Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 5,650, John Atkinson, Va.

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Va.		Atkinson, John                       W.5650
                                         Mary

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                                                      26.876
 West    Tennessee
      John Atkinson
of Williamson County in the State of Tenn.
who was a Private  in the Company commanded
by Captain  Morton of the Regiment commanded by
Col. Perkins in the  [illegible]
line for Militia
6 Mo  Pr   $20.00
=========================== 
Inscribed on the Roll of West Tenn.
at the rate of    20   dollars    --- cents per annum
to commence on the    4th day of March, 1831.
=============================
Certificate of Pension is issued on the 23rd day of June and sent to
3   Hon  F  Grundy  Senate  [illegible]
Arrears to the 4th of March 31            60.00
Semi-ani. Allowance ending 4 Sept    10.00
				      $ 70.00
                                     Revolutionary Claim
			Act June 7, 1832

Recorded by  J T Sprague   Clerk
Book  C  2   Vol  7    Page 81

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                     John Atkinson declaration for 7 month service State of Tennessee.  On this 20th day of February 1834, 
Williamson County personally appeared in open court before the honorable Thomas Stuart, judge of the circuit Court of Williamson County, now sitting.  John Atkinson, a resident
of said county and state, aged 78 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 provision of the article of Congress passed on the 7th of June 1832 that he entered the service of the U.S. under the following named officers and served as herein stated: 

     Answer to Question 1:   I was born in Cumberland County, Virginia on the 18th of September 1756 – where I lived till I was grown up. I then moved to Pittsylvania County in the same state.

   Answer to Question 2:   I have a record of my age taken from my  father’s register now in my possession.

   Answer to Question 3.  I was living in Pittsylvania County, Virginia when first called into the service.  In 1811, I left the State if Virginia and settled in Maury County where I lived two years.  I then moved to this county (Williamson) and the state of Tennessee …  where I now live and have been living ever since.

     Answer to Question 4.:   The first tour, I volunteered and my last three months tour, I was called out by lot.

    Answer to Question 5.   There was Gen. Greene, Gen. Stephens, Col Williams, Col. Perkins and Capt. Morton who were with the troops where I served. 
About the 1st of September, 1780, I volunteered into Capt Joseph Morton’s Company under Col Williams of Pittsylvania County.  We were called out in consequence of an apprehended invasion of Virginia by Cornwallis  whose movements were then toward the north from North Carolina.  Under Col Williams, we were marched to the Island ford on the Dan River where we remained sometime. Greene  with his Army was then at Halifax, and moved his main army
toward the interior and was co(illegible)  by us (illegible)    Cornwallis then moved his army towards Hillsborough.  About this time, say 30th of January 1781 at Pittsylvania, we were all (illegible)  and it fell to my lot to serve a three month tour.

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Joseph Morton (illegible) command the company. The regiment was under Peter Perkins attached to Gen. Stephens Brigade.  We joined General Greens army at Haw River.  Gen. Green was then on his march to Guilford Court House. This battle was on the 15th of March 1781. I was wounded in the right hand in this battle which left a deficiency which remains; rendered it useless ever since.  I was inspected and found unfit for the service and ordered when able to take my (illegible) again.
Three months were not out, but when it was, I got a discharge for three months signed by Morton which is now lost.  I had served at least four months when I entered the three months tour which ended the last of March 1781, making in all 7 months for which I claim a pension.

  Answer to Question 7    I am acquainted with Wm. Anthony, Thomas Simmons, Jepeson M Clemore and Robert White who can testify to their belief of my services and their belief of my veracity.  I know of no person except Edward Nunenlee whose certificate follows by whom I can prove my services.  I have no documentary evidence.  I hereby relinquish every claim to pension or annuity except the present whatever and declare my name is not on the pension role of any agency in any state.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year affixed
Sworn to in open court           John Atkinson
20th July 1834    P, Hay Clerk
Wm James King, clergyman   resident of Williamson County, State of Tennessee and
Wm Anthony                also resident of said county and state hereby certify that we are well acquainted
with John Atkinson who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be 78 years of age and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a revolutionary soldier and that we concur in (illegible)  a pension.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and ate aforesaid.
Sworn to in open court                                   James King   - Clergyman
20th July 1834    P. Hay; clerk                             Wm Anthony

