Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W 9777, John Calhoun, S. C.

Page 1

S.C. |  Calhoun, John |. W9777
                            Violet

Page 2

No. 8415
Indiana

Violet Calhoun
widow of John Calhoun who was a pensioner  under the Act of and who died [crossed out: on] in the year 1823 of [crossed out:S.C. in] the State of Indiana
a Captain [crossed out: in the] of Dragoon of the [blank] commanded by [blank] in the [blank] line for [blank]
Inscribed on the Roll of the Dist. of Cola at the rate of 600 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836. 7th July 1838 & to terminate on the 7th July 1844
Certificate of Pension issued the 24th day of May 1844 and sent to Hm JA Wright HR
Total amount, $3,600.00
[Act [crossed out: July 7, 1838.] May 23, 1844
Recorded by Jn D. Wilion Clerk
Book D Vol. 1 Page 473
[Illegible] Payment Wayhuytin City
May 25 1844 [crossed out: do to Ha. J. A. Wright, Dec. 2 1844]
P. Agt. W City-same day-
Violet Calhoun [illegible] on the Roll under the act of June 17, 1844-
see letter to R. Smith, pensia agency, Feb. 4, 1845-

Page 3

28th Congress 1st Session Rep. No. 219. Ho. of Reps.

Violet Calhoun [To accompany bill H.R. No. 173.]
February 28, 1844
Mr. J.A. Wright, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, made the following REPORT:
The Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, to whom was referred the application of Violet Calhoun, for a pension, according to the provision of the act of July 7, 1838, submit the following report:
The declaration shows that the applicant was married to Captain John Calhoun, of the revolutionary army, in 1790 or 1791; that he drew a pension from the United States of $180 per annum; that he died in 1823; that she has lived a widow ever since his death, and has no income, except $23 per annum from a small dower estate. She does not know of any living witness by whom she can prove her marriage. The committee find the most ample proof of the service of Captain Calhoun      in the revolutionary war, by a transcript from the comptroller general's office of the State of South Carolina, which is herewith submitted. It shows several years' service, first as a private, then as a lieutenant, and, lastly, as a captain for the period of 430 days. Captain Calhoun was wounded in the service, and received a pension from the United States, commencing in the year 1811. (See Acts of Congress, vol. 4, p. 355.) See Mayo + Moulton p. 80. The committee have no doubt of her marriage as she states, and deem it proved as fully as such cases, after so great a lapse of time, can be made out. Her son (John Law) by a former husband, who was four years old when their alleged marriage took place, proves that they lived together as husband and wife from that time till 1823, and that they were always reputed to be husband and wife. The Hon. William P. Bryant gives a certificate of the good character of Law, as a man of perfect veracity. Letters of administration were granted to her on his estate, after his death, a copy of which is before the committee. A letter of General Dill (now deceaced) is found among the papers in her possession, showing that she became the depositary of his papers at his decease. Indeed, the committee consider that to reject such evidence as insufficient to prove the marriage, would, in addition to refusing to give the applicant the benefit of the munificence of the Government in similar cases bestowed, reflect a disgrace upon the memory of a gallant officer, who, it would be implied, after he had fought through the Revolution, and carried its scars on his body, had spent the remainder of his life in dishonor. The committee report a bill in favor of the applicant. | Blair & Rives, print.

Page 4

Rep. No. 219.
Comptroller General's Office, Columbia, (S.C.) February 22, 1844.
Sir: Your communication of the 17th instant is to hand; and, in compliance with your request, I have examined the records in this office, and subjoin a copy of all that relates to the case of Mr. John Calhoun. Your obedient servant, I. LAVAL. Hon. J.A. Wright.
Statement. Indent Book K, No. 246.- Issued 11th January, 1785, to Mr. John Calhoun, for one hundred and one pounds eight shillings and sixpence sterling, for militia duty as a private horseman in 1781 and 1782; also for the service of a wagon in 1780 and 1782, per account audited, No. 19.- £101 8s. 6d. Indent Book R, No. 646.-Issued 17th June, 1785, to Mr. John Calhoun, for three hundred and twenty-one ponds nineteen shillings and threepence farthing sterling, for duty as a private, lieutenant, and captain, and for two horses lost, per account audited, No. 18.-Principal, £321 19s. 3 1/4d. ; annual interest, £22 10s. 8d. Account No. 18.-John Calhoun, his account of duty in the militia, as private, lieutenant, and captain, performed alternately from 1780 to 1783, inclusive, and for two horses lost in service in 1780 and 1781; also for cash advanced by him for the cure of his wounds: the whole amounting to, viz: 
Militia duty as private in horse, 130 days, at 20s. per day-£130| 0s.| 0d.
Do. as lieutenant, 15 days, at 45s. per day- 33 | 15 | 0
Do. as captain, 430 days, at 60s. per day 1,290 | 0 | 0 
Service of horse 400 days, at 10s. - - - 200 | 0 | 0
Two horses £250 and £300 - - - - 550 | 0 | 0 
Cash advanced - - - - - - 50 | 0 | 0
Currency - - £2,253 | 15 | 0 
Sterling - - £ 321 |19 | 3 1/4 
Indent Book S, No. 428.- Issued 17th June, 1785, to Mr. John Calhoun, for seventeen pounds eleven shillings and fivepence sterling, for duty in the militia, as per account audited.- Principal, £17 11s. 5d.; annual interest, £1 4s. 7d.
Indent Book X, No. 3,425.- Issued 1st August, 1786, to Mr. John Calhoun, for thirty-five pounds fourteen shillings and threepence farthing sterling, for duty done in Roebuck's regiment, per account audited, No. 114.
£35 14s. 3 1/4d.
I certify the above to be a true copy from the records in this office. For Comptroller General, I. LAVAL.

