Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 6,341, Abner Watkins, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Watkins, Abner
S. 6341
CONTENTS
carded.

7190
Virginia
Abner Watkins
of Fauquier Co in the State of Virginia who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Thornton of the 1st Regt. commanded by Col. Lawson in the Virginia militia for 2 years from '76.
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 day of March 1833 and sent to J. D. Drosam P. E. V. O.
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $160.00 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 Sept 1833 40.00
$200.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. L. Williams Clerk Book 8 Vol. 2 Page 30

Rev War
6341
INVALID.
File No. 6341
Abner Watkins Pri. Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. 71 , Page 392
[Arrangement of 1870.]

12.404 Abner Watkins

12,404
Abner Watkins Lunenburg Virginia
took a Re Roll for 1776/paid 2 years. 80¢ on Roll
66 1/2 of the estate B.J. Worsham of the Applicant Prince Edward Co. Virginia

BRIEF in the case of  Abner Watkins of Lunenburg co. in the State of Virginia (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 74  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     enlisted In 1776 2 Private Gen. Washington Gen. Charles Scott Col. Robert Lawson Capt. John Morton 4 th Reg. N. Cont. Troops  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? Brandywine, Germantown  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Prince Edward co. Virg.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Nothing  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Perfect 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. H. Bradford. Examining Clerk.

State of Virginia, County of Prince Edward to wit: On this 17th day of September 1832, personally appeared before the Justices of the County Court of Prince Edward, now sitting, the Rev. Abner Watkins a resident of the County of Sussex of the State of Virginia aforesaid, aged 74 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 provision made by the Act of Congress passed June 7th 1832. That he enlisted in the army of the United States in the year 1776, with Capt John Morton of the County of Prince Edward, and served in the 4th Va. Regiment of Continental Line, under the following officers: The declarant believes Colo. Robert Dawson commanded the regiment and Gen. Charles Scott the Brigade to which that regiment was attached, and that his regiment was attached to Stephens division and to the grand Army under General Washington. This declarant further states that John Nolcombe and Thomas Spencer were the Lieutenants of the company to which he belonged. That he resided in the County of Prince Edward at the time he enlisted. That he enlisted for the term of two years, and served the whole period. That he marched to Portsmouth, the Company embarked for the Northern Army, at that place, and landed as he was informed at the head of Elke, but this declarant & others who were on the sick roll remained until they were able to go on, and afterwards marched by land under the Command of Lieutenant Thomas Spencer and joined his Company somewhere in New Jersey. The Company being then attached

to the army, he does not recollect the precise course and progress of the army, nor does he deem it material to specify, as it is a matter of history, but he states generally that he marched with the army through New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York, and that he was high up in New York when the army were informed by express that the enemy had landed at the head of Elk. That on the receipt of this intelligence the army moved down by forced marches and met the enemy at Brandywine and afterwards in the battle of Germantown, and that he was in various skirmishes but can not now recollect them so particularly as to undertake a detailed account of them.
That he received a slight wound at Brandywine, That he continued attached to the army under the command of General Washington for the space of two years and was discharged in the State of Pennsylvania. That he had his discharge but is unable to find it among his papers. —
That he hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and he declares that his name is on the pension roll of any agency in any state. Sworn to and Subscribed this day & year aforesaid. —
Abner Watkins. —
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I Branch J. Worsham clerk of the court of Prince Edward County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court, in the matter of the application of Abner Watkins for a pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal for office this 22 nd day of September 1832.
B. J. Worsham C. C.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Abner Watkins, Sumnerburg co. Virg. which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes
II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? No
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? No
IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes
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? yes
VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes
VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes
VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes
IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes
X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

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? No
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? No
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service?
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses?
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?
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? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1. 2. 4. 6. 7.
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 a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each 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. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† 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 he 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 authenticates 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 ends 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.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.