Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 18,951, John Colvin, Va.

Page 1

SERVICE                                                                                                                          NUMBER
VA                                                                  Colvin, John                                          W18951
                                                                        Sarah

CONTENTS

Page 2

1926
Richmond Virginia
Sarah Colvin
widow of John Colvin decd
V
who died on the 29th May 1832
of Culpepper Co in the State  of Va
who was a Private in the company commanded
by Captain Waugh of the Regt commanded
by                               in the Va
line for 17 months


H T Hill Aug 29/59

Page 3

Order of Cul-
pepper Court
? ?
? Colvin

Declaration and 
also as to the cha-
racter of the ?

Page 4

At a Court continued and ? for Culpeper County
at the Courthouse there of on Wednesday the 21 day of 
March 1838

On the motion of Sarah Colvin widow of the late
John Colvin decease of this County and on satisfactory
proof being exhibited to the Court, it was ordered to be
certified that she is unable to attend in Court from bodily
infirmity to make her Declaration in order to obtain a
pension under the act of Congress of 4th July 1836, and the
Declaration of sad Sarah Colvin taken before William
Booton one of our Justices of the Peace on the 14th day of
December 1836 with the amendment thereto ? before
the said William Boolon on the 21st day of March 1838, being
presented to the Court, the same after full examination
is ordered to be recorded and in a certificate there of made
on the said original Declaration and the court having
also examined the affidavits of Mason Colvin taken
on the 6th of March 1837 of John H Freeman taken on
the 19th day of March 1838 and of David Jameson taken
on the 16th day of March 1838, are satisfied that full
credence is due to the statements of each and all of
when, as their character for veracity is impeached, and
within the knowledge some o the Court unimpeachable 
the court also further explained its opinion on the
knowledge of some of it members, and of un-
satisfactory evidence a ? that Sarah Colvin
the declarant is entitled to be believed in all 
that she says according to her best recollection in
regard to his case husband 's revolutionary service
and in regard to the period of ? marriage it to
full and entire credit as that is a theory about
which she could not be let astray but by
own consent, which in the opinion of the Court
her character for ?  All of which is ordered to 
be certified

Virginia

I Francis T Lighfoot Clerk of the County Court of
 Culpepper Court in the state  aforesaid do hereby certify
that the foregoing is a true transcript from the record of'
said court.

In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and
affixed the seal o the said
Court this 27th day of Mach
1838, and in the 62nd year of the
Commonwealth

 F T Lighthoot

Page 5

Wm Colvin 
amended declaration

? in the last time ? or written before 
signed  F T Lighfoot Clerk Court by ?
change setback

Page 6

State of Virginia
Culpepper County 

? - On this 14th day of December
1836, personally appeared bore me a justice of the peace in
and or said County, Sarah Colvin, a resident of said county and 
state aforesaid, aged  75 on the 11th of January next
who living first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath
make the following declaration, in order to obtain the certificat of 
the pension made by the Act of Congress papers July 4th 1836
that she is the widow of John Colvin late of Culpeper who was a
soldier in the ? service and militia of Virginia, in the 
War of the Revolution from the County of Culpepper aforesaid
She state that her said husband as she has often heard him say
and as she ? the the best of her knowledge performed two
tours of military service before their marriage. The first of
said tour was or 12 months and was performed about Williams-
burg in Virginia.  This was two years before this marriage, and
she believes the full period of the twelve months service was at that
time performed by him she cannot remember the date of his
marching on that tour or of his return.  She thinks she has
heard him speck of Capt John Waugh From with Culpepper or
Orange being in the same since  Also o Churchill Gibbs she
is not sure they were in same service, but is under that in ?
at this time  Her said husband she ? heard him say was
under the command of Cap John Green from Culpepper Co
during the tour of duty  His second tour of service was as
a drafted malitia man from same county, and not to the
north, and was on this retreat with the troops ? ?
under Genl Washington  and was in sight of Philadel-
phia when capture  according to this best information
recollection this time commenced Augt 1st 1777 and ended
1st March answering as much as she remembers from the statements
which she frequently heard her said husband make
she believes he active as Sergeant - but on what tour she
cannot say  After her marriage with said John Col-
vin he was called int service several times. His first
tour after marriage command 1st May (in planting con-
tune in 1179 and way then out in service about Williams-
burg or Norfolk or Petersburg she doesn't remember which for
6 months  His second tour after the marriage he was draft-
ed for 18 months for the South, and his brother Henry Col-
vin performed that tour for him  The precise command
officer she cannot state at this time  He was again called