Page 5

M.H. Fuller 919 Abney Street Greenwood, South Carolina | John Calhoun W. 9777 BA-J/MLB
Dear Sir: Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Captain John Calhoun who served in that war from South Carolina. You are furnished herein the record of the only John Calhoun found that served as captain in the Revolution. The data therein were obtained from pension claim, W. 9777, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War. The date and place of birth and the names of the parents of John Calhoun are not given. John Calhoun entered the service of the Revolutionary War sometime in 1780, served as private, lieutenant, and Captain of Dragoons in the South Carolina troops; during his service received a wound and was discharged sometime in 1783. On account of disability resulting from the above-noted injury, Captain John Calhoun was pensioned from February 6, 1810, and his name placed on the Indiana pension roll, then being a resident of Lawrenceburgh, in that state, but he was finally transferred to the Ohio Agency. His age was not given. He died sometime in the year 1823. Captain John Calhoun married in 1790 or 1791, Violet ___. The date and place of her birth, maiden name or names of parents not stated. Violet Calhoun had a former husband with surname Gas (given name not shown) by whom she had a son named John Law who was four years old at the time of her marriage to Captain Calhoun. No reference was made to the death of her former husband, ___Gaw. John Calhoun's widow, Violet Calhoun, was pensioned  from July 7, 1836, on account of the Revolutionary War service of her husband (Captain Calhoun),

Page 6

and her name was placed on the pension roll of the District of Columbia, her' place of residence not given. No reference was made in the claim to children of Captain John Calhoun. In 1820, one John C. Calhoun was United States Secretary of War at Washington, D.C., no relationship stated between him and Captain John Calhoun. In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and possibly the date of death of Violet Calhoun, widow of Captain John Calhoun, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data: Violet Calhoun, widow of John Calhoun, certificate 8415 issued May 24, 1844, rate $600 per annum, commenced July 7, 1836, Act May 23, 1844, District of Columbia Agency. Very truly yours A.D. Hiller Executive Assistant to the Administrator [in pencil: continued on pen roll under the Act of June 17, 1844].

Page 7

[In pencil: 1937 June 12-Hist. to MH Fuller WKO Revy
WIDOW, &c. | File No. 9777 | Violet Calhoun Wid. of John Calhoun Capt. Rev. War | Act: May 23rd hh | Index:-Vol. A, Page 117 [Arrangement of 1870.]

Page 8

send originals 9863 | Violet Calhoun | Jno | [crossed out: Let to Hn JA Wright Jane 6 '44 do to Jane Jan. 11, 1844-] paper stub to same feb 3, 1844 & copy of old paper feb 19 . 44 Let to Hon. AH Seven Apl 17. 1844 Act 7 July 1838
[in pencil: illegible]

Page 9

Ohio | John Calhoun | Captain In the Army M. [illegible]
Inscribed on the roll of Ohio at $15 per month. coming 6th February, 1810. under Law of 3rd of March, 1811 | Certificate issued 17th April 1820. [?] to Hon.: Waller Taylor, [?] M. L. from Indiana

Page 10

The Honble John C. Calhoun Secy of War Washington City

Page 11

The Hon John C. Calhoun Secretary of War Washington

Page 12

Sir, The enclosed letter is from a highly respectable man in Indiana, who requested me to hand it to you; an however I know no more of the subject upon which it is written, than what the letter itself contains. I send it to you without further comment. I have the honor to be respectfully your [?] Waller Taylor

