Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 2,892, Isaac Depew, Va.

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Va. 
Depew, Isaac 
NUMBER
R.2,892
Born in N. J.
CONTENTS

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(1)
State of Tennessee} 
Sullivan County} Declaration of Isaac Depew for Pension under act 7th June 1832 

On this 20th day of March 1852, personally appeared before me J. W. Fulkerson an acting Justice of the peace in and for said County, and I certify that the said Isaac Depew is aged ninety four years and who from age & debility is unable to attend the Court of the County in order to make his application in open court & called me to his own house to make the application for pension. He states on oath that he served through the greater part of the Revolution and in the tours and at the times & places as herein after set forth towit First. being a resident citizen of Bottatourt [sic: Botetourt] County Virginia - He enrolled in captain Gilmores company, Col Christy’s [William Christian’s] command, in the year one thousand seven hundred & seventy six which enrollment was for about four months that he with Col. christies [sic:] men, under captain Gilmore was marched through the now western portion of Virginia into the then Indian Country now East Tennessee to what was called the Long Island on Holston [present Kingsport TN], & had engagements there with the Cherokee indians [Indians] & served out the term of his enrollment & was discharged by his said Captain Gilmore He again enrolled himself (upon the Shawney Indians makeing [making] incursions and aiding the British) in the County of Bottatout [Botetourt] State of Virginia under Captain Paxton, thinks in the year 1777 for three months tour & served said campaign on the indian [Indian] or unsettled part of now Virginia known as the Greenbrier Country & was discharged by his said Captain Paxton at the expiration of his term of service
He again enrolled under Captain John Mills at the time the British were attempting to gain possession of the lead mines [near Fort Chiswell] in western Virginia

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(2)
to perform a tour of duty and guard said mines, said enrollment he thinks was for a three months tour under Col. William Preston of Virginia & marched to & continued in the vicinity of the lead mines, (now Wythe) until his term of service expired & was discharged by his said Captain Mills.
He again enrolled in Captain Mills company of Virginia militia in the County of Bottatourt [Botetourt] to repel the British Army then marching through the South was commanded by Col. Campbill [sic: William Campbell] marched into North Carolina & was attached to General Greens [Nathanael Greene’s] command said service was at the time the British army was directing their movements toward Virginia thinks in the year 1780 or 1781 [Feb and March 1781] & was under the command of Genl Green until the expiration of his service which he thinks was six months & was discharged by his Captain Mills. 
He was again enrolled under Gl John Lewis, Col. Landon Carter was his captain he [illegible word crossed out] to perform a tour of duty to repel the cherokee [Cherokee] Indians, then in league with the British & served three months in that expedition into the Cherokee country & remained until the expiration of his three months
He states that his service was continuous up to the year 1793 from the close of the last named tour being performed before the year 1783, which closed the Revolution and the service since not being provided for he only states that he served as a private & up to Captain, until 1793.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever to a pension or an annuity except the present and that his name is not on the roll of

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(3)
any agency in any state He declares that from the passage of the act of June 7th 1832 he uniformly determined not to accept of the charity of his Government, indeed had regarded those who would apply as being destitute of patriotism seeing that they were fighting for their own firesides & in preservation of their own liberties but life to him has been so long protracted that it has so far become a burden, that necessity induces him to do what he would not when able to labour [labor] have done, &c
[Signed] Isaac Depew
Sworn to Subscribed before me this 20th day of March 1852 
Test 
J. W. Fulkerson Justice of the Peace 
and I the said J. W. Fulkerson a magistrate do [do] hereby declare the opinion that the above named applicant Isaac Depew was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states. 
J. W. Fulkerson {L.S.}
Note: the words “was” and himself, interlined in the 21st Line of his declaration before signed.
Test
J. W. Fulkerson J. Peace

Interrogatories propounded by me the acting magistrate to Isaac Depew. 
1st – Where and in what year were you born. 
Answer. In the state of New Jersey Middlesex county in the year 1758 September 16th day 
2 – Have you any record of your age & if so where is it? 
Answer. None but the record in my Fathers Bible, which Bible I presume was taken from the county by some of his children 
3 Where were you liveing [living] when called into service where have you lived since the Revolutionary war & where do you now live? 
A. [Answer] – I was living in the state of Va. Bottetourt [Botetourt] County – & have lived ever since the year 1784 in the State of Tennessee
4th How were you called into service were you drafted did you volunteer or were you a substitute & if a substitute for whom. – I never served in any other capacity but as a Volunteer

