Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,819, John S Alverson, Va.

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(8-1776)
SERVICE NUMBER
Va. Alverson, John S. S. 30,819

CONTENTS

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State of Kentucky}
Madison County} Set.

James Alverson, of Madison County, Kentucky, this day personally appear-
ed before me, a justice of the peace for the
county aforesaid, and made oath that he is a
brother to John S. Alverson of Lincoln
county, State of Kentucky, and that he well
knows said John S. Alverson was a
soldier of the revolutionary war, and ser-
ved to his knowledge three tours
in said war, between the years 1778
and 1783. James Carver of Madison
county, State of Kentucky also appeared
personally before me and made oath that
he well knows the said John S. Al-
verson that he lived in the same
county (Bedford, Virginia) with him - He
was not present with him in the service,
but said Alverson [smudged] always been re-
puted a soldier of the revolution, and
he has no doubt served several tours
of service. Given under my hand
this 22nd day of August, 1832

Joseph Lurner [review]

P.S. I would further certify that I am well acquainted
with James Carver and James Alverson, and know them both to be residents of Madison County Kentucky, and that they are credible persons, and their statements

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are entitled to full credit. Given under my hand this 3rd day of September 1832.

Joseph Lurner

Kentucky Madison County Set

I David [review] Clerk of the Court for the County aforesaid do hereby certify that Joseph Lurner whose signature is affixed to the foregoing certificates is and was at the times of signing the same on [review] Justice of the Peace in and for the county aforesaid, and that  all [review] and a right to be given to his official acts as [review] and that his signature is genuine.

A testimony whereof I have here [review] to
set my hand and affixed my seal of office.
This 3rd day of Sept. 1832
[review] David [review]

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Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky
at the rate of 40 Dollars - Cents per annum
to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 30 day of May
1833 - and sent to P.G.
[review], Stanford.

Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $80.-
Semi-ani. allowance ending 4 Sep 33 20.

$100.-

{Revolutionary Claim,
Act June 7, 1832.}

Recorded by [review] Allison Clerk
Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 1

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Decleration, in order to obtain the benefit of
the act of Congress, passed June 7th 1832.

State of Kentucky
County of Lincoln } ss.

On this 24th day of September 1832, personally appeared
in open court before the Justices of the County of
Lincoln, now sitting, John S. Alverson a resident
of the County of Lincoln and State of Kentucky,
aged seventy seven 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 entered (as a volunteer) the service of the United States, his first tour, under Capt James Adams, in
the year 1778 or 1779 - he does distinctinctly reco-
llect which, and has not any memorandum of other
paper to refresh his memory as to the precise date;-
That he entered the service as aforesaid, for the purpose of guarding the lead mines, from which the publick supplies of lead were thn mainly recovered - which mines were in danger of being
attacked and destroyed by a number of Tories
who had collected and were stil assembling in the
neighbourhood, and were committing many and divers
depredations on the whig inhabitants;- That he
resided in Bedford County in the State of Virginia
about four miles from the village of New London
when he entered the service;- That he marched
directly for said mines, crossing the Alleganny Mountains [ed. Allegheny Mountains]

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at the head waters of Roan Oak, passing Harms Meadows :- That he remained at the lead works until the Tories dispersed (to the best of his recollection, about eight weeks - and was dismissed by his officers - but without any certificate or other writing:- That one Henry Bitson was lieutenant of the company:- And that he has no documentary evidence - nor does he know of any person, whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his said service.

He further declares that he afterwards entered the service of the United States some time in the year following that in which he made the lead mine tour, also as a volunteer, under the command of Captain Thomas Arthur and Lieutenant Joseph Hendrick; That he marched thro' the southern part of Virginia into the State of North Carolina and after scouring the country and finding that the British and Tories had dispersed, was dismissed and returned home.

He further declares that he entered the service of the United States, again as a volunteer, in March 1781 (to the best of his recollection) - he then residing in Bedford Country in the State of Virginia; That his company officers were Captain Jacob Moon and Lieutenant Benjamin Rice : and Col. Charles Synch and Major John Galloway were the officers to whose command his company was

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Attached.___ That he was marched immediately to a general rendezvous in the county of Pittsylvania in the State of Virginia_ and then as into North Carolina, near Guilford Court House_ and he was in the battle called the battle of Guilford in which General Green commanded in chief and whereas his Captain, Jacob Moon, was killed.
He further declared that in the year following he served a tour in the county of Bedford and State if Virginia guarding a magazine at an old church, some seven or eight weeks, until it was removed and he was discharged.  And he declares that he has not any documentary evidence, and cannot procure any other testimony respecting the services in the three last tours above stated, except the affidavits of James Averson & James Carver hereto amended.

