Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 31458, John Watson, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Watson, John
NUMBER 8 31458
CONTENTS

17. 14/ Kentucky
John Watson
of Barron Co in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Stoughton of the regt commanded by Col Porterfield in the Brig are for 18 months of 1780
inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky the rate of 60 Dollars — Cents per annum, commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 6 day of August 1837 — and sent to Ho C Tompkins Glasgow
Arrears to the 14th of March 1837 $ 120 — Pension-ant. allowance ending 4 Sep. 3 0 $ 150.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by W. H. Wilson Clerk, Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 32,

John Watson Amend d Declaration

State of Kentucky } ss. County of Barren }
On this 20th day of May 1832 personally appeared in open Court before the Justices of the County Court for Barren County now sitting, John Watson aged 70 years on the 18th November 1832 1833, next coming first duly sworn according to Law did on his oath make the the following Declaration by way of amendment to his former Declaration in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed 7th June 1831.
That he heretofore to wit on the 21st September 1832 appeared before Benjamin Monroe Judge of the Circuit Court for Barren County and made out his Declaration for a pension and transmitted it on to the War Department and the same has been returned with objection "V" for want of proof of service, objection "XII" that there is no reason assigned for not obtaining a clergyman's Certificate, objection "XIV" not on the rolls, and no witness; - and objection "XVII" that questions 1, 2, 7 are not answered. For the purpose of amending this objection applicant now makes this amended Declaration. - Objection "V" - By reason of old age & consequent loss of memory he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service but according to his best recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below and in the following grades: - in the year 1780 he entered the service in 1781 the last week of April & returned in November having served six months as a Private soldier. He would further state in this Declaration that he served a tour of six weeks which is not set forth in his former Declaration. On the 10th December he was called out, being (perhaps) drafted for a tour of two months at Poughkeepsie Court House under Captain Crump Lieutenant Hughes, and marched to Chesterfield Court House and joined the Regiment commanded by Col. Gourd. & Major DeClosman and marched down the River to Cabin Point where they were relieved and discharged, having served full six weeks as a Private soldier. From this six weeks service he received no written Discharge but was simply discharged. As to his twelve months service he states that he enlisted

in April 1781 and served until April 1782 the full period of twelve months as a Private soldier.
and for that  such (the above) services he claims a Pension.
As to Objection "XII" he refers to what follows for its amendment and to the Proof now offered which it is concurred will dispense with the necessity of Compurgators.
As to Objection "XIV" not on the Roll he refers to James Radford's affidavit herewith sent marked "A. a." which evidence he was not aware of when he made out his former Declaration.
As to Objection "XVII" He would say he was born on the 18th day of November 1763, in Powhatan County and state of Virginia. He has a copy of his age taken from the Record of his father which was taken from the Records of the Church of England in Powhatan County.
He would name in answer to Question 7th - Zachery Duesenberry, Bartlett L. Graves, John Gillispie, John Innes, Jacob Smith, James Jameson Esq. and David Garvin.
He claims a Pension for the above services.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
John Watson
We Zachery Duesenberry a clergyman residing in the County of Barren Ky and Bartlett L. Graves residing in the same County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Watson who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration that we believe him to be 70 years of age the 18th day of Novr 1833 next, that he is respected and beloved in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Z Duesenberry Bartlett L. Graves
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after an investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department that the above named Applicant was a Revolution

John Watson
Amended Declaration
6

tionary soldier and served as his state. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Zachery Duerenderry who has signed the preceding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the County of Barren and that Bartlett L. Graves who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County and a Creek Indian and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I William Logan in Clerk of the County Court of Barren County Kentucky do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Walton for a Pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office this 20th day of May 1833
W. Logan clerk of the Court of Barren County