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(4)
Question
5th State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served, such continental or militia Regiments as you recollect & the general circumstances of our services
6th did you ever receive a discharge from the service by whom was it given & what has become of it? 
7th State the names of some of the persons known to you & by whom you can prove your character & reputation of service. 
I certify that the foregoing questions were propounded by me & the answers given by the applicant affixed.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 20th day of March 1852 
J. W. Fulkerson {L. S.} Justice of the Peace

Answer to 5th question, Gen’l Dan’l Morgan [General Daniel Morgan] and Gen’l Nathaniel Green [General Nathanael Greene] & Col. Wm Campbell (who was a General after that time) I was in the Regiment of Col. Wm Campbell at the Battle of Guilford [Guilford Courthouse, 15 Mar 1781] at Martinsville State of North Carolina.
Answer to 6th question, I did receive a discharge from Gen’l. [General] Green’s armey [army] by the hands of my Captain John Mills, which is lost or mislaid.
Answer to the 7th - I do not know any of my fellow soldiers who are now living, but I can refer you to many now living who can testify as to my veracity for truth & reputation of service Viz Doct [Doctor] John E. Cosson of Jonesboro Tennessee Major Samuel Hunt.

I certify the foregoing answers was made to the above questions by Isaac Depew, The Date above writing 
J. W. Fulkerson {seal}

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Aug 22, 1933

Isaac Depew
R. 2892
MMHF/eel

The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in Revolutionary War pension claim, R.2892, based upon the military service of Isaac Depew in that war.

Isaac Depew was born September 16, 1758, in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

He applied for pension March 20, 1852, in Sullivan County, Tennessee, and stated that while a resident of Botetourt County, Virginia, he enlisted in 1776 and served four months as a private in Captain Gilmore's Company, Colonel Christy's Virginia Regiment; that in 1777, he served three months as a private in Captain Paxton's Company; and that he again enlisted and served three months in Captain John Mills' Company, Colonel William Campbell's Virginia Regiment; also that he served three months as captain under Colonel Landon Carter to repel the Cherokees, and stated that he was in engagements with the Cherokees and at the battle of Guilford.

His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish proof of service as required by the pension laws.

There are no data as to soldier's family.

-3-

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July 20, 1938
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

ISAAC DEPEW
R.2892 Own
BA-J/MMHF:MLB

Mrs. Erie T. William Boquist
2212 Polk Street Northeast
Minneapolis, Minnesota

Dear Madam:

Reference is made to your letter in which you state that you have a copy of a sworn statement which was made by Caption Isaac Depew when he applied for pension, which was in regard to his residences, age, service, etc., and you desire to know whether or not that sworn statement can be used as proof of his service, or must you seek further to prove it by record evidence, for the purpose of membership in the Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, as his claim for pension was not allowed.

For information in regard to the established requisites of the Society cited above for membership therein, it is suggested that you address The Registrar General of that Society, Memorial Continental Hall, this city, and present your record of Isaac Depew for consideration.

It is suggested that information in regard to the military service of this man might be obtained from the Adjutant General, War Department, this city, or from the Curator of Revolutionary War Archives, Richmond, Virginia. 

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant
to the Administrator

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October 21, 1935
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/MMHF/ady
Issac Depew
R.2892

Lyle A. Dickey
Attorney-At-Law
P. O. Box S
Lihue, Hawaii

Dear Sir:

Reference is made to your letter of September 12, with which you enclosed money order in the amount of $5.00 to cover cost of photostatic copies of all papers in Revolutionary War claim for pension, R.2892, based upon service of Isaac Depew.

The number of paged in that claim is fifteen. The cost for copying each page in twenty-five cents, making total cost $3.75.

Photostatic copies of the papers in said claim are enclosed herewith. The amount remitted in excess, $1.25, will be refunded in due time.

Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Executive Assistant to the Administrator

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

BA-J/ady  Rev. &amp; 1812 
No. 283 
October 21, 1935.
Navy 970
Rev.&1812 Wars Section.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rev. War claim for pension of Isaac Depew, File No. R.2892. 
Actual 1 of each page

UNCERTIFIED

[written sideways] all copied 
[arrow pointing]
$3.75....15 pages

xxxx
Kindly leave margin of 1 1/2 in. at top of each page and return papers in folder with corresponding name and number.
The word "omit" written in pencil on those pages which are not to be copied.
Chief, Rev.&1812 Wars Section

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

P. O. BOX S TEL. NO. 4666
add Rev War Pension 
LYLE A. DICKEY
ATTORNEY-AT-LAW
LIHUE, HAWAII
9389
Sept. 12 1935

Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir,
Will you kindly send me a full copy of application for pension of Isaac Depew Revolutionary War Pension Claim R. 2892.

