Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 37838, James Chambers, Va.

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(- - 1776)

SERVICE
Va.
Chamber, James

NUMBER
S. 37838

CONTENTS

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[Left side of page]
13.416
Virginia

James Chambers
Westmorel'd Co in the state of Virginia who was a private in the regiment commanded by Colonel Davis of the Virginia Co, for the term of four years, War -

Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of - 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 26th of April 1818

Certificate of Pension issued the 31st of July 1819 and sent to the S. Templman Esq Templemans Bross roads Westmoreland Co Virginia

Arrears to 4th of March 1819        82.,36
Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 Sept 1819       48.,

=====
$130.,36
======

10 (illegible) 5/30 4/31
{Revolutionary claim,
Act 18th March, 1818}

not entitled

[Right side of the page]
[illegible] [illegible] sent July 6th 1821 to 
Samuel Templeman Esq.
Westmoreland Co. House 
Virginia

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James, Chambers, private
Westmoreland County, Courts
Declaration No. 8.

1779
Col. Davis, (illegible) line &
Col Wm Washington

Active
The deposition of 2 witnesses certified by the judge to be credible proving and secured an individual establishment is required.

Active

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State of Virginia, County Court of Westmoreland.
On the 27th day of April 1818. Came before the said court being a court of [illegible]. As will appear by a former declaration in oath made on the 16th of the same month and raised to be certified by the said court of the above state, and now again on the 22nd day of March 1819. As will appear by the clerk certificate of the above date personally appeared in open court James Chambers aged about sixty years, resident in the said county who on the former and present occasion being quit sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following statement and declaration in order to obtain the provisions made by a 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 same time in the year 1779 he enlisted with county forces in the Virginia line of troops or Continental establishment - and was with other [illegible] marched by Capt George Garner from Westmoreland to Chesterfield Court House in Virginia, and delivered to Col. Davise who placed him first under the Command of Capt Scott and afterward, Capt Lawson, and joined a regiment commanded by Col. Green and Liut Col. [illegible] and was in the said regiment marched to the southward and was in Mar '81 the battle at Guilford Court House. That after this Battle he the said James Chambers enlisted in the first troops of light dragoons commanded by Capt Jones and was attached to the Regiment commanded by Col. Williams Washington. in this company and  Regiment he served untill the end of the war. And was discharged in Charls Town in in South Carolina some time in the year 1783. he thinks that it was some time in the year 1780. That he enlisted in this troop. He is now old and injured and stands in head of need of assistance from his country -

(Second letter)
Virginia
At a court held for the county of Westmoreland at the Court House Thereof on the 22nd day of March in the year of 1819-
Ordered that it be certified to the Secretary of the War department that James Chambers this day made his declaration before this court upon oath, as will appear by his said declaration filed in court, and that it appears to the satisfaction of the court from the evidence exhibited, that he served as set forth in his said declaration in the Revolutionary War against the common enemy. It also appears to the satisfaction of the court that the said James Chambers is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his county for support.

[illegible] Jospeph Fox

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That James Chambers this day made his declaration before this court upon oath, as will appear by his said declaration filed in court, and that it appears to the satisfaction of the court from the evidence exhibited, that he served as set forth in his said declaration in the Revolutionary War against the common enemy. It also appears to the satisfaction of the court that the said James Chambers is in reduced circumstances and stands in need of the assistance of his country for support. 