Page 7

burg or Norfolk or Petersburg, she doen't remember which for
6 months  His second tour after marriage he was draft-
ed for 18 months for the south, and his brother Henry Col-
vin performed that tour for him.  The precise command 
of it she cannot state at this time.  He was again called-
out with the malitia at the time of the siege of York in bey-
ond service a substitute, or man by the name of Joseph
Bowen who performed said tour for him  She further
declares that she was married to the said John 
Colvin on the 7th day of Oct r 1778 in the county of
Culpepper and State of Virga by Parson Jones, a cler
gyman of the Episcopal Church who many years ago removed
from said county and is presumed when died.   That her said
husband the aforesaid John Colvin died on the 29th day
of May 1832 the date of his death was ? in
his family Bible, and that she has remained a widow
ever since that period, as wife fully appear by refer-
nce to the proof hereunto ? 

Sarah Colvin (Her X Mark)


Sworn to and subscribed on this day and
year when written

Wm Booton


And the said justice further certifies that the above
named ? is a person of this veracity and
that ? statement is entitles full faith and
credit an he further certifies that an account of 
her age and infirmity it would inconvenient for 
her to appear before the Court o the County to make
her declaration and he further certifies that on an 
inspection of the family registry of said John Colvin the date
of his eat is state died the 29th of Mayy 1832  and 
the source appears to be genuine

W M Booton


State of Virginia
Culpeper County 
SS

On this 21 Day of March 1838 before the subscriber
a Justice o the Peace in and for the County aforesaid
personally appeared Sarah Colvin of said county
aged 76 years and of good character for veracity
who being duly sworn according to law deposeth and
saith that in making a declaration for a pension 
under the At of Congress of July 4 1836, which was 
taken before me on the 6th of December 1836, she omitted
to state one tour of her husband the late John Colvin

Page 8

saith, that in making a declaration for a pension
under the Act of Congress of July 4th 1836, which was
taken before me on the 6th of December 1836, she omitted
to state one tour of her husband the late John Colvin
during the Revolutionary War, and deserves now to
amend the same  That her husband or she states
in the said declaration, employed his brother to serve
an Eighteen months tour for him and that her husband
was called on during the year that Cornwallis was in 
Virginia to serve a tour in his place as she thinks
that whether he did service as a substitute for his brother
or not she know's that he was called on to serve a
tour that year and that he was gone as well as 
she can remember three months ? home  That
she often heard him speak of a battle near Peters-
burg and thanks he staid till the siege at York 
Given under my hand the day and year first above
written. 

Wm Booton J P

Page 9

In Culpeper Court                               21 day of March 1838

This declaration and amended.  Declaration
Sarah Colvin for a pension was presented to the court 
and order to record

tested
F T Lightfoot



? 1778
Due 1832

ADN  17 mo resent
$56.66 per attn Comf
4 March 1832

Thomas Hind
agent for 
Wm Colvin

per 
? ?
Miller Capt
Green


Tho Hord En
Present

Page 10

State of Virginia
Culpepper County SS

I Francis P Lightfoot
Clerk of the County Court of Culpepper do hereby certify
that William Booton whose name is subscribed
in the foregoing signature, is now, and was at the
time of signing the same an Acting Justice 
of the Peace in and for said county duly commission-
ed and qualified, and that the three foregoing
Signature purporting to be his are genuine

In testimony were I have here to
set my hand and a ? the seal
of the said ? this 22'day of May
one thousand eight hundred and thirty 
Seven (1837) in the 61st year if the commisson
ed  

F T Lightfoot

Seven in the last time accrued or written before
signed.  F D Lightfood Clerk Judge by ?
Charge sent back

Page 11

State of Virginia
Rappahannock County 
SS

On this 6th day 
March 1837 personally appeared before
me a Justice of the Peace and for
the said county, Mason Colvin a resident
of said County an State aforesaid aged
74 years on the 14th April next
(1837) who being first duly sworn according
to law doth on his oath make the follow-
ing declaration, that he and his brother
John Colvin service a tour of service together
of three months or upwards about Williams-
burg, Norfolk, and Petersburg and that he
recollects perfectly well that the said
tour of service was performed after the
marriage of his brother John Colvin to
his wife Sarah Colvin (The precise time
of their marriage cannot recollect) But is certain
as above stated that the tour of service
was performed after his marriage.  He 
also declares that his brother John Colvin
was call out to serve a tour in the

