Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 3,607, Francis Winstead, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Winstead, Francis
S.3607
CONTENTS
carded

25367 25362 Ponesboro Tennessee
Francis Winstead of Hawkins in the State of Tennessee who was a Great private in the co. commanded by Captain Crowly of the regt commanded by Col Jones in the Virginia line for 1 year Sergeant 6 months Private
Inscribed on the Roll of Ponesboro at the rate of 80 Dollars — Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 day of Feb y . 1834 and Hon John Blair H. M.
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 1 300.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 1 March 40.00 $340.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Sam Boyd Clerk, Book E Vol. 7 Page 136

paper pencil marked, N o 1. 2. 3. 74 Copied & sent to Hon. Jn o Blair H.R. May 23 d 1834 sent by
Copy of pensioner's last affidavit made for Wm. J. Blair June 19, 1834 See letter 12 Aug 1834 to J. Mitchell Tate Jn. A. of Jonesboro, and Knoxville Feb. 6 '37 -
Tate of death not - on 98 -

10.047
Francis Winfield
Hawkins 6 th Ten th
Jonesborough
Apr 1877 6 P.M.
Sept 18 th
1 st Sept. $60
6 th " 20
$80.
paper again ret'd
27 July 1877
paper again ret'd 27
Sep '33
Wm John Blair
W.R.
J. Alexander
P. Purvis
Rogersville
Ten

BRIEF in the case of Francis Winstead  family of Heanties  in the State of Tennessee  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Open Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 93 years  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,     In 17  Period I do not know  of Service not stated  The applicant claims for 10 yrs  or 1000 years  As a Surgeon Gen.  Col' Crawley Col' Jones  Col' Brien Col' Thornton   
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Northumberland Co Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Pro oratory  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richard D. Catts
Examining Clerk.

10. Oct 4 Pension Recknall Francis Winstad

State of Tennessee Hancock County
August Session 1832
On this 30 th day of August 1832 personally appeared in open court before the Justices of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions now sitting for said county Francis Winstead a resident citizen of said county and State aged as appears by his fathers register 73 Years on the 17 th day of last November, 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 June 7 1832
That he entered into the service of the United States as a minute man in November 1776 (at the age of 18) under the following named officers of the same county and state with himself (viz) Northumberland County Virginia and served as herein stated. Viz. he volunteered under Colonel Thomas Jones, Major Peter Thornton, Captain Geo. Crowder & Capt George Cserige, he was himself the first sergeant of the company of minute men to which was attached and often acted as a superior officer bearing the men thro' the manual exercise, seeing their provision apportioned and again as Sergeant, setting and releasing the column. They were stationed in the Bend of the Potomac river in Northumberland Co. at Captain John Crowders in the place called Cherry Point to keep the enemy from landing. Their march lay entirely in the said county three or four miles up and down the river while the British fleet lay in the river, in order to prevent their landing. He lived in the Bend and had frequent opportunities of going home for short time, but would not sometimes get off for a month or two at a time. During the time the British fleet occupied the river Capt. George Hall navigating enlisted a company of regulars lay with us in the Bend during which time I served in his company, they was he thinks, but is not

certain, in the year 1778 or 1779. The company was not discharged until 1782. when Capt. Escridge verbally discharged it by order of Col. Thornton. He states that he was in no engagement but was kept prepared for one which was expected. He lived in Northumberland County about 11 years after the termination of the war when he removed to Edgecombe County North Carolina where he remained 12 yrs, he then removed to Hawkins Co. Tennessee where he has ever since resided. He states that as he had frequent opportunities of returning home he cannot certainly say that he was more than 18 months or 2 Years in actual service but he can safely say he was not up than that time. He moreover considered himself as bound to do service from the time he volunteered in 1776 until the close of the war. He further states that he has no documentary evidence by which to prove his service and knows of no person who can testify to his service, other than the affidavits hereto annexed. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of any state and that Daniel Hovry, a clergyman of the Baptist order is a united minister within his vicinity. He further states that the paper herewith forwarded to the department is a certificate furnished him by citizens of Edgecombe County North Carolina and forwarded as evidence of his character. The paper is marked G.
Sworn & subscribed to the day & year aforesaid Francis Winstead
I, Daniel Hovry, a clergyman of the Baptist Church, resident in Hawkins, hereby certify that I am well acquainted with the applicant who has sworn & subscribed to the above declaration and know him to be a minister of the Baptist Church in good standing.

and that I would give full credit to anything he would state either on oath or otherwise. and from common report I have understood that he has served in the Revolutionary war & I concur in that opinion Sworn to and subscribed in open Court This 30 th day of August 1832 Daniel Henry
I, Samuel Wilson being one of the Justices of the court of pleas & Quarter Sessions for Hawkins County, am well acquainted with the above applicant who has sworn and subscribed to the above declaration and believe him to be 73 Years old, past, that he is reputed & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the Revolution and I concur in that opinion
Sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid in open court - J Wilson
And the s d court do hereby declare their opinion that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states
And the court further certify that it appears to them that Daniel Henry is a clergyman resident in Hawkins County, and that Samuel Wilson who also has signed the same is a Justice of the court of pleas, a credible person and entitled to credit
I Stockley D. Mitchell Clerk of the court of pleas and quarter Sessions of Hawkins County in the State of Tennessee. Do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original pro- ceedings in the application of Francis Winstreet for a Pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office this 30 th August 1832
S. D. Mitchell Clerk By W. B. Mitchell Clerk

