Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 4,131, Samuel Beard, Va.

Page 1

(3-1776)
SERVICE
Va.
Service VA

Beard, Samuel 
Mary 

NUMBER
W.4.131

CONTENTS

Page 2

[printed form, handwritten responses]
3308
Virginia
Mary Beard, 
widow of Samuel Beard, decd
(Va)
Who died on the [blank] October 1814
of Bedford in the State of Virginia 
who was a private in the company commanded
by Captain Scruggs of the regt commanded 
by Col in the Va Contl.
line for 2 years.

Inscribed on the Roll of Richmond 
at the rate of 80 dollars [blank] cents per annum, 
to commence on the 4th day of March 1831.

Certificate of Pension issued the 6th day of May 
1840, & sent to R. H. Gray 
Lynchburg, Virginia.

Arrears to the 4th of Mar 1840| $720.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 4 September 40 40.00
[total] $760.00 

{Revolutionary Claim,
{Act July 4, 1836, 
Section the 3d

Received by D.M. Curdy Clerk
Book A. Vol. 2. Page 155

Paid at Treasury, under 
act 6 April, 1838, from 
4 March 1843 to 28 July 
1843. Agent notified 3d 
April, 1846.

Page 3

Feb. 6. 184[page damage]

Va. 4968

4 July 1836

Mary Beard 
wid of Samuel 


Robert H. Gray
Lynchburg, Va  
agent.

Page 4

State of Virginia, 	
Bedford County S.S. 
On this 27th day of January 1840 personally appeared, before 
the county court of Bedford, of said state, at its January term
holden on the said 27th day of January 1840 at the Court house 
of said county Mrs. Mary Beard (whose maiden name was
Mitchell) a respectable resident of said county aged 83 years; 
who being first duly Sworn, 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 4 1836.
That, she is the widow of Samuel Beard decd of said County, 
who was a private in the Regular Service, in the Revolutionary War. 
That he enlisted under Capt. Gross Scruggs on the 10th day of 
February 1776, and served two years as a Regular Soldier- as will 
appear from the letter of the 3rd Auditor--which is no doubt 
hearsay she has frequently heard her decd husband Saml. Beard 
speak of, and relate his Revolutionary Services-- that he was at the 
Battle of B. Wine Sta. to the North--that he drove one of the
Cannon--and Genl. Washington asked him if he could not drive 
out of the road so as to let the Army pass [illegible]
And she the said Mary Beard, further declares, that she was 
married to the aforesaid Saml. Beard (after he had left said 
regular service) in said county, by the Revd. Jno Holt, on the 
8th day of September 1778-- and that after she had two 
children by the said Saml. Beard her husband-- one the 26th 
Sep. 1779, and the other the 7th Sep. 1780-- that the said Saml.
Beard her husband was called into service in March 1781--
to go to the Battle of Gilford [Guilford] on a Six weeks tour-- 
and being considered a case of emergency , it was to
exempt him from a full tour-- and she thinks, (but 
is not certain,) that he was under Cap Campbell--
and she also under the impression that he held an 
office of some kind on said tour to Gilford [Guilford]--she has 
frequently heard her decd. husband Saml. Beard in his 
life time, speak of his being at the Battle of Gilford [Guilford]--and 
related many circumstances that took place there-- one 
was that he saw Cap. Moore and Helm after they 
were wounded--before they died--and spoke of how mu
ch they Suffered from their wounds on the field of battle. 
Indeed, no person has ever doubted, that Saml. Beard her decd.
was at the Battle of Gilford [Guilford],-- Common talk in the neighbo