Page 12

South and lived his Brother Harry 
Colvin to perform it for him.  The length
of the last mentioned tour was eighteen
months as well as her recollects.  It was
also after his marriage to the said 
Sarah Colvin  Sworn to and subscribed
before me the day and year above
written

Mas Colvin (His X Mark)

John L Partow

And the same justice further 
certifies that the above name Mason
Colvin is a man of strict veracity and his
statement is worthy of full faith and
credit 

John L Partlow



State of Virginia
Rappahanack County 

First 
I William J Menifee clerk of the Count
Court of Rappahannack do hereby certify  the John L
Partlow whose name is subscribed as above, a magistrate
in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified as
such, and that the signature above purporting to 
be his is genuine.  In testimony whereas I have
hereunto subscribed my name
and appears the seal of said Court
this 18th day of May in the year
one thousand eight hundred and 
thirty seven, and in the 61st 
year of the Commonwealth
 
Wm J Menifee

Page 13

REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORDS SECTION

3-525

DEPARTMENT O THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF PENSIONS

Washington, D.C.                                                      , 19


In reply to your request of                                    , received
for a statement of military history of John Colvin
a soldier o the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired
information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen-
sion on file in this Bureau.

                                                                                                                                                                  OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED
DATES OF                                        LENGTH OF                                    RANK                                      CAPTAIN                                            COLONEL                                STATE

Sept 22, 1775                                 1 year                                                Pvt                                           John Green                                     1" Regt                                      VA

Aug 1, 1777                                      Mch 1778                                       "                                                  in militia of Culpeper CO

May 1, 1779                                      6 mos                                                                                                  no details given

*              1781 (Crossed Out)       3 nos (Crossed Out)


Battles engaged in,

Residence of soldier at enlistment, Culpeper Co., VA

Date of application for pension, Dec 14, 1856.  Her I was al.

Residence at date of application, Culpeper Co, VA

Age at date of application, He was born 11, 1762

1837
      75
      62

Remarks:  Soldier was born Mach 16, 1758, and married Oct 1778
in Culpeper Co VA   Miss Sarah Dillard  He died May 29 1832
children were Priscilla born July 16, 1780  Robert born June 14 1784
John D born Sept 29, 1800

Respectfully,

Comissioner

* wido states he hend a Substitute in 1781

Brother Mason and Harry

D-285G

Page 14

(Black Ink Stamp)
ALEXANDRIA, Va.
AUG 7 1859

(Black Ink Stamp)
PENSION OFFICE 
AUG 8 1859

(Black Ink) 
FREE

Commissioner of Pensions
Washington, DC


Va

Jno Colvin dec'd
Aug 6
No 1926
Back Pay or B Land
N

Page 15

1917 July 17 Hist  to Mrs Alice H Cooke

1920 Oct 4 Hist to W.H. Puhl En

1927 July 6 Hon R G Fitzgerald advised
issue of soldier MNF



Rev WIDOW, &c.

File No. 18951
Sarah Colvin
Widow of
John Colvin
Priv. Rev. War
Act: July 4th 1836
Index: Vol. A, Page 151

{Arrangement o 1870.]

Page 16

Initials ?

Rev & 1812 War Section
W.18951


July 6 1927
John Colvin
W.18951


Honorable Roy G. Fitzgerald
House of Representatives


My dear Mr. Fitzgerald:

In response to your letter of the first instant, in
behalf of Mr. Fred E. Fox of 721 North Avenue, Dayton, Ohio
I have the honor to advise you that from the records of this
Bureau it appears that Sarah Colvin (nee Dillard) was al-
lowed pension on account of the services of her husband, John
Colvin, in the War of the Revolution

Very truly yours,


Winfield  Scott
Comissioner

Page 17

ROY G FITZGERALD OHIO, CHAIRMAN
HAROLD KNUTSON, MINN
HENRY R RATHBONE, ILL
BIRD J VINCENT, MICH
FRANK GARDNER, IND
MILES C ALLGOOD, ALA
J B REED, ARK

ROBT F KLEPINGER, CLERK

Page 18

Mrs Alice Hume Cook
Care Mrs rank Hume
Potomac PO
Alexandria Co,  Virginia

personal inquiry July 17, 1917
John and Sarah Colvin, Va W1895

Page 19

CANTON
Aug, WP, 1920

Department of the Interior
Bureau of Pensions

Is there any record of a pension for revolutionary service
given to John Colvin for Culpeper Co., VA

I was in the Words war and have some papers to sign and
want to be sure, want some other proof besides family tradition

If there is sh a record will you send ma all military history 
and family data you have also.

