Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 37,713, Shadrach Battles, Va.

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SERVICE
Va

Battles, Shadrach
or Shaderick

NUMBER 
S. 37713

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[printed document with fill ins]
Virginia. (18,036)
=================
Shadrach Battles,
(a man of color)
of Albermarle Co. in the State of Virginia
who was a private
 in the 10th Regiment commanded by
Capt Franklin of the Virginia
line, for the term of three years (1778 to 1781)
==================
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia,
at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 14. of May, 1818.
==================
Certificate of Pension issued the 17. f Jan'y, 
182 [last number gone]
and sent to hon: Hugh Nelson,
member of Congress for Virginia.
================
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1820.  $221.71
semi anl. all'ce ending 4. March 1821   48 "
$269.71

27 mo^s. 18/31
& 4/30

{Revolutionary claim,}
{Act 18th March, 1818.}
and 1st.  May, 1820

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Shaderick
Declaration
Battles

(Examined)

CON [faintly handwritten]
(Copy)

Adm & con.
commence pen^n 14 May 1818
________________
Hon. H. Nelson, H. R.

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Virginia
At a Superior Court of Law continued and held for Albemarle County the 11th day of October 1820

On this 11th day of October 1820 personally appeared in open Court being a Court of record for said County Shaderick Battles aged about seventy four years resident in said County who being first day sworn according to Law doth on
his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary war as follows to wit; that
he enlisted about the year 1777 or 1778 under Capt. Franklin of the tenth Virginia rigiment [sic] attached to General Meadeus Brigade that he continued in in the said Cops [sic] or in the service of the United States for three years and upwards until the close of the war when he was honorably discharged that he was in the battles of Brandywine; German Town, and Monmouth
Courthouse in New Jersey that he made a declaration in [blank] and that he has obtained a pension certificate numbered [blank] which he has lost or mislayed [sic] and I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not since that time by gift sale or in an other manner disposed of my property or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish as to bring myself within the provisions of the act of congress entitled "an act to provide for certain person engaged in the Land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war" passed on the 18th day of March 1818 and that I have not nor has any person in trust for me any property or securities  contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereunto annexed viz. one broad axe, one oven and one hand saw.

Shaderick Battles X his mark

And the said Shaderick Battles further declares that his occupation is a carpenter and that he is infirm and unable longer to support himself by his labour that he has a wife about sixty years old very infirm.

Sworn to and subscribed before the said Court setting this 11th day of October 1820  The Court doth certify that this property in value exhibited in the aforesaid schedule does not exceed the sum of five dollars and that this Court is a Court of record being legally so constituted by State authority.

Virginia Albemarle Superior Court Office to wit.
I Alexander Garrett Clerk of the Superior Court of Albemarle County do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereunto annexed are truly copied from the record of the said Court, and I do further

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certify that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule does not exceed the sum of five dollars.

In Testimony  whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this
18th day of September 1820 in the 45th year of the Commonwealth.

Alex Garrett Clerk of
the Superior Court for the
County of Albemarle

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DISTRICT OF                       , 88.

  On this 14th day of May 1818, before me the subscriber, one of the Judges of the Generall Court for the said State, personally appeared Shaderack Battles aged Seventy years, resident in Albermarle in the said district, who being by me first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress, entitled "An act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war:" That he, the said Battles enlisted in Amherst Couny in the state of Virginia in the company commanded by Captain James Franklin of the tenth Regiment of Virginia Line on Continental Establishment; that Clough Shelton was his Lieut. was  afterward a Capt; that he continued to serve in the said corps, or in the service of the United States until the end of three years, when he was discharged from service in Augusta in the state of Georgia, that he was in the battles of Brandy Wine (sic: Brandywine), Monmouth, Germantown and storming the fort at Savannah in Georgia and that he is in reduced circumstances, and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support; and that he has no other evidence in his power of his said services.
 
Sworn to and declared before me, the day and year aforesaid.

I, Arch. Stuart, Judge, &c. as aforesaid, do certify, that it appears to my satisfaction, that the said Shadrach Battles did serve in the revolutionary war, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months, on the continental establishment; and I now transmit the proceedings and testimony taken and had before me, to the Secretary for the Department of War, pursuant to the directions of the aforementioned act of Congress.  Given under my hand this 14th May 1818.