(illegible) Joseph Fox (illegible)

(Second letter)
On reference to the books of this office - it appears that on the 21st of June 1785 a warrant issued to [begin underlined text] James Chambers [end underlined text] for 100 acres, for [begin underlined text]  his [end underlined text] services [begin underlined text] 3 years [end underlined text] as a [begin underlined text] private [end underlined text] in the Va Cont. line. 
And further, that on the 6th of (illegible - rip in page) James
[begin underlined text] Chambers [end underlined text] for 200 acres for [begin underlined text] his [end underlined text] services [begin crossed out text] to the end of the the [end of crossed out text] war, [end of crossed out text] as a [begin underlined text] private [end underlined text] in the Va Cont. line.
Land Office
2nd August 1810
Wm G Pendleton

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State of Virginia 
Westmoreland County to Mr
I Joseph Fox clerk of the county aforesaid do hereby certify that at a court held for said county on the 27th day of April 1818,  James Chambers, a soldier who served in the Revolutionary War in the Continental service appeared in open court per an ally and presented his declaration made oath thereto ac cording to the act of Congress passed at the last session making provisions for needy Revolutionary officers soldiers of which men ordered to be certified according to the [illegible] one of said act -
In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand and appeared the seal of my office this 30th day of April 1818 on the 42nd year of our foundation. -
Jo. Fox

(second letter)
Westmoreland County to [illegible]
I Williams S. Jitt judge or proceeding mag = istrate for the county court of Westmoreland county of record do certify that it appears to my satisfaction that the said James Chambers and who now resides in the said county did serve in the Revolutionary War as stated in the preceding declaration against the common enemy for the service [illegible] in the foregoing declaration on the Continental establishment and I transmit the proceeding and [illegible] many taken and said lad said before me to the Secretary for the department of War [illegible] to the [illegible] of the aforementioned act of Congress given under my hand this 22nd day of June 1818.
Wm Stake Jitt

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Westmoreland County State of Virignia
The affidavit of James Chambers (alias Burges) aged about sixty years old taken this 16th April 1818. This affiant declares on oath that he enlisted in the Continental army under [illegible] Jones, and was marched with other recruits by Capt George Garner to Chesterfield court house and was delivered to Col. Davise. Under this enlistment he was, and did serve one year in the foot service under Capt. Scott & afterwards Capt. Lawson and was marched to Guilford Court House the regiment was commanded by Col. Green & Lt. Col. Haws, he was in the action at Guilford Court House after this battle, this affiant, enlisted in the first [smudge] of light dragoon commanded by Capt. Jones in the regiment commanded by Col. William Washington and served from this time to end of war, on the conclusion of peace, this affiant with others was called to Charlston, where their horses were sold, and he was discharged and returned to Westmoreland County where he was born and where he now resides - this affiant is now grown old, has raised & supported a wife & family of children, and stands in need of assistance from his country for future support.

James Chambers
Taken and sworn to before me a Justice of the peace for Westmoreland County this 16th day of April 1818.
Samuel Templeman

27th April 1818. This day personally appeared before me Alex Parker & made oath that of his knowledge the foregoing affiant James Chambers served in the Revolutionary War as a soldier as this affiant believes to the end of the war -
[illegible] Jo Fox [illegible]

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State of Virginia
Westmoreland County, to Wit,
On this 26th day of June 1820
Personally appeared in an open court being a court of record agreeably to the laws of the states of Virginia, James Chambers about sixty years old resident in the county of Westmoreland in said state, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath, declare that he served in the Revolutionary War, as follows, that he served in a company of infantry comm =anded by Capt. Scott and was in the Battle at Guilford Court House in North Carolina at which time the company was commanded by Capt Lawson attached to a regiment of continental troops of the Virginia line, but the number of which regiment or the Col. that commanded he does not now recollect but he believed was commanded by Col. Green, after the action at Guilford Court House he inlisted for during the war in a company of cavalry commanded by Capt Jones attached to the [illegible] of Col. Williams Washington of the 3rd regiment of Virginia line, on continental establishment and was in the Battle at the Eutaw Springs when Col. Washington was taken prisoner, and in many skirmishes with the British on the lines near Charls Town, he continued to the end of the war and was discharged in Charlston after peace was declared all of which will more fully appear by reference to the original declaration filed in the war office. Dated the 26th of April 1818. On which a pension certificate was granted the 31st day of July 1819. Number (13.416) 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, sake, or in any manner, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with evident thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within one provisions of an act of Congress "enlisted an act to provid for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States