I enclose P. O. money order for $5.00

Yours truly, 
Lyle A. Dickey

Mo enc

[circular stamp with Numbers 1 -12 around the outside]  RECEIVED SEP 20 1935 MAIL SUB. DIV. VETS. ADM. READER# 15

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August 22, 1933
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
BA-J/EEL

Ollie Depew
424 Lindon Walk 
Lexington, Kentucky

Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of Henry Holm and of two soldiers named Isaac Depew.
Revolutionary War data furnished by this office are obtained from claims made to the United States for pension and bounty land based upon military service of soldiers of that war.
A careful search of the Revolutionary War records has been made in your behalf and no record found of such claims having been made on account of the services of Henry Holm.
It is suggested that as a possible means of obtaining information in regard to the military service of soldiers of that war, you apply to The Adjutant General, War Department, this city.
The histories of Isaac Depuy and Isaac Depew are furnished herewith, in separate sheets, the data for which were obtained from the respective claims for pension, W.2769, and R.2892, based upon their services in the War of the Revolution.
Very truly yours

A. D. Hiller
Assistant to Administrator

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section  MMHF 

August 28, 1924

Bertha DePew
424 Linden Walk
Lexington, Ky.

Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 2892 it appears that Isaac DePew was born September 16, 1758 in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

He applied for pension March 20, 1852 in Sullivan County, Tennessee and stated that while a resident of Botetourt County, Virginia he enlisted in 1776 and served four months as a private in Captain Gilmore's Company, Colonel Christy's Virginia Regiment; in 1777 served three months as a private in Captain Paxton's Company; and that again he enlisted and served three months in Captain John Mill's Company, Colonel William Preston's Virginia Regiment; that in 1780 or 1781 he enlisted and served six months in Captain John Mills' Company, Colonel William Campbell's Virginia Regiment; also that he served three months as Captain under Colo-

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[Colo]nel Landon Carter to repel the Cherokees, and stated that he was in engagements with the Cherokees and at the battle of Guilford.
His claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish satisfactory proof of services as required by the pension laws.
There is no data on file as to his family.

Respectfully,

Commissioner.

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION. 3-525 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
BUREAU OF PENSIONS 
R.2892 Washington, D. C., ___, 19___ 

In reply to your request of___, received___ for a statement of the military history of Isaac Depew 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.

[column headings] DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. CAPTAIN. | COLONEL. STATE.
776 | 4 mos. | Pvt. | Gilmore | Christy | Va.
1777 | 3 mos. | | Paxton | |
[checkmark] | 3 mos. | | John Mills | William Preston |
1780 or 1781 | 6 mos. | | John Mills | Wm Campbell |
[checkmark] | 3 mos. | Captain | | Landon Carter | to repel the Cherokees
Battles engaged in, with Cherokee Indians, Guilford 
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Botetourt Co. Va. 
Date of application for pension, Mch. [March] 20. 1852 [checkmark] 
Residence at date of application, Sullivan County Tennessee. 
Age at date of application, born Sept. 16. 1758 in Middlesex Co. N. J. 
Remarks: There is no data on file as to his family. 
The claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish satisfactory proof of services as requested by the pension laws. 

Respectfully, 

Commissioner.

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

2212 POLK STREET NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA

[circular stamp with Numbers 1 -12 around the outside] RECEIVED MAY 9 1936 MAIL SUB-DIV, VETS. ADM. READER #

United States Commissioner of Pensions
Washington D.C.

Dear Sir,-
In trying to prove our line of descent for our membership in the D. A. R. we wish to inquire of you three facts.
We have a copy of the service statement of Capt. Isaac Depew. (original being in the pension dept.) when he applied for a pension

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in 1852 at the age of 94 years- But he died in 1854 without completing necessary proof of his service.
Could the sworn statement of Captain Isaac Depew or (Depuy) Born- Sept. 16, 1758 - in Middlesex County: New Jersey- enlisted in the Revolutionary War in Botetourt County, Virginia, in 1775 under Gen. Greene Serving as a private under Colonels Christy, William Preston and William Campbell; and

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as a Captain - under Landon Carter all of Virginia, be used as proof of service or must we still hunt for written proof by page and volume?
Will you please let me know if the application is still on record and may we use it or must we continue to prove it-
Thanking you in advance

Sincerely yours.
Mary Bacon Boquist.
(Mrs Eric T. William Boquist)
May Fourth - nineteen thirty eight

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

Rev. War
[stamp] DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORS RECEIVED AUG 11 MAILS & FILES
 [stamp upside down] OFFICE OF THE CHIEF CLERK AUG 11 1924 H BUREAU OF PENSIONS
 
Lexington, Ky., Aug. 8, 1924

Department of Interior,
Washington, D. C.