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I, Edward Nunnell of Hickman County Tennessee
a revolutionary soldier myself and now on the pension list of the agency of this State, do hereby
certify that I have been acquainted with John Atkinson in the revolutionary war.  I know that he served in the detachment under Col. Robert Williams, Joseph Morton, Capt., with the troops which were called out against Cornwallis in the last of September or the first of October, 1780.  Green was, at that time, at Halifax Courthouse with his army and Cornwallis was on the other side of the river in North Carolina.  The British making a movement towards General Green, he retreated until he was covered by the militia who were called out in consequence of Cornwallis’ movement.  The command of this regiment afterwards devolved upon Col Peter Perkins who was attached to General Stephens’ brigade – Cornwallis retreated from Dan River towards Hillsborough.  Col Stephens, under General Green followed and arrived at Guilford Courthouse some few days previous to the battle which was on the 15th March, 1781.  In this battle, Atkinson was wounded in the hand, and rendered unfit for service.  Mr. Atkinson is a preacher of the gospel and I have heard him preach in the revolutionary war after he was wounded.  I know him to be a man of the first order; that he was a brave soldier in the revolution and always demeaned himself honorably and bravely in defense of his country and justly and honestly as a citizen of society.  I have read his declaration and that part of his service which I do not know of my own knowledge, I believe to be true.
Sworn in open court  20th
February 1834   P Hay  Clerk                         Edward Nunnell

And the said court do hereby declare its opinion after the 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 the court further certifies that it appears to (illegible) that James King King who has signed the proceeding

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State of Tennessee
Williamson County:   I, Preston Hay, clerk of the Circuit Court of
                                said County, hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original
proceedings of said Court in the matter of the declaration of John Atkinson for a pension
         In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand and after my private seal, there being
no seal of office at office in Franklin, this 15th day of March, AD 1834
								Preston Hay

District of Columbia
          I  Felix Grundy, hereby do certify that Preston Hay whose signature purports to be subscribed to the above certificate is clerk of the Williamson Circuit Court in the state of Tennessee and from my knowledge of his handwriting, said signature Is genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereto set my hand this                day of                 1834
								Felix Grundy

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Tennessee      3035

Mary Atkinson
widow of John Atkinson decd
a pension, Act of June 1832
who died on the 2nd April 1837
of Williamson Cty in the State of Tennessee
who was a Private in the  [illegible] commanded by Captain Morton of the regiment commanded
by Col Perkins in the Va. Militia line for 6 months
==============
Inscribed on the Roll of Nashville
at the rate of 20  dollars  ___ cents per annum
to commence on the 2nd  day of April, 1837.
==============
Certificate of Pension is fixed the 4th day of Sept. 1839, I sent to A Fergusson.
    Carthage, Tenn.
===============
Arrears to the 4th of March 1839       $39.77
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept ’39   
                                                            10.00
 					                    $49.77
                            Revolutionary Claim
                             Act July 4, 1836
                             Section the 3rd
Recorded by   D McCurdy           Clerk
Book A    Vol. 2  Page 181
///

Right hand note:
   Paid at the Treasury under the
Act of  the 6th April 1838
from 4 March to Sept  1840

Agent notified  13 July 1841

Date of widow’s death not on AB

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State of Tennessee
Williamson County:     On the 25th day of March 		1834, personally appeared before me, William E Hughes, one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for this county, aforesaid Mary Atkinson, a resident of the county of Williamson and the State aforesaid, aged eighty one years, having
been duly sworn first according to law doth on her oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the Provision made by the act of Congress passed July the 4th 1836 and the Joint Resolution of July the 7th 1836.
     That she is the widow of John Atkinson, who was a pensioner of the United States and drew his pension in Nashville, Tennessee
     She further declared that she was married to the said John Atkinson on the 6th day of November, Seventeen hundred and twenty
seven.  That her husband, the aforesaid John Atkinson died on the 2nd of April 1837 and that she, the Mary Atkinson, has remained a widow ever since that period as will more fully appear by reference to the proof hereto annexed.
    Sworn to and subscribed before me
this day and year first above written before me and she further makes oath that the annexed record was taken out of the family bible containing the marriage
       William E Hughes
         Justice of the Peace.    Mary Atkinson  (her mark)