State of Kentucky, County of Barren set
September
On this 21 st day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court, before the Justices  Benjamin Monroe Judge of the County  Circuit Court for Barren County aforesaid, now sitting, John Watson a resident of the said County of Barren in the State aforesaid, aged sixty nine 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 Act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832: That he entered the service of the United States in the war of the revolution under the following named officers, and served as herein stated: That in the year 1780 he was drafted in the Virginia Militia for a tour of six months, and served under Capt. William Mayhoo, in the Regiment commanded by Col. Faulkner, in the Brigade commanded by Genl. Stephen - Thomas Hubbard was a lieutenant of the Company commanded by Capt. Mayhoo, but afterwards served as adjutant of the Regiment - The said Watson further states, that at the time he was drafted as aforesaid he resided in Powhatan County, Virginia - That he entered the service at Scottsville (Powhatan Court House) and marched with the troops from thence to Hillsborough in North Carolina - from Hillsborough he marched with the troops to South Carolina & joined the Army of Genl. Gates at Wateree Mills (as he understood the place was called) said to be about 12 miles from Camden - That they marched immediately to Camden, and the battle at that place, in which Genl. Gates was defeated, commenced on the same night - The said Watson served in the said battle in the Company commanded by Capt. Mayhoo, but he understood Col. Portfield commanded the Regiment to which said Company was then attached. - Col.

Porterfield was wounded in said battle & the said Watson understood from report, died of his wounds. — The said Watson farther states, that after the battle, he was marched back to Hillsborough, from Hillsborough he went with his company to New Garden where he was stationed some time, and afterwards proceeded to Hozans Creek, where the troops were disbanded, the said Watson among the rest, and permitted to return home, a few days before the expiration of six months from the time of his entering the service — After he got home he received a written discharge, which was sent to him by Capt. Mayho, but said Watson does not recollect whose name was subscribed to said discharge, but thinks it was that of Col. Faulker — He has lost the discharge, and cannot now produce it. — The said Watson farther declares on oath, that he afterwards enlisted in the army of the revolution in the year 1781 for one year with Capt. Slaughter, and served in (to the best of his recollection) the sixth regiment of the Virginia State Line, under the following named officers: Col. Charles Dabney commanded the Regiment, Major Dick the battalion, and Capt. Slaughter first, & afterwards Capt. Brown, the company to which said Watson belonged. — The said Watson resided in the said County of Powhatan at the time he enlisted as aforesaid — He farther declares, that he joined the army troops at Goochland Court-House, marched thence to Williamsburg, where he remained with the troops until the arrival of Genl. Washington, and then marched with the army to Little York, and continued at the Siege thereof until the surrender of Corn-Wallis & his army in October 1781. — After the surrender, the said Watson marched with his regiment to Hampton, crossed Hampton Roads, and went into winter quarters at Portsmouth, where, in a few weeks before the expiration of 12 months from the time of his entering the service February or March 1782, the said Watson obtained his discharge, signed, as well as he recollects, by Maj. Dick — The said

Watson saith, that he recollects that he afterwards gave said discharge to his father for the purpose of drawing his pay, and he does not recollect ever seeing it since. The said Watson further states that he has now no documentary evidence, & that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service.
The said John Watson hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state. — Sworn to and subscribed the day & year aforesaid
John Watson
We George P Smith a clergyman residing in the County of Barren aforesaid and David Garvin residing also in said County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John Watson who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be sixty nine years of age; that he is reputed & believed in the neighbourhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
George P Smith David Garvin
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after perusing the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, that the above named John Watson was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman, resident in the County of — and that George P Smith & David Garvin who has also signed the same are residents of the County of Barren and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit.

Richard Garnett I William Logan , Clerk of the County  Circuit Court for the County of Barren, Kentucky, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the ap- plication of John Watson for a pension. In testimony where- of I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office. This 21st day of September 1832.
Richard Garnett C. Clerk
John Watson
John Watson Original Petitioner

msu 1812
November 19, 1984
Mrs. Bernice H. Keister 508 East Grove St., Bloomington, Ill.
Madam:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 31458 it appears that John Watson was born November 18, 1763 in Powhatan County, Virginia.
While living in said county he enlisted the last week in April 1780, served six months as a private in Captain William Mayo's Company, Colonel Faulkner's Virginia Regiment and was at the battle of Camden.
He enlisted December 10, 1780 and served six weeks as a private in Captain Crump's Company, Colonel Goode's Virginia Regiment.
He enlisted in April 1781, served twelve months as a private in Captains Slaughter and Brown's Company, Colonel Charles Dabney's Virginia Regiment and was at the Siege of Yorktown.
He was allowed pension on his application executed

September 21, 1832 while a resident of Barren County, Kentucky.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
Pat G Smith not an AP
Commissioner.