Gentlemen:
I wish to secure the record of a Revolutionary solider. The record in which I am interested is that of Isaac Depew. He enlisted at the beginning of the war, was an officer- I do not know the rank- fought throughout the war and was honorably discharged. I am not sure which of the colonies he gave as his residence. He was born in France but I can not give the date of his birth. His grand children live in Tennessee. It is possible that he enlisted from some of the southern colonies.

Yours truly,

Bertha Depew
424 Linden Walk
Lexington, Ky.

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Rev Sec
Mechanicsburg March 23/922
Department of interior
Bureau of Pensions
Washington D.C. 

[stamp] PENSION OFFICE MAR 24 1922 U S

Gentlemen

I should like to obtain the record of one Isaac Depew, who was a pensioner and who served in The War of The American Revolution.
Any fees or other charges for this record will be promptly remitted. 
Thanking you for your attention to the above, I am
Respectfully yours
Mrs. Alice Starr Hanck.
Mechanicsburg
Cumberland Co.
P.A.

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

IN REPLY PLEASE REFER TO 977995 "r" ADS
Inclo. ADA
Rev War Sec ass1x A.W.S.
 
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
GENERAL LAND OFFICE
WASHINGTON APRIL. 6, 1921.

ADDRESS ONLY THE COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE

War Record.

The Commissioner of Pensions,
Pension Office,
My dear Mr. Byington:

The inclosed [enclosed] letter from Lucy MacGregor of 307 North 4th Street, Temple, Texas, is returned to your office. Information is desired relative to the service record of Isaac Depew, a soldier of the Revolutionary War.

Very respectfully,
 C M Nuce
Assistant Commissioner

4-4- mm
[stamp] PENSION OFFICE N APR 7 1921 U. S.

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Temple, Texas, March 21, 1921

United States Land Office,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:-
Can you give me any information of Isaac Depew, a soldier of the Revolutionary War, who was given grants of land in what is now known as Sullivan county, Tennessee? He lived and was buried on his farm there, and was living just before or during the early part of the War Between the States. He was a wheel-wright by trade. I am most anxious to know something of his service record during the Revolutionary war, in order to establish my right to become a Daughter of the American Revolution. Any information you may send will be very greatly appreciated by,
Yours truly,
(Miss) Lucy MacGregor, X
307 North Fourth St.

ans 4-6-21 aed "k" [stamp] [stamp]

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[typed form, with handwritten responses]

[left side] 
1921 Apr. 30 Hist. to Miss Lucy MacGregor.
1922 Apr. 24 Hist. to Mrs. Alice S. Hanck
1924- Aug. 28. Hist. to Bertha DePew. MMHF
1933- Aug 22. Hist. to Ollie Depew,. Letter in care Isaac Depuy, W2769- MMHF./eel
1935 Oct. 30 Photos mailed to Lyle a. Dickey & account. Div. ntfd [notified] refund $1.25  A.D.Y.
1938 July 20 Mrs. E. T. W. Boquist ads. rel. to membership in DAR cl. MMHF

[right side]
[stamped] REJECTED
2892
P. O. Isaac Depew
Service: ___
Enlisted: ___, 18
Discharged: ___, 18
Application filed: ___, 18
Alleges:  Claim filed too late to be on printed list of 
Re-enlisted:  1852 of Rejections. 
Attorney: ___
P. O. ___
___ Recognized. ___ Contract
___ Cert. of Dis. Searched for ___, 18

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no 38366
Isaac Depew
claim for pension
Revolutionary solider
2892
June 7. 1832
Tennessee
John Blair
Jonesborough
Tenn.