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State of Tennessee
Williamson County:     I,  William E Hughes, one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with  Mary Atkinson, widow of John Atkinson.  That she is a woman of truth and veracity and that full faith and credit are due and of right ought to be
given to her statements.  I further certify that owing to old age and bodily infirmity,
the current travel to the court needs to make this declaration in (illegible) court.  I was well acquainted with her husband in his lifetime, John Atkinson.  He was an ordained Baptist
Preacher for forty years and upwards, previous to his death.

			In testimony whereof, I have
			herewith set my hand and
			affixed my seal, the 25th day of
			March, 1839

			William E Hughes
                                                        J Peace

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(right hand side of page)

4578
Mary Atkinson
   Tennessee

Admitted
Yr Pension of 20.00

Died 2nd April 1837

Act of 4 July  1836

A.	Fergusson
Carthage, Tennessee

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State of Tennessee
Smith County:     On this day, personally appeared
Thaddeus Armstead,  before me, Stephen Mann, one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for said county, and made oath in due form of law that he was born 3rd of November in the year 1755.  That he is the brother
of Mary Atkinson, widow of John Atkinson of the county of Williamson in this State.  That he and the late John Atkinson were (illegible) boys together, were nearly the same of one age and went to School together in
Cumberland County, State of Virginia.  This affiant has a personal knowledge of the marriage of John Atkinson to his sister Mary.  They were married, he believes, at his
own house by Parson Mc Crea.  This affiant was living a bachelor and his sister Mary kept house for him. Their father and mother were both dead and this affiant married and
his sister, Mary lived with him until her marriage with John Atkinson.  They were married on the 6th of November, 1777.
The record hereto annexed he believes to be, on examination, to be the genuine hand writing of this said John Atkinson and
from his own family record and his recollection of the events of that time, he knows that the date of the marriage of John Atkinson and his sister Mary.  They moved to Pittsylvania County Virginia and as this affiant is  was informed and believes said John Atkinson served a tour of service and was in the battle
of Guilford or some other battle and got wounded.  This was after the

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marriage.  The reason he cannot say positively, he was out in the service is because he was not out with him, nor actually saw him in said
service, but he is well assured that he did serve after the marriage.
This affiant went to see them after he returned home while he lived in Halifax or Pittsylvania.  Said Atkinson was a Baptist Preacher for the last fifty years before his death and further, this affiant is informed  it is not material
for him to state.
              Sworn to and subscribed before me
                This 29th day of May 1839

Attest
Stephen Mann J.P		Thaddeus Armstead
for Smith County  		  his mark.


State of Tennessee
Smith County:     I Stephen Mann, one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for this county aforesaid, hereby certify that 
I am well acquainted with Thaddeus Armstead,  who has this day made the foregoing affidavit and have known him for more than thirty years past that he is a man of truth and veracity and that full faith and credit are due and of right ought to be given to his statements.   I have hereunto set my hand, affixed my seal
this 29th of May 1839      Stephen Mann  JP
 				for Smith County

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State of Tennessee
Smith County:     I  John I. Burnett, clerk of the county court of said Smith County
do hereby certify that Stephen Mann whose name appears to the foregoing
signature  and affidavit of Thaddeus Armstead and also whose signature appears to the certificate of credibility is and was at the time the same purports to bear date one of the acting Justices of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid duly commissioned and qualified to act as Such and that full faith and credit are
due all of his affiant acts and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are 
genuine.
                  In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 
               set my hand and affixed the seal of
              said court at offices in Carthage
              this      30th          day of     May     1839
              and of independence of the United
              States the sixty third     John I Burnett
                         of Smith County Court

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                             Family

               BIRTHS
James Atkinson was
born in the year of
our Lord 1762, May 13th
and was married the 24th
July 1794

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                             Record

               BIRTHS

John  Atkinson was born 18th Sept 1755

Mary Atkinson was born 17th Feb. 1758

Was married the 6th  Nov. 1777

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				               JOHN ATKINSON
Mrs. Burton Wands		             W. 5650
11211 Massachusetts Avenue      BA-J/MLB
Los Angeles, California

Dear Madam,
       You are furnished herein the Record of John Atkinson as found in pension claim W. 5650, based on his service in the Revolutionary
War.