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in the Revolutionary War" passed the 18th day of March 1818. And that I have not nor has any person for me in [illegible], any property of securities, contacts or debts due to me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule announced and by me subscribed.
"Schedule H. H.
[begin underlined text] No [end underlined text] real estate of any kind whatever.
[underlined O] Occupation.: [begin underlined text] Farmer [end underlined text]. Rents land for which he pays $20 annually. 
Personal Property. One plough house, 12 head cattle of all sizes. 20 head of sheep including twelve lambs, twelve head of hogs. small & great. household [illegible] supported to be worth $-
~~~~~~
Family [illegible]
himself aged about sixty years and [illegible] not very able to pursue [begin underlined text] his [end underlined text] calling-
[underlined a] A wife about seventy years old much affected scarcely able to support herself alltho he has raised 3 children none raised with him -.
Signed by - James Chambers 
Sworn to and declared on the 26th day of June 1820 before the court of Westmoreland County while in session.
I Joseph Fox clerk of the county court of Westmoreland do hereby certify that the foregoing oath and the schedule thereto announced as truly copyed from the records of the said court and I do further certify that it is the opinion of the said court that the total amount in value of property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule is worth $121=00 dollars & in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and allowed my deal of the said court on this 28th day of June 1820 in the 44th year of the Commonwealth.
Jo Fox

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James Chambers
No. 1
issued 31 July 1819

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[Left side of page]
let 10 Augt. 1842 to
S. 89. 13. minus
let to 32 auditor Aug 25 1843.
Paid at the treaty under the 
act 6th April 1838 from 4th 
Sept 1841 to 13 Feby 1842. Agt
notified 27 Sept 1844
[illegible]
Feby 7. 1822 [illegible]
sent to [illegible]
W. L. Ball
[illegible]

Pension certificate sent
to Saml Templeman at 
Westmd Ct House, 24 May 1822.

[Right side of page]
James Chamber's 
Case
~~~
Real Estate - none
Rents land - [illegible]
he pays $20. per an-
Personal property
valued at $121 -
His age 60 - a farmer
& rather infirm
Wife 70 - infirm
served from 1779
four years - 
------------
Pension certificate
within - also Mr. 
Templeman letter
to Mr. Ball -
Hon. W. L. Ball,
[illegible] [illegible]

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37838
INVALID
Revy
File No. 37838
James Chambers
[illegible] Rev War
Act: 18th March 1818
Index:- Vol. 2, Page 482
[Arrangement of 1870]

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GIDEON, PRINTER
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE,
August 8th 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 3rd section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pen= sion agents, The adm: of James Chambers, [illegible] in Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va
Agency, at the rate of eight Dollars
and --- cents per [begin crossed out text] annum [end crossed out text] month, under the law of the 18th March 1818, has been paid at this Department from the 4th Sept. 1841, to the 13th Feby 1842,
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the COMMISIONER OF PENSIONS, 
Present.

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James Chambers
Rejected
wrote 20th July 1820

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WAR DEPARTMENT
PENSION OFFICE,
July 6th, 1820.

SIR,
You are hereby informed that the Secretary of War does not, on account of the amount of your property, consider you entitled to a Pension under the Acts of the 18th March, 1818, and 1st May, 1820; and has, therefore, directed your name be stricken from the Pension List.

I am, respectfully, 
Your obedient servant,
K. L. Edwards

To Mr: James Chambers
Westmo. Co. Va

restored Feb. 7, 1822
see agency book

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Westmoreland Co [illegible] Free
6th Novem 1821
William Lee Ball Esq

Member of Congress

expected at
Richmond Court House
now at the 
city of Washington

James Chambers
or
Mr Robert Hall

[illegible]

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Westmoreland County Templeman's Road, 1st November 1821.
William Lee Ball Esq