Page 24

State of Tennessee} 
Washington County} We Anderson Myres minister of Gospel and Thomas Guynn citizens residing in the County & State aforesaid do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Isaac Depew who has subscribed & swore to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be ninety four years that he is (& always has been) reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution & that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn & subscribed in open court this 5th day of May 1852. 
Anderson Myers 
Thomas Guynn 
Test. W H Smith Clerk County Court

State of Tennessee Washington County April Session of the County Court. 1852 [several words crossed out]
the undersigned a citizen of the County of Washington State of Tennessee do certify on oath that I have known Isaac Depew the applicant for pension for the term of upwards fifty years. that I am aged [crossed out] seventy have resided in the County most of that time with the said Depew & personally know him to be a man of high intellectual powers of Sound patriotism & unexceptionable moral character, that I was living in the town of Jonesborough at the passage of the act of 1832 granting pensions to the Revolutionary officers & soldiers of the Revolution knew very many who applied for and obtained the benefits of the act of 1832 and whilst all conceded Isaac Depew was a Revolutionary Soldier still his singular opposition to those who applied & drew pensions was a subject of common conversation & the said Depew branded all who were able to work & support themselves as being destitute of patriotism refusing himself to become chargeable to the Government. Whilst able to support himself

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regarded those who were able to work and hanging on the Government as destitute of Patriotism. from my age being seventy years, contrasted with his greatly advanced years above me I hesitate not to say that said Depew is as stated ninety four years & served as stated by him. 
John E Cosson 

Sworn to & subscribed} 
in open Court April 5th 1852.}
W. H. Smith Justice of the Peace 
Clk [Clerk] of the Court & County 

and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter (and the interrogatories having been propounded by the magistrate the said Isaac Depew being unable to appear in Court) yet from the proof of & our own opinions, we believe that the said Isaac Depew served as he States. & the Court further certifies that Anderson Myers who has signed the preceding certificate as a Clergyman resident in the County & State aforesaid & that Thomas Guynn & John E Cosson & Samuel Hunt are respectable citizens & credible. 
& I William H Smith clerk of the said Court of Washington County do hereby certify that the forgoing contains the original proceedings of the Said Court with matter of the application of Isaac Depew for a pension. 
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed the seal of my office at office this 5th April 1852 
W. H. Smith Clerk

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State of Tennessee} 
Washington County} April 5th 1852 
Then came into open Court Samuel Hunt Aged eighty one years past and made oath, that he has known Isaac Depew for more than fifty years. I served a campaign under said Depew as a captain in 1795 against the Cherokee Indians, have acted as sheriff for thirteen years of my life in the County of Washington, & can state that Captain Depew is a man of unimpeachable character, & has been reputed from the information I had & was able to collect a soldier of the Revolution & I would from my knowledge of him accredited his statement. 
Samuel Hunt
Sworn & subscribed before me this 5th day of April 1852 
W. H. Smith Justice of the Peace

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May 3d
Rel: to Isaac Depew-
Robt. G. Hall [or Hale]
[written sideways]
Robert G Hale [or Hall]

[written on right page sideways]
Hon James E. Heath
Washington City DC.

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Washington County} 
State of Tennessee} March the 13th day 1852 
Hon J E Heath [James E. Heath, Commissioner of Pensions] 
Dear. I take my pen in hand to inform you of the great parade which has lately taken place concerning Isaac Depew, a revolutionary aged ninety odd years one of the most Honest men in the country in which he lives, the old man told me some few months ago that the goverment [Government] had give him all that was promised a man by the name of Thomas Guinn took a magistrate some few days ago to the house of said Depew in order to make dictation in order to draw a pension & some other person from other parts of the country met there at the same time to make said pension; the old man utterly refused to go in the arrangement, & I understood he said it would be a curse to him if he applied for said pension Mr. John Blair drew up the papers for Mr. Guinn, Shortly after the parties arrayed around the old man again and to a magistrate by the name of William Mills & I understand got up a declaration & when that was offered to the clerk to have the seal attached there to & traveled a distance of about fifteen miles the other party met them there To Wit Richard Humphry & some Others A When Mr. Guinn returned the papers to Mr. Blair in Jonesborough twenty miles from Blountville where the seal was attached to said papers he was met there by S K N Patten & others & a great fuss took place between the parties Patten swore he would draw said pension some of the heirs of Depew was with Mr. Patten now

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sir with suspision [suspicion] that claim ought to be looked at the question is did Mr. Depew want the pension or not, did he sign the declartion [declaration] or not or did he swear before Mr. Mills or not, if the pension is obtained I have no thought Mr. Depew wants it I take the liberty of writing these lines to your Honour [Honor], tho [though] wrote in a hurrey [hurry] the facts contained therein are true. 
Robert G Hale [or Hall]

