Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2176, John Collins, Va.

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(3 - 1776)

SERVICE
        Va.
   Collins, John
NUMBER
          R. 2176

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Va Collins, John R. 2176

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John Collins

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State of Virginia to wit,
On this 21st day of May 1835. Personally
appeared before me Richard Thornton a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of Halifax in the State aforesaid
John Collins a Resident of Said County: Aged Eighty Seven Years who being first duly sworn According to law doth on his Oath make the following declar[a]tion in Order
to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress passed June the 7th 1832, that he entered the Service of the United States as a private Soldier in the War of the Revolution being drafted, and marched from the County of Halifax where he then and now Resides in a Company of Militia which was Commanded by Captain
Kelly, and Lieut McDaniel, in the month of May 1777 to Richmond, from thence to Hampton, from thence to
Norfolk, and from thence to the light House on the Bay Shore, where we remained until our term of Service being six months expired. I was discharged by Captain Kelly at that place in the month of November 1777
In the month of February 1781. I was again drafted into the Service of the United States, and marched from
the said County of Halifax in a Company of Militia, under Captain Edmond King into the State of North Carolina, and joined the Regular Army under General Green at a place called the Red House. [T]hen I was transferred to Captain Merton[']s Company of Rifle Men, and Continued with him Still under Genl. Greene marching in Various directions until we met with the British under Lord Corn Wallis in the County of Guilford, North Carolina in March 1781. [W]e had a Severe Battle in which the American Army
were defeated. [A] retreat was ordered, we again ralllied our army and followed the British eight days, I was discharged by Colonel Lee On the 10th, day of April 1781. My discharges are both Lost and Cannot be found. [B]ut the Service rendered an be
proved by William Abbott & James Bates --who were soldiers with me in the said service.

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The Time of Service rendered on This tour was about two months and two days. The total Service rendered by me as a private in the War of the Revolution was not less
than eight months for which I claim a pension.

I was Born in the County of Amelia on the 10th
day of September 1748.

My Age was recorded in a family Bible, that is
now in my posesion or with Some One of my Children

I lived in the County of Halifax in the State of Virginia when I was called into service, have lived in that County ever Since the War ended and still lives in That County,

I was Drafted
By reason of old age and the consequent loss of memory I cannot recollect the names of the field officers
of the No. of the Regiments that I was with. except
Genl. Greene Colo. Lee

I Received two discharges. One was given to me by Captain Kelly. and the Other by Captain Morton and Colo. Lee.

Colo. Benjamin Stone [,] Colo. Thomas Davenport -- Saml. Pannell [Esq?]. and Man
Connell and many Others. can testify as
to my Character for Veracity. and their belief of
my services as a soldier in the War of the Revolution. There is no Clergyman living in my neighborhood
I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a Pension on Annuity except the present, and declare that my name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State.
his mark
John J Collins Sr.
Sworn to and subscribed before me the day and year aforesaid: --
Richa. Thornton J.P.

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Mr s Peter Barksdale and James Bates
Residing in the County of Halifax in the State of Virginia hereby Certify that we are well Acquainted with John Collins who has subscribed and Sworn to the above Declaration, that we believe him to be Eighty Six years of Age that he is reputed and believed in the Neighborhood where
he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and that we Concur in that Opinion
Peter Barksdale
James Bates
Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
Richd Thornton J P

I Richard Thornton a Justice of the Peace in
and for the County of Halifax in the State of Virginia do hereby declare my Opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after pulling the interrogatories prescribed
by the War Department, together with my own Acquaintance with the above named Applicant that he was a Soldier of the Revolution and served as he states
I further Certify that Peter Barksdale & James Bates
who have signed the preceeding Certificate are Residents of Halifax County, that they are credible men and that their Statement is entitle to Credit. 

I do further Certify that by reason of Old Age and Bodily infirmities, the above named Applicant (John 
Collins, cannot with ease or convenience attend the Court of the County in which he resides, that the distance
from his house is at least thirty miles, . . .
Given under my hand & seal this
21st day of May 1832
Richd Thornton [J of P?]