Page 13

Sir, I trust the occasion will be a sufficient apology for taking the liberty of troubling you at a period when business of much more importance no doubt occupies all your attention. There is an old gentleman resident in this vicinity of the name of John Calhoun formerly a captain in the South Carolina Militia during the Revolutionary War, to whom a pension of $15 per month was granted by a special Law of Congress passed, (I believe) in 1810. The old mans business has been transacted by me and through me almost from the commencement of his peers to have additional clogs throne upon is either by the stupidity or the ignorance of the agents, so that by the time he handles the pension it is reduced to one half, thereby infuriating the very purposes for which the United States intended it - although for my personal services I have never changed his one cent - He has been finally transferred to there Ohio agency at Chillicothe - and has [illegible] his pensions there for some one or two years and although it has been reiterated

Page 14

to the agent at that place time after time that major Calhoun never had an original certificate of pension from the War Department and that none was necessary in as much as he was named and a pension granted to him by name, by a special Law of Congress - yet a copy of the original certificates again [illegible] - the old man is nearly blind, totally unable to walk without the aid of two persons, and withal miserably poor; entirely dependent on his pension for sustenance, and might but for the continual embarrassments throne in the way of receiving his pension, [?]to subsist comfortably on its [?] -but as this thing is managed by the agents, (as before stated) a considerable part of it is every six months swallowed who in its procuring - I have myself known him to be under the necessity of [?] [?] several powers of attorney to procure his pensions for six months - every one of which will of [?] his necessity attended with expenses - Haring no doubt that you will give such [?] as the nature of the can requires. Honble J. C. Calhoun Valilt Seat James Dill [?] 30th March 1820

Page 15

28th Congress 1st Session [crossed out] H.R. 173. Report No. 219 [crossed out]| February 28, 1844 Read, and committed to a Committee of the Whole House to-morrow. [crossed out]| 
Mr. J.A. Wright, from the Committee on Revolutionary Pensions, reported the following bill" A BILL [crossed out]

For the relief of Violet Calhoun, widow of John Calhoun. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of War be authorized and required to place Violet Calhoun, widow of John Calhoun, late a captain in the army of the Revolution, on the roll of revolutionary pensioners of the United States; and that she be allowed annually the full pay of a captain, commencing on the seventh day of July, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight. Approved May 23, 1844. I certify that the above is a true copy from the Roll in this Office. W.L. Derrick, Act. Chf. Clk. Department of State, Washington City, May 24, 1844

Page 16

Feb 22 S.C. [Postmark] Hon. Joseph A. Wright Washington City Mail

Page 17

Honorable J.A. Wright Sir, Your communication of the 17th [illegible] and in compliance with your request I have examined the Records in this office and subjoined a copy of all that's related to the case of Mr John Calhoun [initial]
Invent Book K No 246 Issued January 1785 to Mr John Calhoun for one hundred and one pounds, eight shillings & sixpence sterling for Militia duty as a Private Horseman in 1781 & 1782. Also for the service of a waggon in 1780 & 1782 for Aut. audited No. 19 £101: 8 : 6
Invent Book R. No. 040 Issued June 1785 to Mr. John Calhoun for three hundred and twenty one pounds nineteen shillings and three pence surety sterling for Duty as a Private, Lieutenant, & Captain, and for two horses lost, pr Aut. audited No. 18 Princl. £320:19: 3 1/4 And. Int. £22:10:8 
Aut. No. 18 John Calhoun his aut of Duty in the Militia as Private, Liete, & Captain performed alternately from 1780 to 1783 [illegible] and for two horses lost in service in 1780 & 1781, also for cash advanced by him for the cure of his wounds; the whole amting to 613. Militia Duty as Private in Horse 130 days 20 per day £130. Militia duty as Lieutenant 15 days 45 per day. £33:15 Militia Duty as Captain 430 days 60 per day £1290
Service of Horse 400 days @10 £200
Two Horses £250 & £300 £550
Cash advanced £50 
Currency £2253:15
Sterling £325:19: 3 1/4
Invent Book S No. 428 Issued 17 June 1785 to Mr. John Calhoun for Seventeen Pounds eleven shillings and five pence sterling for duty in the militia as Pr aut audited- Princl £17:11:5 Annl [?] £1:4:7
I certify the above to be a true copy from the Records in this office [?] Comptroller Genl Haval

Page 18

Indent Book No. 3425 Issued 1 August 1786 To Mr. John Calhoun for thirty five Pounds fourteen  shillings and three pence farthing sterling, Duty done in Roebucks Req.t pr acct audited No 114 
£35:14:3 1/4 I certify the above to be a true copy from the records in this office. For Comptroller Genl Naval
Comptroller Certificates

Page 19

Hon J. A. Wright
11 Jany '44

Page 20

Pension Office Jan. 11 1844
Sir, The claim of Ms. Violet Calhoun, widow of John Calhoun has again been examined. On examining the Ohio Pension Rolls, I find that he was paid at the Agency of that State. He was, however, pensioned before the War Office was destroyed by the British Troops in 1814. At that time all the papers in his care were burnt, and our records contain no evidence whatever of his service. He did not draw a pension on account of the length of his service, but in consequence of a wound. How long he served we have no means of ascertaining. The widow therefore must produce proof as to the length of his service, and she must also produce more satisfactory [?] than she has already exhibited as to the date of her marriage. I have the honor. Hon. J.A. Wright 9863 act 1838