Bloomington Ill.
Nov. 1, 1924
Pension Bureau, Washington D. C.
Dear Sir:
I am seeking information of my great-great grandfather who was a Revolutionary war soldier, and thought if he had applied for a pension you might have a record of his military services. I think he lived in Virginia, and I have been told that he was born in Scotland about 1763. After the war he located in Barren Co. Ky. and was living there in 1840 aged about 77 years, according

to a census of Rev. War soldiers printed in Lewis Collins History of Ky. published in 1874.
I do not know his wife's name but he had three sons John U., Joel and Johnson Watson. He died between 1849 and 1852. These dates are probably not exact but are as near as I have been able to trace them, so far.
Any information concerning him would be very gratefully received. Yours very truly
(Mrs.) Bernice H. Reister

Edinburgh July 21
John Watson James O'Callaghan Esq.
John Watson Esq.
for 1780 print 18 sets p 60
Rev. Dr. John Watson Secretary of the Presbyterian Church
City of Washington
D.C.
W. L. Hopkins Glascow Re
Rev. Dr. John Watson Presbyterian Church Edinburgh Scotland

John Watson
Objection - Amen

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
John Watson
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? yes 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?  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? No 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? two Cilesons
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? No 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? yes
XIV. † If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? — Has the official character and signature of the magistrate been certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? — # not on Roll
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, 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 the 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.
# 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 authenticated 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 end 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.

31458
Rev INVALID.
1924-Nov-19- Hist. to Mrs. Beruice H. Keister. MMJF
File No. 31,458
John Watson His Rev War
Act: June 7 th 38 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 438
[Arrangement of 1870.]

James Redford Affidavit A.a.
James Redford Affidavit A.a.

State of Kentucky Cumberland County
Be it Remembered that on this 8 th day of April 1833 personally appeared before the undersigned a Justice of the peace in and for the County of Cumberland of James Radford aged 73 years a Resident Citizen of the County of Cumberland who said who being first duly sworn according to law states that he is well acquainted with John Watson now a Resident Citizen of the County of Barren State of Kentucky and has been from his youth, he states that the said Watson resided in the County of Poole in the State of Virginia that in the month of April 1780 said Watson was drafted as a private matchman for six months and immediately entered the service of the United States in that capacity in the army of the Revolution under Capt William Mays Thomas Hubbard Lieut Hugh Ensign and he states positively that said Watson faithfully served out the full term of six months as a private match- man in that company in the Regiment commanded by Col o Faulkner General Stephens Brigade This deponent served in the same Company with said Watson and was at the Battle of Camden there of the he further states that sometime there after the precise time he cannot state said Watson enlisted as a regular Soldier in the army of the Revolution a Capt o Blount's Company he thinks for twelve months or more and has no doubt said Watson served

in that character one year he saw said Watson at the siege of York who was then in the company of Capt Brown after the surrender of Cornwallis this deponent was discharged and went home and left said Watson in the service of the Revolution as before stated and in the spring 1782 he again saw the said Watson with his Regimental on and thinks he was still in service he further states that he is extremely infirm as to bodily infirmity and cannot without much difficulty attend Barren County to give his evidence he resides about fifty miles from that place sworn to and subscribed the day and year of before me James B Radford
F. H. Winfrey — JP
State of Kentucky Cumberland County S.C. I Frances H Winfrey a Justice of the peace for the County of do certify that James Radford who has subscribed and sworn to the above deposition is a resident citizen of the County of Cumberland of that I believe he is the age he states that he is infirm as to Bodily Strength and that he is a respect- able person and that his statement is entitled to Credit given under my hand April 8th 1833 F. H. Winfrey J.P. cc

Kentucky Cumberland County Set.
Michael King Clerk of the County Court for said County, do hereby Certify that Francis H. Winfrey whose signature is subscribed to the foregoing affidavits, is and was at the date thereof an acting justice of the peace in & for said County, duly Commissioned and qualified, that his attestation is in due form of law, and his signature as genuine -
Given Under my hand and the seal of my office in Parksville this 8 th day of April 1833
M. King