          John Atkinson was born September 18, 1755 in Cumberland County, Virginia, where he lived until grown, then moved to Pittsylvania County in the same state.   The names of his parents are not given.

	While a resident of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, John Atkinson volunteered September 1, 1780, served as a private in Captain Joseph Morton’s company, Colonel Robert Williams’ Virginia regiment and was discharged after having served a tour of four months.  He enlisted January 30, 1781, served 
as private in Captain Joseph Morton’s company, Colonel Peter Perkins Virginia 
regiment, was in the battle of Guilford in which he received a wound in his right
hand and was discharged the last of March 1781.  John Atkinson was an ordained
Baptist minister and preached during the war after being wounded.

	In 1811, the soldier moved from the state of Virginia to Maury county, Tennessee, where he lived two years, then to Williamson County , that state.

	John Atkinson was allowed pension on his application executed February
20, 1834 while a resident of Williamson County, Tennessee.  He died April 2, 1837.

	The soldier married November 6, 1777, Mary, sister of Thaddeus Armstead,
for whom she kept house and at whose home she married in Cumberland County,
Virginia, her parents both being dead and her brother Thaddeus a bachelor at that time
but afterwards married.  Soldier’s wife, Mary, was born Feh 17 1756, the place of her

Page 17

birth and names of parents not stated.  Thaddeus Armstead was born November
3, 1755, place not stated, and in 1839 was residing in Smith County, Tennessee.

	The following names appear in the papers on file in affidavits of acquaintanceship
with the soldier, John Atkinson, and his wife, Mary, but no relationships shown:
Honorable Thomas Stuart, Judge of the Williamson County, Tennessee Circuit Court, before whom the soldier made his declaration of pension; Preston Hay, Clerk of the Circuit Court of that County; James King, clergyman, and William Anthony both residents of Williamson County who made joint affidavits in soldier’s behalf;  Edward Nunnell of Hickman County Tennessee, testified that he had been acquainted with the soldier during the Revolutionary War; soldier’s widow, Mary Atkinson made her declaration before on William E. Hughes, Justice of the Peace for Williamson County, Tennessee; Lemuel B McConnice was Clerk of the County Court of Williamson County; Stephen Mann was Justice of the Peace for Smith County, Tennessee in 1839 and John I Burnett was Clerk of the County Court of that county and one A. Fergusson was then a resident of Carthage, Tennessee.

	In order to obtain date of last payment of pension, the name of person paid and
possibly the date of death of soldier’s widow, Mary, you should write to the Comptroller
General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city and cite the following data:
Mary Atkinson, widow of John Atkinson, Certificate  #3035, issued September 4, 1938, rate 20 per annum, commenced April 2, 1837, Act July 4 1836, Tennessee Agency

		Very truly yours

		A.D. Hiller
		Executive Assistant
		to the Administrator

Page 18


[Left hand side]

1918  Aug 1  Hist. to A. B. Radford
1925, March 17  “”   “”  Mrs Mary
  Britt
1937  April 19  Hist to Mrs. Burton Wands


[Right hand side]
(Illegible)   WIDOW &c.

File No.       5650
   Mary Atkinson
       Wid. of	
John Atkinson
 Pvt. Va. Line

Act:   July 4th ’36  Sec. 3rd

Index: - Vol       A.    Page   21   

		[Arrangement of 1870 ]

Page 19


John Atkinson     W. I   Act of June 1832
                 To what time paid?
                      Pen. Office
                                         Sept 3 1839
Died  2nd April  1837              
to that paid.   (initials)

Page 20

The State of Tennessee  SS
                I, Lemuel B McConnico, clerk of the county court of Williamson County in the State of Tennessee aforesaid, do certify that Williams E Hughes, whose signature appeared to the foregoing declaration and certificate is  now and was at the making of said declaration and certificate, an acting Justice of the Peace in and for the county of Williamson aforesaid, duly commissioned and sworn and that full faith and credit are due his official acts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereto subscribed
my name and affixed the seal of said court
at office, this 26th day of March, AD 1839
				L B McConnico