Hon James E Heath 
Washington City DC

[written sideways] May 3d Rel: to Isaac Depew Robt G Hale [or Hall]

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State of Tennessee} 
Sullivan County} I Tho P Ford Clerk of the County Court for said County do hereby certify that J w Fulkerson Esq whose name appears to the within affidavits to which this certificate is attached is now and was at the time of signing the same acting Justice of the Peace within and for said County and State aforesaid duly Commissioned and qualified according to law and that the signatures purporting to be his are genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office at office in Blountville this 24th day of March 1852 
Tho P. Ford Clerk -

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[stamped] FREE
The Hon James E Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC

written sideways] Apl. 12/52
appl. of Isaac Depiew [Depew]
John Blair Jonesborough Tenn
Kirby

Page 32

Hon J E Heath Jonesborough April 6 1852 

Enclosed you will receive the application of Isaac Depew for pension under the act 7th June 1832. He stands solitary & alone of that patriotic band in this section, being 94 years of age, he never could consent to become chargeable to his Government until the grasp of old age had deprived him of the ability to support by manual labour [labor]. please have it examined & report to me 
Respectfully
your obt servt [obedient servant]
John Blair

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[page illegible]

Page 34

J. Blair
Feby 14 1853

Page 35

154

Pension Office
Feby 14 1853

Sir
There is no evidence in this office of the service of Isaac Depew of Tenn. His service must be established by the testimony of those who served with him or were in a position to know
of his service. I refer you to my letter of July 27 1852

John Blair Esq
Jonesborough Tenn.

Page 36

July 27/52.

Page 37

310

Pension Office, 
July 27, 1852.

Sir,
I have examined and filed the application of Isaac Depew for the benefit of the Act of June 7, 1832. The reason assigned for his failure to apply for a pension until this late day is not
satisfactory, and it is very doubtful whether any of the service alleged is embraced by the pension laws. Before his claim can be admitted the service claimed must be sustained by the testimony of comrades, or other evidence equally satisfactory.

John Blair. Esq.
Jonesborough
Tennessee

Page 38

[stamped] FREE

Hon James E Heath
Commissioner of Pensions
Washington DC

[written sideways] Rel: to the Claim of Isaac Depew for pension under the Act of 1832
Sept. 29/52

[circular stamp] SEP 23

Page 39

Jonesborough September 20th 1832 

Sir: 
The pressure of other business has prevented my writing you sooner in reference to the claim of Isaac Depew, an applicant for the benefits of the act of 1832. in your communication of the 27th July you say “the reason assigned for his failure to apply for a pension until this date is not satisfactory.” I am at a loss to know what is required to be satisfactory – as I have no law or rule of office designating what would be required Depew is one of the most respectable men in his county. Shewed, that from principle he was opposed to the act of 1832 so far as it allowed pensions to persons able to support themselves. this was a subject of general notoriety. He was possessed of property as well as health & ability to subsist without the aid of the Government, & conscienciously [consciously] refused the boon, he has lived to old age, when declining health loss of property & inability to subsist by labour [labor] removes his well grounded objection in earlier life & he is left of the few survivors not one living in his County. The act of 1832 was liberal in its provisions & hundreds who did not need the aid obtained it without either record evidence of service or proof of associates, but according to your printed regulations, which I need not repeat, this was general so far as regarded the militia except Va. & New hampshire [New Hampshire] Depew was a Virginia militia man, served in several calls, & his service, if he served at all, must be

Page 40

embraced by the pension laws. I wish to know, if he is not found on the rolls of Va militia in your office as it seems they are all forthcoming from the regulations under the act of 1832 so saying. If his name is not there found why it is in vain to further prosecute the claim – if there found certainly the pension laws do embrace his case. as to the calling in comrades at this day, it is like calling spirits from the deep, – they would not answer. 
I presume from the regulations that the rolls of the Virginia militia are in your office & if so if his name on search cannot be found then the matter must end – for comrades are gone as well as the almost universal band who served in that patriotic struggle, & if held to proof now the proof is gone. be pleased to inform me if you have the rolls of the militia in your office & if so whether his name is not there: as to his reason for not earlier applying it is a matter of such notoriety that all his neighbours [neighbors] know his reasons the hundreds of pensioners who came under the act of 1832 when congregated semiannually had the subject of Captain Depews objections to the healthy property holding soldiers drawing a pension 
Respectfully
John Blair