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July 26, 1836
va - John Collins
[Peytensburg?] July 22

J.L. Edwards Esq
Commisioner of Pensions Washington City

Free

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              Pittsylvania County Virginia
                     21st July 1836
Sir
Inclosed I Send to You The Pension claim of James Griffin which has been Presented to the Agent for Paying Pensions in Richmond V^a. and Payment was refused because more Than two years pay are due on it. This claim has been regularly Presented but oweing to some error or informality it has been rejected. Please examine The inclosed Paper and See if it is not a Proper Voucher for the
Agent Agreeable to the rules of Your Department,
the Clerks Certificate of Magistrate is filed with The Agent, and if so instruct him to Pay it. and inform me Accordingly,
            Inclosed I Also Send the declaration of
John Collins who is an applicant for a Pension
I believe his papers are Agreeable to the Rules and
Regulations of the War department You will please forward his certificate to me at Peytonsburg Pittsyla
County Virginia and Obliginall
Your
Tho. Williams

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2176
P. O. John Collins
Service: _________________
Enlisted: __________________, 18
Discharged: _________________, 18
Application filed: ________________, 18
Alleges: _______________________
Re-enlsited: _________________________________
Attorney: ______________________________________
P. O. ____________________________________

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John Collins, Virginia Rejected so letter 5 August 1836, T. Williams H. James 20th May 1834...
2178
1832.

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John Collins
Halifax Co
VA
24th Jan, 38.

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		Spring Creek May 10th 1854
Hon. L.P. Waldo
	Sir
		Rev. Elisha Collins son of 
John of Halifax County Virginia a Revolut
-ionary Revolutionary Soldier of Artilery [sic] of the State Line 
of Said State, requests us to inquire whether 
his father filed papers in order to obtain 
a pension previous to his death or not.
	He designed doing so but his son thinks 
died before it was accomplished.
	Your Kind attention will much oblige
	Yours very respectfully
		[signature] Z. Jayne
		for
		G.W. Talbot

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John Collins
Virginia
Report to Thomas Williams
Peytonsburg, Pittsylvania County, Virginia.

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I, James Bates of the County of Halifax in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that I was an Ensign in the War of the Revolution and served as such under Captain William Morton at the Battle of Guilford, North Carolina in the month of March 1781, and know from my own personal knowledge that John Collins was a soldier in Captain Morton's Company with me at least eight weeks or two months as stated in his declaration sworn and subscribed to me my present this day and that he was honorably discharged from said service. Given under my hand this 21st day of May, 1835.
James Bates.
State of Virginia
Halifax County, to wit
I, Richard Thornton, a Justice of the Peace in the County and State aforesaid hereby certify that James Bates, who this day appeared before me and subscribed his name and swore to the above, the Certificate, is a Credible Man and that his niece is entitled to Credit. Given under my hand this 21st day of May 1835.
Richard Thornton.

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Virginia to wit
I, William Holle, Clerk of the County Court of Halifax in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Richard Thornton, whose name appears in the foregoing declaration and certificate is an acting Justice of the Peace for said County and is commissioned and qualified, and that the signature pertaining to be his appears to be genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said County and my office this 18th day of November, 1833.

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I, William Abbott of the County of Halifax in the State of Virginia, do hereby Certify that I was a soldier in the War of the Revolution and served a tour of duty in the Eastern Part of Virginia in the year 1777 and well remember that John Collins of this County, who is an applicant for a pension was also a soldier in service at Norfolk Hampton, and other places in the same year that I saw him while in service with Halifax when he entered the service and when he left it, I earned say but I have no doubt that he served as he states and was honorably discharged.
Given under my hand Seal this 27th day of June, 1836
William Abbott.
Halifax County, to wit
I do certify that William Abbott who this day appeared before me and subscribed his name and swore to the above certificate is a credible man and his subordinant is entitled to credit. Given under my hand this 27th June 1831.
Charles T. Harris.
I, William Holle, Clerk of the Court of the County of Halfix hereby certify that Charles T. Harris whose name appears to the foregoing certification is an acting Justice of the Peace for said County, duly commissioned

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and qualified and that the signature purported to be his is genuine.
In testimony whereof I herewith set my hand and affixed seal for said County at my office this 27th day of June 1836
Wm. Holle.