Dear Sir
At the request of the following old soldiers of the Revolution, namely James Chambers (alias Burgess), Edward Sanford, and John Morriss, I take the liberty to address you and state the following facts as may be seen by reference to papers filed in the office of the war department, under the law of Congress of the 1st May 1820. (yes all the above person had drawn their pensions) It required that these old soldiers should comply with the requests of said law, and return a schedule of their property to the Secretary of War, this was done, among many who was, this presented. James Chambers, Edward Sanford, William Spurling and John Morriss were rejected - in consequence of which and being personally acquainted with the entire sircumstances of their old men. I again represented their situations to the secretary, begging that he would reconsider their case. (This letter to which I refer you and vouch for the back thereof I refer you filed in the office) April 12th I received a letter from J. L Edwards of that office. Stating that the above cases were filed for reconsiderations. On June 1st I received a letter address to John Morriss inclosing the Attorney General opinion dated 9th February 1821. Informing Morriss that agreeably to the opinion of the attorney he could not be restored to the pension roll in July 21st 1821. I received a letter informing William Spurling that his name was restored to the pension list roll. The other appear to have been passed over in silence.
I before stated to the Secretary of War, that I was apprehensive their real sircumstances were not well understood from the schedule reported, I will now repeat them to you and which you may find in my letters on this subject filed in the war office.
James Chambers enlisted into the United States Service in the Revolutionary War at the Commencement when young and continued untill the peace took place, and was discharged in Charlston, and left to get home to Westmoreland as he could. after his release he married, had and raised several children, on rented land, for several years. They have all been married and has left him and his wife considerably older than him self and both infirm

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on rented land to struggle for themselfs. On [illegible] his schedule it will be found that the only property of any value was a horse actually obtained by his pension drawn, and which since he has been obliged to see to pay his debts. I can only say that I have known him [illegible] a boy unto the present day, and that if any Revolutionary soldier [illegible] will of his country - James Chambers is the man -
Edward Sanford is among the [illegible] of men, by reference to his schedule it will be joined that his personal property is small indeed himself and wife old and afflicted, one daughter afflicted. It is true he lived on a farm at the time of rendering his schedule the rent of which was $100. But it is to be recollected and it is so stated. That this farm was rented by his son the rent paid by him. Edward Sanford, was by the means of renting out this land to other [illegible] to support himself and family - but now he is on his sons little farm and entirely dependent- on his son for support - he is as poor a man as any of the [illegible] of pensioners, unless he was a beggar -.
John Moriss - He is an old cripple man with a family of children and no wife, he has but one of the most [illegible] [illegible] men, notwithstanding (his son begs which he contracted by front - while in the army and which will follow him to his grave- It is true, that he purchased a small tract of land on which he lives, (but not paid for) and which he expected to do out of his pension under the Act of 1818. It is also true that he owns a negro woman & several children, but which as certified adds to his poverty, being an entire expense- By his industry and care he had purchased two or three young negro men. But in the late war the British took these all from him- It renders him truly poor- 
His will that the secretary allowed [illegible] his pension. his landlord had seized his all for rent and but for this he would have been a beggar indeed with his wife and children.
The object of this is to get the favor of you to have the cases of James Chambers. Edward Sanford & John Moriss reconsidered & certified, or take such other steps as you may deem necessary in your wisdom.
There is a nother subject - connected with this to which I beg have to call your attention - you know that there was a member of soldiers of what was called the Virginia State Troops, forced into the United States Service, and served both to the north and south, and received Continental pay. And apt neither by the Law of

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Law making provisions for them and numbers binders. but the almighty Senate rejected them in solo. Can no remedy be made in this case. What an ungrateful set of creatures we are - while we are dwelling in our ceiled palaces, rolling in all the luxuries of life, and patronage. We forget the poor old war worn soldiers & officers that fought and bled and died to procure us this case and affluence. Would it not be better to dispense with some of those silver knives, forks, and gold spoons [illegible] then remark they are the (illegible) of my heart. May you experience a pleasant and prospectable session this season. 
Yours Respectfully
Samuel Templeman