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				Carthage, Tennessee
				30th May 1839

Sir
	Inclosed you will find the declaration
and proof establishing the claim of Mrs. Mary
Atkinson, widow of John Atkinson of Williamson
County.  I need not say anything in relation of the validity of this claim as it is one I have no doubt will be found on examination to be strictly legal and genuine.
			Respectfully
                        A.	Fergusson

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                        TREASURY DEPARTMENT
		Second Comptroller’s Office

 	                        	June 2, 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”    
    Mary Atkinson    a Pensioner on the Roll of the Nashville Tenn. Agency at the rate
of Twenty  -   Dollars and  ___  Cents per annum, under the law of 4th  July 1836. has been paid at this Department from the 4th of March to the 4th of September 1840

		Respectfully yours
			Albion K. Parris
			 Comptroller

To the Commissioner of Pensions,
                               Present.

Page 23


rec’d Sec
					m

      A B Radford, Box 282
		Sawtelle, California
		July 19, 1918

Commissioner of Pensions
Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
             Kindly give me information as to 
the John Atkinson of Henrico County, Va., a
Revolutionary War Veteran; where did he live
at the time of his death?
	My object is to secure data necessary
to join the Daughters of the American Revolution
and have as yet little to work upon except the
tradition that John Atkinson, a Baptist preacher, of Virginia who removed to Williamson County Tennessee served through the Revolution.  If you have data that would help, will you not kindly help me – full particulars of service, enlistment, etc. would be
most gratefully received.
	Have you upon the pension rolls an Isaac Short, also of Virginia and who later removed to Williamson County, Tennessee?
	Thanking you for any help that you may give me concerning these “great-greats”, I am
			Sincerely,
		   See above for name of (illegible)
                     over)
[seal of
U.S. Pension
office, July
26, 1918]

Page 24


P.S.   My great g-grandfather, Jno. Atkinson whose Revolutionary service I am trying to verify was an uncle of Eli Whitney, the inventor.
Perhaps this may help identify him.

Page 25

8-040
Ex. U.M.     Div  Rev. & 1812 Wars Sect.
Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions

Washington, D.C.  Jan 23, 1925

The attached letter is respectfully returned with the information that the data furnished is no sufficient to enable this Bureau to make intelligent answer to the queries therein contained.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this Bureau.

First name of widow
No. of claim (struck out)     Mary Armstead
Name of Soldier:  John Atkinson
born 1757, died 1837 – Served as private in Capt. Bentley’s Co.  3rd Va. Regt.
commanded by Col. Thos. Marshall 
               soldier at enlistment and after service
P.O. address of claimant (struck out)  
Company:  Capt Bentley’s Co.
Regiment   3rd Va. Regt. commanded by Col. Thos. Marshall
State where enlisted
Date of (enlistment) (struck out)   Birth:  1757
Date of (discharge) (struck out)   Death:  1837

If unable to furnish company and regiment, give names of commanding officers
The number quoted by you does not refer to the records of this Bureau

Return attached letter with reply
Hays Haymaker
 Acting Commissioner
6-2462

Page 26

Franklin, Tenn
Jan 3, 1925

Pension Bureau
 Washington, D.C.

Please send me a copy of original pension application of John Atkinson, Revolutionary Soldier War department no. is  1813125

Thanking you
Mrs. Mary Britt
627 Columbia Ave
Franklin, Tenn

Feb 1st, 1925
Am returning slip set me with all the information I have.  The above no. refers to his record in the War department, which I have a record of.  I am desirous of knowing when he married Mary Armstead and the names of their children & who they married, which would be recorded in the pension bureau, if he or his wife ever drew a pension.
I know Samuel Atkinson is his oldest son, & he married Nancy Brown, when I do not know.  If you can give me this information, I will greatly appreciate it, as they are my relatives.
            Mary Britt.

