Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6885, George Gentry, Va.

Page 1

SERVICE                                                                      NUMBER
Va.                                   Gentry George                       S6885
                                                                                       B.L. Ws 26177-160-55
                                                                                                               carded

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Virginia 12.848                                                                          J.J. Fry & Pen Agent
==============================                                                                   May 4, 1837
George Gentry                                                                                            Letter to {Audr 10 Dec 1839
at Albemarle in the State of Virginia                                                 Paid at the Treasury under
 who was a pri: in the company commanded                              the act of the 6th April
by Captain Thompson of the -----commanded                           1838 from 4th March 1837
by------------in the Virginia                                                                     to 4 March 1839. Agt notified
line for 8 months                                                                                      ? Jany 1840
                                                                                                                         ---------------------------------------------------
==========================================                Paid as above from 4 March 1844
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia                                                        to 4 March 1842. Agt notified
at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum,                             27 Sep 1844
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831
==========================================
Certificate of Pension issued trhe 4th day of June '31
                                                     and sent ASt. Arthur
Charlottesville Va.
==========================================
Arrears to the 4th of March '33 ----------------53.32
Semi-anl, allowance ending 4 DSept. "          13.33                               
                                                                                 ==========
                                                                                    $66.65
                                                                                ==========
                                                            {Revolutionary Claim, }
                                                            {Act June t, 1832            }

Recorded by Wm Miller Clerk,
Book E   Vol. 6     Page 9

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65.539 March 3/55
                   Apr 12/55
---------------------------------------------
George Gentry
                                 Pri
---------------------------------------------
Revolutionary Pension
---------------------------------------------
Boynton
Va. June 22 - 12848
---------------------------------------------
Milboa     May 17/56
                   Boynton
---------------------------------------------
J.J. Bowcock
         Charlottesville
                                      Va

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Geo: Gentrys

Declaration









Copy

Page 5

State of Virginia:

                 At a court held for Albemarle County the 2d day of October 1832. 
  On this 2d day of  October 1832 personally appeared in open
court the Justices of the court of Albemarle County George Gentry
aged sixty six 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 act of Congress passed June 7th 1832.
         That he was born in the county of Hanover near ground squirel
bridge in the year 1765 or 1766 he cannot be positive as he has no
record of his age. That about the beginning of the year 1781 he entered
the service in the militia as a substitute for his father who was then
drafted, That he marched to Richmond thence to Williamsburg where
he was stationed some time--thence to Morvans hills-thence he was
stationed on the York River in different places, he was on guard
near the spot where the British forces landed above York town
He served his fathers tour of two months out-Then his was drafted
on his own account and served that tour without being at home
more than three days-The he served a tour next in place of
John Childres as a substitute, next as a substitute for John Alvis
each tour about two months, He was not finally discharged
until after the surrender of Cornwallis.- He thinks he had a written
discharge, though he is not positive, He has not got it now, if he
received one. He was altogether in the service about 8 or 9 months
He was stationed some time at Williamsburg and was in the
Eastern side of the York river when the Surrender of Cornwallis
took place. He recollects the names of the following officers under
whom he served Viz Capt Jno Thompson under who he first
marched. Thurston James Agurland. Major DeKluman a frence officer
his name was thus pronounced but he does not know how
it was spelt, Gen Thomas Nelson & General Washington
His captains besides Thompson were ----------Johnson (his christian
name not recollected ) Capt Rowe commanded him while he served

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as a substitute for John Childress. - He has no papers but
can refer to the certificates of James Gentry and Absolum Thomas
who knew that he was in the service as above stated. He
believes that by going to the county of Hanover he could procure
other certificates of persons who knew him while he was
in the services. He removed from Hanover to this county
about seventeen years since and has lived here ever since
He hereby relinquishes every claim 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.
Sworn to and subscribed this day & year aforesaid
                                                                                               his
                                                                              George      X     Gentry
                                                                                               mark
Thereupon the court propounded to the applicant the following
interrogations.
1. Where and in what year were you born?
a.  I was born in the County of Hanover Virginia in 1765 or 1766
2. Have you some record of your age, and if so, where is it 
a. I have none
3. where were you living when called into service; where have 
you lived since the Revolutionary war & where do you now live?
a. When called into service I lived in Hanover County Virginia
and removed from that county to the county of Albemarle
about seventeen years since where he has resided ever since.
4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did 
you volunteer, or were you substitute, & if a substitute for whom:
a. In the 1st tour I entered the service as a substitute for my father
James Gentry who was then drafted, In the 2d tour I was drafted
In the third tour I served as a substitute for John Childress
In the next as a substitute for John Alvis
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 & the general circumstances of your service

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a. Capt John Thompson, Thronton James adjutant-Maj De Kluman
a french officer.  Genl Thomas Nelson & General Washington
Capt Johnson, Capt Reeve.