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-urhood, and in the County where he was Known--
especially among the old people--go to establish the 
fact that her decd. husband Saml. Beard was at
the Battle of Gilford [Guilford] in March 1781. which was
several years after they were Married. That her hus
-band the aforesaid Saml. Beard, died on the [blank] day
 of October 1814--That She has remained a widow 
ever since that period, to the present time--as will 
more fully appear by reference to the proof annexed. 
and now claims a pension at the hands of the Genl. 
Government, as the widow of said Beard, in conside
-ration of his aforesaid Services.
Mary Beard
The foregoing declaration was subscribed and sworn to
in open court: and therefore the said declaration together 
with the letter of Peter Hagman Auditor, the copy of the marriage 
bond of Saml. Beard, the affidavits of the [illegible]: James Mitchell,
Mrs. Martha Neal, Thomas Pullen, James H Beard, the 
certificates of Saml. P. Mitchell, George Stepton, David
Saunders, Wn N Reese Benj A Donald, the certificate & 
affidavit of Ro. C. Mitchell and an old leaf ac-
-company the affidavit of said James H Beard as a 
register of marriage & births (all of which are hereto 
annexed) being fully examined and inspected the court
doth order it to be certified to this War office of 
the United States that the said Mary Beard (whose
maiden name was Mary Mitchell) and the said Samuel Beard were lawfully married in this county
on the 8th day of September 1778 by the Rev: John Holt
(since deceased) and continued  to live together as man
and wife until the [blank] day of October 1814 when the 
said Samuel Beard departed this life in this County
and the said Mary has ever since remained
his widow.
And the Court doth further certify that it
appears to their satisfaction that the said Saml. Beard in his life time was a Revolutionary soldier:
that he enlisted under Capt Gross Scruggs on the 
10th day of February 1776 and served a tour of two

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years from that period as a private in the regular 
service: that after his return from that tour he was
as before stated married to the said Mary: and then
in the year 1781 was again called upon and served 
as one of the Malitia [militia] from this county a  tour of at
lest two weeks under the command of Capt Camp
bell and attached to Col. Lynchs Regiment--during  
this Service he was at the battle of Guilford in North Carolina.
And the Court doth further certify that the said
Mary Beard, James Mitchell (a minister of the gospel in 
the Presbyterian Church) Martha Neal, Thomas Pullen, said 
Saunders & James H Beard are all persons of the highest stand-
ing and respectability and the oaths of each of them entitled 
to full faith & credit.  The said Saunders is himself a Revolutionary
soldier and the Presiding Justice of the Peace in this county.
And the Court doth further certify that Robert C 
Mitchell is clerk of this Court and the said Saml. P.
Mitchell, George Steptoe ["and" is crossed out] William N Reese and 
Benjamin A Donald each justices of the Peace in this county duly commissioned and qualified and the 
respective signatures of all of them to the papers hereto
annexed are true & genuine and [illegible] that all 
of said papers are genuine.
In testimony whereof Robert C 
Mitchell clerk of the County Court 
of Bedford in the presence of said
Court have hereto set my hand
and affixed the seal of said court
this 27th day of January 1840 in
the 64th year of the Commonwealth
R. C. Mitchell crcc
By Jno. R. Steptoe D.C.

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Know all men by these presents that we Samuel 
Beard and Robert Mitchell are held and firmly bound 
to Patrick Henry Esqr. Governor or chief magistrate 
of Virginia in the sum of fifty pounds to the which payment well and truly to be made and bind
ourselves our having Va. firmly by these presents. Sealed 
and dated this fifth day of September one thousand 
seven hundred and seventy eight.
The Condition of the above obligation is such that  
whereas there is marriage shortly intended to be had 
and solemnized between the above bound Samuel 
Beard and Mary Mitchell.  If therefore there be
no legal cause to obstruct the same then the above 
obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force 
and virtue.
Samuel Beard (seal)
Robert Mitchell (seal)
Sealed & delivered  )
in the presence of    )
Robert Alexander                                 

I Robert C. Mitchell clerk of the County Court of
Bedford in the State of Virginia, certify that the
above is a true copy of a Marriage license bond
now on file in the Clerks office of said Court, with
the exception of the date which is expressed in the
said bond in fair legible figures as follows "5th day
of September 1778."

I Robert C. Mitchell above named, depose and say:
that I hold the office of clerk of the County Court of
Bedford and State of Virginia and that the above
is a true Transcript from the records of said Court, with
the exception above named as certified by me.
Ro C. Mitchell
Sworn before me a Justice of the peace for Bedford County
Ben A Donald JP

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State of Virginia,
Bedford County S.S.
On this 27th day of January 1840, Before me
Wm N Reese a Justice of the Peace in and 
for the County aforesaid; personally appeared Mr. James H Beard a Respectable Resident of Said county, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath say--
That he is the second son of Samuel Beard and Mary Beard (whose maiden name was Mitchell) that the above manuscript is in his fathers own hand writing--and has always been considered as a correct registry of the marriage of Samuel Beard his father, and Mary Beard his mother
and also of the births of his children-- to witt, the first a son Sep. 26th 1779, but died the same day 
Harvey, born the 7th of Sep.1780--Betsey born June 22nd 1782. [illegible] That he the deponant [deponent] has 
often heard his father Saml. Beard aforesaid
Speak of his being in Regular service in the Revolutionary war before he was married--that he was married to deponants [deponents] mother (now Mary Beard) 
his present widow on the 8th day of Sept .1778 and that he has heard his father Saml. Beard say that after he was married to deponants [deponents] Mo-
ther (whose maiden name was Mitchell) that he was called into service from the said Coun
ty in March 1781 to go to Gilford [Guilford] in