Page 27

(Seal:  Daughters of the American Revolution)
Rancho San Jose
De Buenos Aires Chapter

Mrs. Burton Wands
Regent
11211 Massachusetts Avenue
Los Angeles, Calif.

January 21, 1937
My dear Mrs Finch
             Your kindess in showing me the application papers of my ancestor, Rev. Jno Atkinson of the Revolutionary War and on whom I joined the D.A.R., was greatly appreciated.  Am sorry it was impossible to get back to your office before leaving Washington in April.

	Remembering that you offered to have a complete copy made for me, am writing to say I’ll appreciate it very much.
         I also was a Photostat of a double page of his application showing signature, please and

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a Photostat of whatever pages of the wife’s application for pension that you think best, preferably one showing signature if you think it best.  I remember there was a seal and ribbon that might complicate matters.

Her father couldn’t write, I seem to remember, but think she and husband could.

If this check doesn’t cover the amount due, please send balance collect and will pay postman.  Have your Photostat prices confused with those of Congressional Library and can’t remember.

Thank you for the big service you are rendering posterity in taking care of those documents.

Enclosures:  $1.50					
(Not sure how to write check)				Sincerely
Beatrice Wands

Page 29

11211 Massachusetts Ave
Los Angeles, Calif.
March 1, 1937

Mr. A.D. Hiller
Executive Asst. Director,
Veterans Administration
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:
Replying to your letter of January 29th, in regard to my request for a copy and Photostats of my ancestor’s pension application:

The John Atkinson in question served various enlistments in Virginia.  Was born in Cumberland Co., Va. Sept. 18, 1755.  Was allowed pension on application of Feb. 20, 1834 while a resident of Williamson Co. Tenn.  # W 5650, Rev. War Records
Married Mary Armistead, born Feb. 17, 1758.

Will also appreciate copies of her application for pension, including data on corner of Bible record, both sides.  Mary Armistead Atkinson’s application for pension was made March 25, 1839 while a resident of Williamson Co., Tenn.

A Brother, Samuel (?) filed affidavit too.
  Please give me prices of Photostats.
 A complete transcript of all supporting affidavits may help me to determine who the parents of these two were.

 Thank  you
Sincerely
Beatrice Wands
(Mrs. Burton Wands)

(Over)

Page 30

May I have a list of the Atkinsons, Armisteads and Wyatts or Watts serving from Virginia in the Revolution, please.  Should also appreciate knowing if Dr. Walter Bennett, born (presumably in Ireland)
May 22, 1745 and who married Jennie (or Jane) Wyatt of Virginia, served.  He died before pensions were granted, in Tennessee.

Am not sure if it is your department that furnishes this information.

Suggestions as to which pages of Atkinson records would be most satisfactory for Photostats would be appreciated.

While in Washington last year, I found so many willing clerks and department heads who understood my search for authentic information about my many forebears, am taking the liberty of asking for the above data if it is available.  Believe me, it will be greatly appreciated, if available

		Mose sincerely
                         (no signature)
		Beatrice Wands

Page 31

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION                            3-525
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF PENSIONS

W. F. 5650			Washington, D.C.           -----   19----

In reply to your request of ---  received --- for a statement of the military record of John Atkinson, a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow’s) application for pension on file in this Bureau:

1st line:
DATE OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT:   Sept 1, 1780
LENGTH OF SERVICE:   4 months
RANK   Pvt.
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN    Joseph Morton
COLONEL  Robert Williams
STATE   Va.

2nd line
DATE OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT:   Jan’ry 30 , 1781
LENGTH OF SERVICE:   3 months
RANK    
OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
CAPTAIN    Joseph Morton
COLONEL  Peter Perkins
STATE   

Battles engaged in:   Guilford, where he was wounded in the hand
Residence of soldier at enlistment   Pittsylvania, Co., Va
Date of application for pension  Feb’y 20, 1834      His cl. was  al
Residence at date of application     Williamson County, Tenn.
Age at date of application  {born Sept. 18, 1755 in Cumberland Co., Va.
          Died  April 2, 1837.
Remarks
He mar. Nov 6, 1777, Mary Armstead who was born Feb’y 17m 1758.  She was al pens on an app. ex. Mch 25, 1839 while a resident of Williamson Co., Tenn.  It is stated that soldier was a Baptish minister for forty years.