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declared that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to & subscribed the day of year affixed
John S. Alverson

(?) William T Murphy residing in the county of Lincoln and Henry Pearl residing in the same County, hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John S. Alverson, who has subscribed & Sworn to the above declaration and that we believe him to be

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Seventy seven years of age; that he is respected and believed on the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a solider of the revolution, and we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
(illegible)
Henry Pearl
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogations presented by the war department, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary solider, and served as he states.  And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that Wm. T Murphy who has signed the proceeding certificate is resident in the county of Lincoln and that Henry Pearl, who has also signed the same, is a resident in the same County snf are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

Members of the Court
George Helm J.P.
JB . Camden J.P.
Jno Carpenter J.P.
Wm. Shanks J.P.
State of Kentucky Lincoln County Set.
I Thomas Helm clerk of the County of Lincoln County do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John S Alverson for a pension, & I do further certify that George Helm JB. Camden Jno Carpenter & Wm Shanks are justices of the peace

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John S Alverson

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Amended Declaration
of
John S Alverson
from 1779 private
12 month $40

PG Camden
Stanford
Ken

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An amendment to the Declaration of John S Alverson, an applicant for a pension, made in order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June 7th, 1832.
On the 26th day of February in the year 1833, personally appeared in open Court before the Hon. John S Bridges Judge of the Lincoln Circuit Court, John S Alverson, who being duly sworn deposeth & saith, That, between the years 1778 and 1783 he served as a Private & volunteer four different tours as set forth in his original Declaration: that he has not and letter of discharge from the officers under whom he served or any other writing by which he can ascertain precisely what length of time he served in any one of those tours- and by reason of old age & the consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service; but he is positive & confident in declaring that he served fully twelve months, altogether, as a private & volunteer in the service of the now United States during the Revolutionary war: and for such service said John S Alverson claims a pension.
By way of further amendment to his original Declaration he states that he was born in the year 1755

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That he has no Record of his age; that he was living in the County of Bedford and State of Virginia when called into service; That he moved from that State to Kentucky in the year 1801 in which latter State he now resides &  has resided since his removal; he has no recollection of even having received a discharge from the service, if he own no  if his been long since lost. he is Known to Alfred Hocker, Benjamin Duncan, Terry Ball Esq, Richard Singleton Esq and (illegible) others in his neighborhood who can testify as to his character for voracity.  He would further state that no clergyman lives in his vicinity which alone is the reason of no clergyman's certificate not being affixed to his original Declaration from now to the present.  Sworn and subscribed the day and date above writing.
John S. Alverson
State of Kentucky
Lincoln Circuit Set.
I, John S. Bridges, a Judge in & for the Circuit & State aforesaid, do certify that the foregoing amended declaration of John S.

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Alverson, was made by J. Alverson appearing personally in open Court on the 26th day of February 1833 and making oath to the truths of the statements contained in said amended declaration.  whereof i have hereunto set my seal this 2nd day of March 1833.
John L Bridges
Judge of Lincoln
Circuit Court

State of Kentucky Lincoln Circuit Set
I Thomas Helm clerk of the Lincoln circuit do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the  original & amended proceedings of the court in the matters of the application of John S. Alverson for a pension.  & I do further certify John L Bridges in the preceding Judge of the Lincoln circuit court that his affixed signature annexed hereto is his genuine signature. In testimony whereof I have here unto subscribed my name this
fourth day of March 1833
Thomas Helm Clerk
Lincoln Circuit Court

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30819
 Recy INVALID
-
File No 30.819
John S. Alverson
Lin Per was
---
Act: June 7th 32
Index: - Vol. 2, Page 6
[Arrangement of 1870.]

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the only material objection to this applicants came in the pensioner to state with reasonable precision the period of his service - Let this omission be supplied and the papers returned
(signature illegible)

John S. Alverson
Ken.
from 1779 private
1 yr $40

P.G. Camden
Stanford
Ken

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BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John S. Alveerson which require further proof or explanation.

1. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides?

II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides?

III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so?

IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served?

V. Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled?

No

VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations?

VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension then the one under the Act of June 7, 1832?

VIII.  Has the court given their opinion?

IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate?

X.  Is the Clerks seal affixed?  And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any of seal?

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XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary
service?

 citizens

XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?

No

XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had?

XIV. If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office?

XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?

XVI. Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct?

XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?

1.2.3.6  not ans

EXPLANATORY NOTES.

QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of 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 following grades: For---- year
-- months and --- days, I served as a -. For - months and ---
days, I served as ----- ; and for such service I claim a pension."

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It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which the applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable.

QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.

In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which be belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.

QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
 In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticated the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the
certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the end of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly
attached to the certificate.

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Stanford Ky
March
Pension Declaration
Free

Hon Lewis Copy- Secy of War
Washington City
D.C.

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Stanford Ky
March 6, 1833

Respectfully Sir.

I enclose, directly to the War Department, the Declaration of John S. Alverson- which was sent back by our congressman (W Letcher) because of some deficiencses: Those deficiance have been rectified; And, I can venture to say, with scrupulous regard to the truth of the case.  I can also venture to say, that this Petitionor is believed to be better entitled to a pension then others in this County who have obtained one without difficulty- or at least as well- Mr Alverson was an utter stranger to me when he applied to me to draw up his Declaration; that I have taken some pains, since, to satisfy myself of his claims.
With much respect
H PG Camden