NB  There is no seal provided for the court in which I preside          Arch: Stuart

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Virginia to wit

On the 14th day of May 1818 before me the subscriber one of the judges of the Gen'l Court for the State of Virginia personally appeared Shadrach Battles aged seventy years resident in the County of Albemarle in the said State who being by me first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration for the purpose of obtaining the benefit of the late act of congress entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the Land and Naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war"

That he the said Battles enlisted in Amherst County in the State of Virginia for the term of three years in the Company commanded by Capt. James Franklin of the 10th Reg.t of the Virg'a. line on Continental Establishment. that Clough Shelton was his Lieut. who afterwards was advanced to a Captaincy, that he continued to serve in the said corps or in the service of the United States untill the end of three years when he was honorably discharged from service in Augusta in the State of Georgia, that he was in the Battles of Brandy Wine (sic: Brandywine), Monmouth, Germantown, and at storming the fort at Savannah in Georgia & that he is now in reduced circumstances and needs the Assistance of his Country for support~ Sworn & subscribed the date above stated~

I, Archibald Stuart a Judge &c. as aforesaid do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said Shadrach Battles did serve in the revolutionary war as stated in the preceding declaration & during the period of his en-

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(en)listment.  I am also satisfied that he is in indigent circumstances & needs the assistance of his country for support~ 

                    Arch. Stuart
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

                        Shadrack Battles ~
                             a man of color
                       10th. Virginia Regt.
         On roll of Va. Co. Es. 
          see page 99.  -  56.2.10.

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The time of service is stated, that the applicant was honorably dischar. in Augusta in Georgia what farther have we to do with the manner of discharge! But the seal of the Court is required~ I have over and over again in my Communications with the War department stated that there was no deal provided by the State for my Court. & some pension warrants have years without a seal & yet it is now req. Further evidence of service & of his name is found on the roll & I have certified his indigent circumstances. The law requires no further evidence. A.Stuart

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37713
Revy INVALID.
File No.  37713
Shadrach Battles
Priv Rev War

Act: 18" March 18"
Index:- Vol. 2, Page 29
[Arrangement of 1870.]

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Dear Sir,      Staunton 24th Nov'r 1820

         I take the liberty of enclosing to you the papers of Henry Painter & Shadrach Battles two revolutionary soldiers both of whom reside in your County & consequently have some claim to your friendly services in aiding their efforts to obtain pensions.  They are both men of good character & are far advanced in life & are in the lowest grade of poverty ~  Battles is a man of color was the right hand man of Clough Shelton at the Storming of Stony point and in all the daring acts of that most intrepid officer~  Independent of the enclosed papers he made his declaration in my Court holden at Charlottesville in Oct'r last when he was in such a low state of health that he was brought to court in a litter~  at that time he was supported by the Charity of his neighbours~  You will discover from the enclosed papers how long these poor fellows have been asking for their rights under the late act of Congress which have been evaded under the most frivolous pretexts~  It is surely an excellent trait in the character of public officers to guard faithfully the public Treasure, but certainly that principle ought not be carried so far as to produce injustice particularly with decrepid ignorant men claiming to

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be objects of public Charity ~ The last declaration of Painter was made as you will perceive in the county court of Augusta which has been duly certified by the Clerk. This has been rejected & a form enclosed to him for a transfer of the place of paying his pension~  I presume this can only be necessary after a man has obt'd a pension in One state & removed to another to enable him to draw it more conveniently but surely in an original application no such Form can either be proper or necessary~ The requiring it shows how superficially this subject has been attended to~  If you think with me that the objections to these claims heretofore are groundless and ought not to have been made I hope will contend that their pensions shall commence from the dates of their first declaration made before me~

Accept my best wishes for your health & happiness.
                                Arch. Stuart

Honorable
   Hugh Nelson Esqr
             Washington

NB.  If you get the Warrant enclose them to me as painter lives nearer Staunton than Charlottesville.  Battles also lives in the uper part of the County.