               Respectfully
                   Commissioner.

Page 32

BA –J /MMLF: MLB

Mrs. Burton Wands
11211 Massachusetts Avenue
Los Angeles, California

Dear Madam:
    Reference is made to your letter in which you state that the John Atkinson, Revolutionary War soldier in whom you are interested, is the one whose record is on file under  W 5650, and that you desire also, the record of Dr. Walter Bennett and a list of the Atkinsons, Armsteads, Wyatts and Watts who served from Virginia in the Revolutionary War.

	Photostatic copies of the papers on file in the case sited above will be furnished you at the rate of twenty-five cents a page.  The number of pages to be copied is seventeen.

Please make remittance of 4.25 by money order, drawn to the order of the Treasurer of the United States and mail same to the Veterans Administration, when the copies will be made and mailed to you.

It may be stated that a careful examination has been made of all papers in the claims for pension of John Atkinson and his widow, Mary Atkinson (W 5650) and the data found therein has been incorporated in an official report which is enclosed with this letter, which may be all you need for future reference to John Atkinson.  The name of Mary’s brother who made affidavit on her behalf was Thaddeus, not Samuel.

Because of the frailty of the old documents and their position under seals and ribbons, the preparation of photostatic copies will be course be injurious to them.  It is pleasing, therefore, to anticipate that the accompanying report will serve completely.

There is no claim for pension on file based upon service in the Revolutionary War of a Walter Bennett.  Because of the great demand

Page 33

for Revolutionary Ware data, it is impossible to prepare lists of Revolutionary War pensions applicants for distribution.

            Very truly yours

	A.D. HILLER
        Executive Assistant
          to the Administrator

Page 34

handwritten notes:
  her name (with arrow)
Mrs. Burton Wands  (husband)
January 29, 1937
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA –J /MMLF: MLB

Mrs. Burton Wands
11211 Massachusetts Avenue
Los Angeles, California

Dear Madam:
    Reference is made to your letter of January 21, addressed to Mrs. Finch, with which you enclosed check No 37, California Bank, West Los Angeles, California, payable to the order of Photostat Service, War Records Department, to cover cost of photostatic copies of papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim based upon service of a John Atkinson which claim you read in part when you were in this city.
Numbers of person call who are interested in Revolutionary War records and so many, many claims are handled daily, that it is regretted the record in which you are particularly interested cannot be recalled or identified with only the name of the soldier, as several records are on file under the name John Atkinson.

Please give the name of the state from which the soldier served, the name of his widow and where they resided after the Revolutionary War, also the name of the widow’s brother, if you can recall it.  Another search of the records will then be made and a report furnished you in regard to obtaining the data you desire and in regard to payments connected with the transaction.

Your check is returned herewith, not being drawn to the order of the proper department.

Very truly yours

A.D. HILLER
 Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

(Handwritten note added:    I called Mr. Baxter in Arlington Bldg. in charge of this business and he said return it, it being drawn to a non-existing office & to no official)

Page 35

Rev. & 1812 Wars Section

		March 16, 1926

Mrs. Mary Britt
627 Columbia Ave
Franklin, TENN

Madam
 I have to advise you that from the papers in Revolutionary War pension claim W 5650, it appears that John Atkinson, born September 18,  1755, in Cumberland County, Virginia.

While a resident in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, he enlisted September 1, 1780, in Captain Joseph Morton’s Company under Colonel Robert Williams in the Virginia Troops and served four months.

He enlisted January 30, 1781, served three months in Captain Joseph Morton’s Company, Colonel Peter Perkins’ Virginia Regiment, and was at the battle of Guilford, where he was wounded in the right hand.

He was allowed pension on his application executed February 20, 1834, while a resident of Williamson County, Tennessee.  He died April 2, 1837.

Soldier married November 6, 1777, Mary Armstead, who

Page 36

as born February 17, 1758.   She was allowed pension on her application executed March 25, 1839, while a resident of Williamson County, Tennessee.

It is state that the soldier was a Baptist minister of fifty years

		Respectfully,

		Acting Commissioner.