Page 21

Washington City Jan 17th 1844
James L Edwards Commission of Pensions
Sir, I am requestice by the committee on Revolutionary Pensions for [?] of the application for Pensions of the following persons
John Burn, Clerk cty Indiana
Nancy Hutinack New York
Joseph P Petus of N York who asks for [?] of Pensions [?] the evidence 
Violet Calhoun of Noble Cty Indiana, In this case, I am requested to ask of you for the original Papers on file in this case, the committee will meet on Monday morning at 10 o clock, and would be pleased to have the original papers in this case, please assume this communication. Yours Truly Joseph A. Wright, one of the committee

Page 22

Hon J A Wright
Jany 6. 1844

Page 23

Pen: Off    (off to the side the number 82)
Jany 11, 1844

Sir
Please the honor to inform you that the claim of Violet Calhoun has been examined applied - 

Her allegation of her husband drawing a pension is not confirmed by the books of this office.  Her husband if he died in 1823 could have been a pensioner only under the act of 1878 & the invalid act of 1870 (?) -
There was no such pensioner in Ind. under either of those acts -

Her claim should be made out & supported by the proof which the enclosed regulation requires in relation to the service of her husband & the date of the marriage 
Register

Hon. JA Wright
HR

Page 24

Pension Office    (off to the side number 2)
Dec. 2nd. 1844    (off to the side number 1)

Sir,

In the case of Mrs. Violet Calhoun, I have to inform you that the Secretary of War has decided that she will be continued on the pension list until the expiation of four years. From the 11th of March 1844. The enclosed form of an application for the pension under the act of June 17,1844 will be a sufficient guide for the person who may draw up her vouchers.  It requires a slight alleviation to suit the case. 

(illegible signature)

Hon. J. A. Wright
House of Rep

Page 25

The Hon. Com. of Pensions

Pension Office

Page 26

Washington 
24 May 1844

to the Hon. J. L. Edwards
Com. of Pensions -

Sir,
Applicant has been helped by Congress of which the Annexed is a copy -  In communication with you I understand you to incline to the opinion that the Pensioner Violet Calhoun is entitled to the be place on the Pension roll to draw the pension issued under the act for and during her natural life but that you preferred that this question should be submitted to the secretary of War.  May I request that you will in reply to this submit the question for his decision?
I am very respectfully
(unrecognizable)
T. A. Howard

Page 27

Hon. Com of Pensions

War Dept

Page 28

Washington 24. May 1844

to the Hon. J L Edwards
Com. of Pensions

Sir,

I have to request that you will place the name of Violet Calhoun on the Pension roll at Washington City and the warrant accordingly. 

May I also request that you will send the warrant to the Hon. Jos A Wright of the H of Reps. at Mrs. Nealcard on Capital Hill who will be responsible with myself for the delivery to the pensioner or her agent duly authorized to receive this money.

With great respect
(unrecognizable)
T. A. Howard

Page 29

Violet Calhoun of Indiana,
widow of John Calhoun, Captain
Dragoons, act 
May 23, 1844

Indiana Role act '38 (crossed out)
Payable to District Columbia Agency
Role. (crossed out) act '38 Role
$600 per ann. to commence 7 July 1838

Send Cert: to Hon. 
J.A. Wright
H. R.

Page 30

Old Agency Book - 
John Calhoun
Captain
$15. from Feby 6, 1810
at the Ohio Agency.
see Mayo & Moulton
page 80    Act.

But his name is not found on the Ohio list of invalids reported by Secty War in 1835.

Page 31

Greenwood S.C.
May 14, 1937
(Stamped RECIEVED May 17, 1937)

Veterans Adm.
Washington D.C.

My dear Sir's

I am writing you for the information of Capt. John Calhoun of Cornacre S.C. once in old Abbeville District S.C. probably in the Revolutionary War Record.  I would appreciate this information deeply Thanks Respect. 
M.H. Fuller 
919 Abney St.
Greenwood S.C.

In Abbeville Court house Record.  Capt John Calhoun Citation of John Calhoun late of Wilson Creek in Ninety-Six District Deceased Date 29th of May 1782, File in ordinary office 7th of Oct. 1782 adm granted.  Have you any record there of this late John Calhoun also who settled on Wilson Creek.  I do not want information on a John E Calhoun Just plain John.
P.S. I had written to the War Dept there and they wrote probably you might could give me the information.

Page 32

Pension Office. Revolutionary War Pension File of John Calhoun, W 9777