Albemarle County  Court
                          This day Absolom Thomas made oath before
me James Jarman a justice of the peace for said County
that George Gentry was in the service under Capt John
Thompson in the Revolutionary War as to date he cant
recollect. Given under my hand this 29th day of 
September 1832                                         James Jarman

James Gentry being duly sworn in open court, says that
he served in the Revolutionary war with the applicant
a term of two months and knows that he substituted
himself for another tour of two months.  He served as in
his declaration stated.
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after 
the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations
Proscribed by the war department that the above taken,
is now and was at the time of the date of the same 
an acting justice of the peace for Albemarle County, and that
it appears to them that Absolom Thomas and James Gentry
who have deposed as above are credible persons and 
that their statements are entitled to credit
--Ira Garrett clerk of the county of Albemarle County do hereby
certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of said court in the
matter of application of George Gentry for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my
hand & Seal of office this 15th day of November 1832
in the 57th year of the Commonwealth.
                                                   Ira Garrett CC

Page 8

Gentry
          {Declaration
     George

Revolutionary Pensioner
Act 3d March 1855

Page 9

State of Virginia             }
County of Albemarle  }

            Be it known, that before me, Henry Thompson a justice of 
of the peace in and for the county and state aforesaid, duly authorised
by law to administer oaths in and for the county aforesaid, personally
appeared George Gentry, aged ninety years, a resident of the said
County and State, and made oath in due form of law, that he
is the identical George Gentry named in an original certificate
in his possession , of which (I certify) the following 
copy.                                     War department
                                                Revolutionary Claim

I certify that in conformity with the law of the United States
of the 7th June 1832, George Gentry of the State of Virginia
who was a private in the war of the Revolution; is entitled to 
receive twenty six dollars and sixty six cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March and 4th September in
every year.                                                           Given at the war office of the 
                                                                                  United States, this 4th day of June one
                                                                                  thousand eight hundred and thirty
                                                                                 three

                                                                                Lew Cass
Examined and Coutersigned                         Secretary of war
                              Commissioner of Pensions
On the back of said certificate the figures 12.848 are placed.
He makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the
bounty land to which he may be entitled under the act approved the 3d day of March 1855. He also declares that he has not applied for nor received as a Revolutionary soldier any bounty land warrant for his services in the Revolutionary war.
his                                                              
George X   Gentry
mark                                                         
We Robert D. Burris and Thomas R Maupin residents
of  the county of Albemarle and State of Virginia upon

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our oaths declare that the foregoing declaration was signed
and acknowledged by George Gentry in our presence; and 
we believe from the appearance and statements of the applicant that he is the identical person he represents himself
to be.                                                                     R.D. Burrus
                                                                                 Thomas R. Maupin
The commissioner of Pensions will enclose my warrant, when
issued to J J Boward Esq. Charlottesville Va
Witness                                                
Henry Thompson J.P.
 his         
George X Gentry
mark                                                                 
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and 
subscribed before me, on the day and year above written;
and I certify that I know the affiants to be credible persons;
that the applicant is the person he represents himself to be,
and that I have no interest in this claim.
                                                                     Henry Thompson J. P.
State of Virginia
         Albemarle County Court
                          I Ira Garrett Clerk of the County Court of 
said County in said State do hereby certify that Henry
Thompson who has signed the foregoing certificates is now
and was at the time of signing the same an acting
Justice of the peace in & for said County duly commissioned
and qualified as such; and that his signature thereto is 
genuine. -
                               In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of 
                              said Court this 11 day of April 1855
                                                                            Ira Garrett CC

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George Gentry, Survivor's File #6,885. was allowed pension
on an application executed October 2, 1832, at which time he
was a resident of Albemarle county, Virginia. He state that 
he was born in 1765 or 1766 near Ground squirrel bridge, Hanover
county, Virginia, and resided in same county when he substituted
for his father (name not stated) in January, 1781, and served as a 
private in Captain John Thompson's company of militia, eight
months, and was wounded in the leg by a sword cut.
            The Bureau record is endorsed "died October 28, 1855."

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6885

INVALID

File No.      6885
George Gentry
      Pri Rev War
---------------------------
Act: June 7th 32

Index: --Vol 1st Page 139
   [Arrangement of 1870]

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26.177

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George Gentry,       Act 32)
To T H 4 March 1835

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Act of 1833-
---------------------
65.539
------
George Gentry, Priv
Revolutionary Pension


Memorandum
                     July 24/56 
                             warrant
No. 26.177 for 160

Acct cancelled - Died
before issue
                           R.D.G.


