard of Rockingham Co VA claiming a pension for six months and twenty days service in the war of the Revolution, and also his discharge signed by Capt. George Houston of the 8th Virginia Regiment.

With great respect
Your Servt
G M Phillips

Hon J L Edwards
Court of Pensions

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Washington Feb 9, 1846

Sir

I herewith enclose the declaration of James Beard, which was returned from your office in a letter under date of 9th December for the purpose of moving the "proceedings before the single magistrate submitted to and approved by a Court of Record while in session."

With great respect
Your servt 
G M Phillips

Col J L Edwards
Court of Pensions