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in North Carolina to meet the British--that 
deponant [deponent] heard his Father speak of several 
circumstances that took place at the Battle 
of Gilford--that he saw Capt. Moore, and Helm 
after they were wounded at Gilford--and 
how much they suffered from their wounds
before they died--and the deponant [deponent] further 
says that his Father Saml. Beard aforesaid 
died on the [blank] day of October 1814--and that 
Mary Beard his present widow has remained 
unmarried ever since the death of her husb-
-and as aforesaid to the present time--and 
is the Identical person who is now claiming 
a pension as the widow of said Saml. Beard
decd. in consideration of Said Beards service James H Beard

The word “mother” interlined before signed
Wm N Reese J.P.

Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written                   
Before me. 
Wm N Reese J.P.

Page 10


Rev. & 1812 Wars Section
AWF/ee1
our

November 21, 1928

Mrs. Charles O. Norton
Kearney
Nebraska

Madam:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary 
War pension claim, W.4131, it appears that Samuel Beard,
while a resident of Bedford County, Virginia, enlisted, 
February 10, 1776, and served two years as a private in 
Captain Gross Scruggs’ Company and was in the battle of 
Brandywine. He enlisted in March, 1781 and served about 
six weeks in Captain Campbell’s Company, Colonel Lynch’s 
Virginia Regiment and was in the battle of Guilford.
He died in October, 1814, in Bedford County, Vir-
ginia.
The soldier married, September  8, 1778, in Bedford 
County, Virginia, Mary Mitchell.  She was allowed pen-
sion on her application executed January 27, 1840, while 
living in Bedford County, Virginia, aged eight-three 
years. She died July 28, 1843.

Page 11

Their children were:

A son 	         	born September 26, 1779,
                                died same day.
Harvey	                born September 7, 1780,
Betsy                          “      June 22, 1782.
Robert Mtl (?)             “      July __, 178-/,
Nancy 		  	  “         "    24, 1786
A daughter	  	  “     March 9, 1789,
                                died the same day.

In 1840, James H. Beard, states that he was their 
second son, and that he was living in Bedford County, 
Virginia.
					Respectfully,

					WINFRED SCOTT
					Commissioner.

Page 12

Jan. 8-97
Hist. to Miss. H. N.
Brockett, City
G. WB

1928. Nov. 21- Hist to Mrs.
Char O. Norton awy 

Revy WIDOW, &c.
File No. 4131
Mary Beard
Wid.
Samuel Beard
Pvt. Va. line
Act: July 4th/86, Sec.3d
Index: -Vol A, Page 49
[Arrangement of 1870.]

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3308
Mary Beard
wid of Samuel
Va
Act July 4 1896
Married 1778
died 1814
Allen 2 ys private
$80 per ann __
Cap Scruggs, Va
continental line

Ro H. Gray Esq
Lynchburg 
Va.

Page 14

Samuel Beard d 1814
Mary Beard m: 78 Septr. S.
Jul-10 
1776 2 [illegible]  Gross Scruggs
March 81 1-12.

The Pullen wit__
in same Reg. in 1781.
[illegible] Mil. 1881. As to [illegible] in ‘81
James Mitchell
["David I JP Mitchell" crossed out]. trad. hearsay.  “
["Sam P Mitchell" crossed out]
James H Beard hearsay

Page 15

[printed form, handwritten responses]		                                        	TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
SECOND COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE
September 25th, 1845
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,” and the third section of the Act of August 23, 1842, extending
the time within which pensioners may receive their pensions from the pen-
sion agents, The Adm. [administrator] of Mary Beard, decd [deceased]
a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va.
Agency, at the rate of Eighty Dollars 
["and Cents" is crossed out] per annum, under the law of the 4th July 
1836, has been paid at this Department, from the 
4th of March 1843, to the 28th of July 1843.
Respectfully yours,
Albion K. Parris
Comptroller.