Vol. 5 P.36

Page 16

S. Cole Com. of Pensions                             Charlottesville,
       Washington City D.C.                              24th October 1855
                    
                                                Sir:
                                                        I send herewith, from the commissioner
of the Ld off. Maryland, two certificates of Rev service of John Wood,
whose widow Elizabeth Wood, is now applying for bounty land under the
act of 3d March 1855; see claim no 98,419, which has been suspended for 
record evidence of the service of the husband. Hope the evidence here
with furnished will be regarded as sufficient to authorise [authorize] the [illegible]
of the warrant to the claimant.
            By letter of the 10th [illegible] I am informed by the commissioner that the 
revolutionary service of George Gentry does not appear of record in
the Pension off. and that his claim no 65:539 has been examined
and suspended when I filed this application.  I supposed that the
existing record evidence in the Pension off. would be regarded as sufficient
to entitle the clamant to the benefits of act of 3d March 1855.
     When Wood and Gentry made application to obtain the benefit of
the act of 1832, they had to produce evidence of service rendered in the
Revolutionary war, and upon this evidence then furnished, they were entered
upon the pension list, and a certificate of the Secretary of war given
therein, showing what sum per annum each was entitled to receive during life-Wood having died, his widow, before she could be placed
on the list of pensioners had to surrender his certificate of her
husband, consequently she could not produce it in support of her

Page 17

claim-Gentry is now living and has in his possession his original
certificate signed by L. Cass, Secretary of warr. If this certificate
will be taken in support of his pension application, I can forward
it to the commissioner.
Gentry resides some distance from me, have not seen him since his
claim was suspended, cannot say whether the service was rendered in
Virginia or some other state. If his certificate is not such record evid
ence as you require, I hope his claim will not be rejected before making 
other efforts to furnish the necessary evidence of service.
              While writing, I will mention, that on 3d April last, I filed the claim
of Ld File No. 39.154 for bounty land under the act of 3d March 1855. This was am-
ongst the first claims & I forwarded-I have recd between 20 and 30 warrant
to this claim with a run of troubling you with a reply, as to who has
been done with it, but mearly to rule your attention to it; in the count
of its having been overlooked in the examination of other files ? due.
                                                    Very Respectfully your
                                                    ob Serv
                                                       J. J. Bowcock

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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
                                                 Second Comptroller's Office, 
                                                     July 12, 1841
Sir:
                       Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled, "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States,"  George Gentry---------------
a Pensioner on the Roll of Richmond, Va Agency, at 
the rate of Twenty six Dollars and 66 Cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has
been paid at this Department, from the 4th of March.
to the 4th Sept. 1840.
                                               Respectfully yours,
                                                      Albion K Parris
                                                                                     Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions,
                                                                     Present

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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
                                              SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE
                                                          June 30th 1843.

Sir:
                 Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States,"  and the 3d section of the Act of August 23, 1842, lextending 
the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pen=
sion agents, George Gentry-----------------
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond Va.
Agency, at the rate of twenty six Dollars
and 66 Cents per annum, under the law of the 7th June
1832, has been paid at this Department, from the 
4th of March 1841 to the 4th March 1842
                                               Respectfully yous,
                                                        Albion K. Parris
                                                                            Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions
                                                                      Present.

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Behind 15 Apr
Dear Sir
                      Please direct the 
agent to pay the within &
oblige yrsd
                                                      J J Fry

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TREASURY DEPARTMENT
                                                 Second Comptroller's Office, 
                                                     Dec. 18th 1839
Sir:
                       Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled, "An
act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain
Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury
of the United States,"  George Gentry---------------
a Pensioner on the Roll of Richmond, Va Agency, at 
the rate of Twenty six Dollars and 66 Cents
per annum, under the law of the 7th June 1832, has
been paid at this Department from the 4th of March 1837
to the 4th March 1839.

                                                  Respectfully yours,
                                                       Albion K. Parris
                                                                   Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions
                                                      Present

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Minor Com of Pensions                    {Charlottesville
               Washington D.C.                   { 28th May 1856
 
                                           Sir
                                                I have just received warr
ant No. 26.177 for 160 paid to George Gentry, private in
Revolutionary war. Ir you remember Gentry's claim no 65:539
was suspended for record evidence of service; before I could
furnish such evidence, Gentry died, leaving no widow or minor
child, these facts I made known to you immediately. The 
warrant is in my possession, and will remain so, until I hear 
from you, when it will be returned if you desire it. I as not know
whether it was issued by mistake, forgetting Gentry's death had
been suggested, or upon reconsideration you determined to issue it
upon the evidences (his certificate from the war office). then before
you, and intending his heirs as law should have the benefit
of it as they would have had; if the claim had not been
suspended; I presume however, the warrant should be returned 
as it is dated subsequent to his death.
       On the 5th April 1855, I filed the claim no 42756 of Elizabeth Simmons
widow of Preston Seomonds for bounty land under the 
act 3d March/55; she states in her declaration that her husband died
the 20th January 1853, and that a warrant for 8 0.00 (under a pre
vious law) has issued to Peter (not Preston) Seomonds. which 
was dated the 30th April 1852. This warrant was returned to the Com
of Pensions with her declaration & with the request that a warrant 
should issue to her for 160.00 as in point of fact no warrant paid
to Preston Seomonds. The court refused to send her a warrant for