Thanking you I am

Your sincerely,

W H Puhl


W H Puhl
Canton, Missouri.


PENSION 
US
OFFICE
AUG 23
1920

Page 20

Rob Colvins affs
New evidence

Page 21

Colvins Tavern
VA 29 1838

amts
paid 80


Thomas Hord Esq
Washington City CA

Page 22

Washington
April 5th 1838

Wm Robt Colvin

Dear Sir,

I have in due course of mail recd your
mothers papers again - and think orders of your
? ? considered very satisfactory - 9
have been detained here by ?, and should
leave here in a few days, but have determined
to remain and await the return of these paper,
which I now forward you in order that your
statement in ? ? ? ? may be
made evidence by having your qualification
to it - and I have annexed such a qual-
ification as ? ?.  If you who be qual-
ied before Mr Booton I imagine is write
be ? to call for the clerks certificate
as he has been frequently called on in this case
on that point, and the expresses have already
become ? in amount or account of
the forms ?  The point of the marriage
is a very mutual matter is every case, and
hence the particularity of the Department
in relation to it in all  cases, so that you
and your brother into not think hard of it in
this case, for you ? remember that these cases
come from any part of the U. States , and any
sort of people, and great accuracy is required to
prevent fraud - you ? ? birth being
as you state the 16th July 1780 ? there were no
miscarriage ? it wile of itself proves there mar-
riage sufficiently and that there were several
? of ? after the marriage took place
with respects to yourself  I ?
I am yur ?

Thos Hord

Page 23

Colvins Tavern
March 29, 1838

Dear Sir:

I have been detained in geting a copy of 
the record some what longer that I expected, and I send
you the papers by the first mail after, if the within Depos-
itions and your mothers Declaration will not do I don't know of
any mor proof that I can obtain.  Except our ages entered
in a small book in my fathers own had write namely 
my father John Colvin was born 16 March 1758 my mother
Sarah Colvin was born 11 January 1762 my sister Priscilla
Colvin was born 16 July 1780 my self Robt Colvin was
Born 14 June 1794 my brother John D Colvin was
Born 29 1800 if it is necessary that my deposition
should be taken to the above, you will write me forthwith
and it shall be sent, but mags E Browdus thinks it
is not worth while and thinks there is proof enough with
out it   My health is better than it has been 
for three month s backs my family all will hoping this 
may find you and yours enjoying the same blessing

from your friend

Robt Colvin

Please write me as
soon as you can
RC


State of Virignia
Culpeper County


To wit  - Robert Colvin above
name truth this day appeared before the subscriber
Justice of the Peace in and for said county and made
oath in due form of law that the above statement
is true and I certify that his statement is en-
titled to full faith and credit  given under
my had this 5th day of April 1838

Wm Booton

Page 24

Certificate of 
Cap Churchill GibS
for Wm Colvin
widow of John Colvin

by this 12 mos -ptv

by Mason 3 as paid
Colvin

by J Fend  2 as paid
man   

17 months

Selfield Cave Clerk of
the Court of Madison County

Page 25

I hereby certify that I was aquainted with John 
Colvin late of Culpeper County Virginia and the the
Enlisted under Capt John Green of Culpeper on the 
22 of September 1775 for twelve month and served 
the said the period of Enlistment I Certify that
does the same day and date enlisted for the
same period under the same officer and served together
? and during the same period of one year
of one year we were discharged at Williamsburg
after the expiration of said period of enlistment
given under my hand this 27 day of March 1837

Churchill Gibbs
? Lieut Col
George Gibson Regt



State of Virginia
Madison County

To Wit

This day 24th May 1837 Churchill Gibbs above
named personally appeared the subscriber a Justice of the Peace
is and for said county, and made oath in due form of
law that the above written certificate is have  and I certify
that he the said Churchill Gibbs is a mad of street warranty
and that his statement is worthy of full faith and credit
Given under my hand this day and year above written
Wm Finks

Page 26

State of Virginia 
Madison County
SS

I Belfield Cave Clerk o the Court
of said county, certify that Wm
Finks is a Magistrate as above
duly commissioned and qualified 
and that the foregoing signature 
purporting to be his genuine
In testimony, whereof I have hereunto affixed
my seal of office and subscribed my name this 
24th day of May, in the year 1837