To the COMMISSIONER OF PENSIONS,
Present.

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State of Virginia, Bedford County S.S.
On this 16th day of November 1839, personally appeared 
before me Saml P Mitchell a Justice of the peace in
and for said County, James Mitchell a minister
of the Gospel , and a respectable resident of said 
County-- who being first duly Sworn according to the law 
doth on his Oath say--That he is a 91 years 
old, that he has been acquainted with Samuel Beard of said County, ever since he was a boy
that he himself went into the Service just before ["at" is crossed out] the battle 
of Gilford from the County of Prince Edward,
that said Beard was then married to Mary
Mitchell his present widow, and was living at
the place his widow now lives at in said County
of Bedford--and although he the deponant [deponent] does 
not recollect to have seen said Beard in service on said 
occasion yet ["yet" crossed out] he understood that he was in 
service at the battle of Gilford in March 1781
and that he the deponent as much believes that he was 
there, as if he had seen him with his own--
eyes-- for he has frequently heard said Beard say that he was there--and have heard him relate 
many circumstances that took place on said Occa-
-sion--and also [common fame, neighbourhood , and 
County, and family fireside talk all say that 
he was at the battle of Gilford in March 1781--which was after the said Beard was married 
to Mary Mitchell, now Mary Beard his present widow--that said Beard and his said present widow Mary 
Beard had two children at the time said Beard
went into service ["went into service" is crossed  out] at said Battle 
of Gilford--that said Beard and his present widow Mary 
Beard lived together as man and wife untill [until] his death, 
and that his present widow has remained unmarried ever 
since to the present time, and is the Identical person 
who is now claiming a pension of the Genl. Government. 
James Mitchell
The words "just before" interlined)
before signing                               )
S P Mitchell J.P.                              )
Sworn to and Subscribed on the day and year above written
Saml. P. Mitchell J.P.
Before me
[illegible] the word “Beard” interlined before signed
Saml P Mitchell J.P.

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State of Virginia; Bedford County S.S.
I David Saunders--a Justice of the peace in and
for said County do hereby certify that I have
known the Rev. Jas. Mitchell as a minister 
of the Gospel for 50 or 60 years--That from his ex-
emplary and pious character as a man and Min-
ister--as well as from what learned of Said
Saml. Beards Revolutionary Services, together with his 
tour at Gilford--that I feel no hesitation in
Saying, that I have no doubt that Said Saml.
Beard was at the battle of Gilford in March 1781- -Given 
under my hand this 26th day of Novr. 1839,
David Saunders.
presiding Justice of the peace for 
the county a foresaid

Page 18

Treasury Department
3d. Auditor’s Office
P Hagner

[date stamp] 
Washington D.C. 
Nov 11. 

Ro. H. Gray Esq.
Lynchburg 
Virginia

Page 19

Treasury Department
3d. Auditors Office
11th November 1839
Sir-
I have reviewed your letter of the 7th instant, and 
as you now state that you have been employed by the widow of the 
Soldier named in your letter of the 31st ultimo, to investigate their 
claims to pensions, on account of their husband’s revolutionary Services, 
I consider that you have substantially complied with the rule adverted
to in my letter of the 4th instant--I have
therefore examined the 
Rolls of the companies mentioned in your letter of the 31st ultimo, and 
I find the names of Saml. Beard and Joseph Fuqua, borne on the 
Rolls of Capt. Gross Scrugg's company--the former as having enlisted 
on the 10th of February 1776, and the latter, on the 22nd of February 
1776-- and both of them appear to have enlisted for, and served
for the term of two years- The name of Jno Neil does not 
appear on the Rolls of either of the companies mentioned in your 
letter of the 31st ultimo.
I am very Respectfully 
Your most ob.st.
Peter Hagner Aud