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160.00 but sent warrant No 5,679 for 80.00 and changed the name of 
Peter to Preston on the other 80,00 warrant & returned it. Is is evident
that was her Seomonds was mistaken as to the time of the death of
her husband, it occurred on the 20th of January 1862, and the
issued to him, as before stated, is dated 30th Apl 1852
about 3 months after his death,
So there can be no doubt that the widow, and not the children is
entitled  to the warrant. Her children are willing that she should 
have the benefit of the warrant issued to Preston, but the wife
only is this; one of the lass has been absent from the place
for several years and her assignment can not be had on this
warrant. Seamonds death has been proven in court, and for
the com. will consent to the return of this warrant and issue
one to the widow. I will forward the evidence of her husbands
death which was given in court.
Will you please inform me what has been done with the following 
claim. Polly lovaman No 49.267. Mary D. Thurman No 65540
Moshen Turner No 70.628
The claim of Fielding Reins No 41.373 under the act of 3 March 1855, was
suspended for record evidence of service, no such evidence could
be given, therefore I made no further effort to get his claim.
Reins rec? a warrant for 80 or 40 acres under former law,
and as he is entitled to receive under the amendatory act just
past. I will hereby use his application.
                                                                   Very Respectfully yours
                                                                    Ob srvt
                                                                   J. J. Bowcock

Page 24

160                  Bounty         United States of America        Land              160
Acres                                                                                                                           acres
Department                                                                           of the Interior
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS
This hereby Certified that under the Act of March 5th 1855
entitled "An act in addition to certain Acts granting Bounty land to certain
officers and soldiers who have been engaged in the Military.  Service of the 
United States
                                               George Gentry
                                                  Private

Page 25

Geo. Gentry's

additional statement

Albemarle County, Virginia

$26.66 per snn

Page 26

George Gentrys

Declaration

Page 27

State of Virginia

Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a
Justice of the Peace for said County, George Gentry, who being
duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that by reason of old age and
the consequent loss of memory, and from an injury which he re:
ceived many years since on his head which has affected his
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 fol:
lowing grades viz: For the year 1781 two months as a private- he
cannot positively swear as to the months - but is confident
this tour included two winter months, and he thinks the 
months of January and February - He was a substitute
for his father, and is confident that the tour was for two 
months from the time he entered the service as stated in his
declaration, till he was discharged - as stated in his declaration, he had been at home only a few days, when he
was drafted in the militia on his own account, and
served as a private another tour of two months - This
tour was of come in the same year viz: 1781-and
in the months of March and April  and past May-
as this affiant believes from the best recollection he 
has of the dates - He was not at home long after the close
of this tour, before he entered again as substitute for 
John Childres, who was drafted as a private in the militia-
He cannot name the months in which their tour was performed, but if he was to conjecture, he should say
they were June & July, he recollects they were summer
months-and in the same year viz: 1781 - This tour
was two months - He served another tour the same year
and recollects distinctly that this tour was during
the siege of Yorktown, and he thinks embraced
parts of the month of September, October, and November
as he was not discharged till after the surrendering of
Cornwallis some time =
When his former declaration was written; it being done
in haste, the person who wrote it omitted to state that
he had received a wound in the leg from a

Page 28

sword cut - This was while he served as a substitute 
for John Childress - The marks & scar of the wound are
still visible, as the sinew of his right leg was in
firmed and still give him frequent pain- as
this wound is to him at least an honorable me
:morial of his service, he wishes it now
mentioned and made known.
And for this service he claims a pension.
If other witnesses hinder Jones Gentry are wanted,
he can procure several by going to the county
of Hanover where he originally lived - But as he is
old and this would give him much
trouble, he hopes the proofs submitted will
be deemed satisfactory- 
          Given under my hand and seal 
this 26th day of April 1833.

                                Jno. R Jones L.S.

State of Virginia
                      Albemarle County Court Clerks office, to wit.
                             I, Ira Garrett Clerk of the County Court aforesaid,
do hereby certify, that Jno R Jones Esq. before whom the
foregoing affidavit was taken, & whose name is thereto sermised
is and was at the time of taking and signing
acting Justice of the Peace in and for the said County, duly
commissioned and qualified; that full faith and credit is due & ought to 
be given to all his official acts as such,  and that his
signature annexed is genuine. 
                        In Testimony whereof I have hereto set
                        my hand and affixed the seal of said
                        county court, at my office aforesaid, this
                        28th day of May 1833, in the 57th year of 
                       the Commonwealth.
                                                                            Ira Garrett  CC