Belfield Cave Clerk of
the Court of Madison County


Certificate of
Capt Churchill Gibbs
for Wm Colvin
Widow of John Colvin


by this 12 mos pd

by Mason 3 mos paid
Colvin 

by J Freed 2 most paid
now

17 most

Page 27

John Freeman
Affidavit
New evidence

Page 28

State of Virginia
County of Culpeper 
To Wit 

On this day of march 1838 before the subscribing a
Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid
personally appeared John Freeman of said County
and state aged          years and of good character for
veracity and integrity who being duly sworn according
to law, deposeth and saith  That the enlisted into
the Army of the united Sates in the year 1775 un-
der Capt John Green for one year

Page 29

Col David Jameson
affidavit

New Evidence



D Jameson 
affidavit 
Colvin

Page 30

State of Virginia
Culpeper County

On the 16th day of March 1838 before the subscribe a
justice of the peace in and for the county aforesaid person-
ally appeared David Jameson o said county aged
Eighty five years and of good character for veracity
who being duly sworn despoth and saith that
just before the commencement of the Revolution War he became
acquainted with John Colvin then a sprightly lad who in
August 1775 inlisted as a soldier under Capt John Green who
raised a company of Regular Soldier for one  year and who were
the first company of the first Virginia Regiment, that saw
company were soon ordered and did March to Williamsburg
then the seat o Government, where (or thereabout) the said
company served the year for which they had inlisted; that said
John Colvin then returned home; and that sometime in
1778 as he was informed and verily believe married wife
Dillard and in a shot time became this afficiants mu esteemed 
neighbor and they were after during the life of said Colvin lived
near each other in Harmony; and knows for he was at times 
visitor that said Colvin and Miss Dillard lived more or near
Fifty years together as man and wife and raised three children and 
he verily believes were to virtuous to have so act ?
married, and hence and from many circumstance is 
confident they were legally married, although he saw not 
the ceremony performed by Parsons Jones then our Parish Minister
and that he advised Wm Robert Colvin to apply to the clerk of
our County Court to furnish a copy of what is generally called.  The
Marriage ? Bond, but is cannot be found, which this
afficant thus accounts for; In the latter part of year 1778 was
Early in 1779 while he acted as Deputy Clerk of said Court.  His
office (whilst he was from home) was broken open in one night
to shelter some solders from inclement weather and when he 
turned home the next day he found that the soldier had

Page 31

destroyed (by burning ) a Vast number of Papers which had
been filed, and was never after could find a large bundle of "Marriage
License Bonds" containing the Bond immediately proceeding that
could and has not doubt that they were then destroyed; and he
further certifies that he has no recollection of the length of 
any militia tours said John Colvin performed during the war
but that Mrs. Colvin is an aged widow now among us and
of very respectable standing

Sworn to before me 

William Fousher  J.P. 

D Jameson

Page 32

Alex  August 6, 1839
To the Coms of Pension

Dear Sir

I have a power of
attorney form the heirs of 
Jno Colvin a soldier of the 
Revolution, who desire to 
know, whether he is entitled
a Bounty Land or back pay 
you will oblige me by mak-
ing the necessary examination 
he was in the Virginia Line
and was a pensioner at 
his death, which not ?
ca in 1835 a ? 
so that the pension ?
mile veracity to?

Your ?.
Thomas T Hill

Page 33

State of Virginia
Culpeper Co 
To Wits 

Personally came before the
subscriber a justice of the peace is aforesaid county Robt
Colvin a respectable inhabitant offd a county, and where
statement the subscriber certifies is entitled to full faith
and credit, aged 52 years and  upwards , and being duly
sworn as ending to law deposeth that his father John
Colvin died on the 29th day o May 1832 and that
Sarah Colvin has remained his widow  ? ?
that period   He further states that he has heard 
his said father speak of his first tour of service
under Captain Green in the American Revo-
lution   He was one of the troops from Culpepper
the said Cap John Green was afterward Colonel
He has also heard his father speak of his
service in the month and also at and about Williams-
burg in ?  Given under my hand
this 14th day of of Dec 2846

Wm Booton


Search has been made in my office, and no evidence 
can be found as to the tome of the marriage of
John Colvin.  The marriage since bond cannot
be found and the marriage  Rejection does not
extend further back than 1780

?

F. T. Lightfoot
Clerk of Culpeper County Court