Ro. H. Gray Esqr
Lynchburg
Virginia

Page 20

State of Virginia 
Bedford County S.S.
On this 26th day of November 1839, before me G Steptoe a Justice of the peace in and for 
said County, personally appeared Ms. Martha Neil a Respectable Resident of said County who being duly sworn, according to law, 
doth on her Oath say--That, she is 88 years old,--That she became acquainted with Samuel Beard of said County, (who married Mary Mit-
chell) by sight, during the Revolutionary War. The first time that deponant [deponent] saw said Beard 
was at Pisga meeting house in said County 
and had the curiosity to inquire who he 
was, because he such very dark skin--
that any one who had seen him once, would know him if they were saw him again–
That she had seen said Beard from time to time, at meeting and other places in said Cou
-nty, untill [until] March 1781, at which time the malitia [militia] was called into service from said 
County to go to the Battle of Gilford in North
Carolina-- and she the deponant [deponent) Martha 
Neil, recollects perfectly, and distinctly, 
that the said Samuel Beard (who, ["married" is cross out] 
Married Mary Mitchell now Mary Beard 
his present widow) was one that went into said Service on said occasion--and She thinks that
Ms. Neil her decd. husband, went into Service at 
the same time--which was before she was Mar
-ried to him the said Neil--and she thinks 
it was a six weeks tour of Service they were 
to perform--that She the deponant [deponent] was marr
-ied to said Neil the next year after the Revolu
-tionary War closed--but that Samuel Beard and his present widow Mary Beard, was

Page 21

married several years before the deponant [deponent] Martha
Neil was-- and must have had one or two chi-
ildren [children] by his present widow Mary Beard, at the 
time he the said Beard went into said Service on said Occasion at the battle of Gilford 
in North Carolina in March 1781--That 
Mary Beard, the widow of said Saml. Beard 
decd. has remained unmarried ever since the
death of her husband the said Beard to the
present time , to the best of her knowledge and 
belief.
Martha her x mark Neal 
witness
Ro. H. Gray
Sworn to and Subscribed, the day and year above 
written by her mark
Before me 
G. Steptoe J.P.

State of Virginia, Bedford County SS.
On this 16th day of January 1840, before me Saml. P. Mitchell a Justice of the peace in and for 
said County, personally appears Capt. Thos. Pullen 
a Respectable Resident of said county, who being 
first duly sworn according to law--doth on his oath Say--That he is 80 years old--that he has lived 
in said County ever since he was five years old--that he 
was acquainted with Samuel Beard that married 
Mary Mitchell--now Mary Beard his present widow 
before he Beard was grownup and saw him frequently 
at Pisga Meeting house at Preaching before he went into service at Gilford--that said Beard had 
the reputation of having been in Regular Service

Page 22

before he Beard was married to his present wid-
-ow Mary Beard--that said Samuel Beard was
called into Service in March 1781, as part of the Bed
-ford Malitia [militia]--that he Beard belonged to the same 
Regiment, that he the deponant [deponent] did--which 
was commanded by Col Lynch--that depon-ants [deponents] Captain was named Moore--who was killed 
and he thinks that Beards Capt. was name Camp-
-bell--that from time to time after he had encamped- 
in Service on said occasion-- that he frequently
saw Samuel Beard at each others tents--
that he would visit Beard at his tent, and Beard
would visit deponant [deponent] at his tent- and he 
the deponant [deponent] recollects perfectly having 
seen said Samuel Beard on the field of Battle 
at Gilford in North Carolina  in March 1781 
one circumstance he recollects--that Beard assisted 
a wounded soldier off the field of Battle--
that said Beard was a large bony man, and 
a remarkable dark skin--That Beard and 
his present widow lived together as man and wife 
until his death--which was about the year 1814--
That Mary Beard his present widow has remained a 
widow ever since his death as aforesaid to the pre
-sent time in said county--and is the Identical
person who is now claiming a pension or the wid-
-ow of said Saml. Beard decd. and further the said 
tour of duty performed by said Beard at Gilford North Carolina in March 1781 was after he the 
said Beard was married to Mary Mitchel, now Mary Beard his present widow.
Thomas Pullen
The words "to time" interlined before signed Saml. P. Mitchell  J.P.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written. 
Before me 
Saml. P. Mitchell J.P.

Page 23

MRS. CHAS. O. NORTON
KEARNEY, NEBRASKA
February 8th 1928-- 

COMMISSIONER of PENSIONS.
Washington. D.C.---

Dear Sir;-

Please send me record of PENSION for Rev War Service.--- issued to the widow of 
Samuel Beard- about 1840- He Born and Died in Bedford Co. Va.--
Name of wife was NANCY (MITCHELL*) Beard--
I especially desire all the FAMILY DATA* given in this application - etc-
Thanking you for an early response- I am, 
Yours very truly. ---
Mrs. Chas O Norton

Samuel Beard- Born______? In Bedford Co. Va-
He died same place 1814---

[date stamp]
PENSION 
F
FEB
U. 13 S.
1928
OFFICE