An additional Statement of Francis Winstead of Hawkins County in the state of Tennessee Made on oath before me John Mitchell a Justice of peace in order to obtain a pension under the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832.
This Applicant states that he remembers being stationed at Capt Brawley dur- ing the time he was in service and the duty of the company consisted in guard- ing the river to prevent the enemy from landing as high up the river as Barren point.
This applicant states that owing to his age and infirmity and consequent decay of memory it is not in his power to state the precise times when he was in service but he knows that he was often in service and continued in service when required and his service as to time is not over- stated in his declaration.
He further states that he served many times both night and day being some times at the place of rendevous for weeks and at different times he believes he was in service for a month or more.
As the British fleet lay in the river a considerable time and after the main fleet left the river the neighbourhood was much annoyed by British vessels which continued to ascend

2 And descend the river and at such times the company were continued in constant service
When the British vessels of war would disappear the company would be permitted to disperse and some times the men would not beat home more than a few hours until they would receive word to return immediately and often this applicant had to return without staying at home one night. The service was nearly incessant during the whole time the British fleet and vessels of war continued to occupy and annoy the river and the inhabitants on shore.
Francis Winstead
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of September 1833
affid
J. Mitchell (J. P.)
State of Tennessee I Stockley D. Mitchell clerk of the court of pleas and quarter sessions of Hawkins County in the state of Tennessee do certify that John Mitchell before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn to is an acting Justice of the peace of

said County duly commissioned and qualified and that his signature thereto is in his own proper hand-writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of office at Office in Rogersville the 11 th September A.D. 1833 H. Mitchell Clerk By W.B. Mitchell Clerk
State of Tennessee Sevier County } Personally appeared before me an acting justice of the peace for said county the Reverend Francis Winstead the deponent above named, who being duly sworn, deponeth & saith, in addition to the foregoing statements, - that he served as a Minute Man from November 1776 to the close of the war 1782, though he was not in a dued Service all that time, but as before stated he states he was was in actual Service frequently a Month at a time. At other times, more than a Month, serving actively against the Enemies of his country as a faithful Soldier, called out by competent authority. And he avers most solemnly that the time he was then in actual actual Service amounts to Eighteen Months, and for such Service he claims a pension - He states furthermore that he considered himself in Service as a Minute Man more than five Years and was during that time liable to be called out every Minute and was always prepared and did perform his duty as a true & faithful Soldier. Nor can he conscientiously say that he served less than Eighteen months, as before stated - sworn to Subscribed before me } Francis Winstead me this 20 th day of January 1834 } J. Mitchell

State of Tennessee Shelby county ss I Stockley Mitchell clerk of the Court of Pleas for said county & State do hereby certify that John Mitchell Esq. before whom the foregoing affidavit was sworn to - is and was at the time of signing the same an acting Justice of the Peace for Shelby county duly commissioned & that the signature purporting to be his is genuine -
In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand & here official seal this 21 day of January A.D. 1834 -
S. Mitchell Clk By W.B. Mitchell D.Clk

State of Tennessee Hawkins County Supplemental declaration of Francis Winstead in order to obtain a pension under the Act of Congress passed 7th June 1832 Sworn to and subscribed before Richard Mitchell one of the Justices of the peace of Hawkins in said State
This Applicant States that he was born in Northernumberland County Virginia on the 19th day of November 1758 according to the report of his parents and his re- membrance of the register in the family Bible of his father but the Bible was sold at the sale of the property of his father which was before the revolutionary  war and the Book was purchased by some person but this applicant cannot now remember who and he has not seen it since and therefore he has not any record of his age.
This Applicant served as first Sergeant in the company to which he belonged and he cannot state the officers more cer- tainly than he has done already in his declaration except that Capt George Hale O'Neil commanded a company of Regulars who served part of the time where the company to which this Applicant belonged were stationed
He states that he served as first Sergeant fully a year during the war and he further states that he served eighteen months in the Army of the Revolutionary war and

And is confident he could testify to a much longer time if his recollection was perfect
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 11th day of May 1893
Francis Winstead
Richard Mitchell (J.P.)
State of Tennessee
I Stockley O' Mitchell Clerk of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Hawkins County in the State of said do certify that Richard Mitchell before whom the foregoing affidavit was made is an acting Justice of the Peace for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that his signature thereto appears to be in his own proper hand writing
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of office at office in Rogersville this 11th day of May A.D. 1893
J.D. Mitchell Clerk By W.B. Mitchell Clerk

August 15, 1935
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Francis Winstead-S.3607 BA-J/AWF
Mrs. Martin J. Burelbach 510 West 4th Street Chattanooga, Tennessee
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request information in regard to Francis Winstead, served from Virginia, War of the Revolution, and was pensioned in Tennessee.
The data furnished herein were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 3607, based upon the service of Francis Winstead, in the Revolutionary War.
Francis Winstead was born November 19, 1758 in Northumberland County, Virginia, names of his parents not given.
While residing in said Northumberland County, he volunteered in the fall of 1776, served at various times as first sergeant in the Virginia troops, under Captains John Crawley and George Eskridge and Colonel Thomas Jones; a great part of the time was stationed at Cherry Point on the Potomac River to prevent the enemy from landing, served until in 1782, length of service eighteen months. sometimes
He moved with his family from Northumberland County, Virginia in 1793 to Edgecombe County, North Carolina, where he lived about twelve years and moved to Hawkins County, Tennessee.
He was allowed pension on his application exe-

cuted August 20, 1832, still a resident of Hawkins County, Tennessee, and was a "minister of the Baptist Church".
Names of his family referred to herein were not stated.
In order to obtain information relative to the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid, and possibly the date of death of this pension, you should apply to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, Washington, D. C., and cite the following:
Francis Winstead Certificate # 25567 Issued February 4, 1834 Rate $80.00 per annum To commence March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Jonesboro, Tennessee Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

19 th Aug. 15 - list - to Mrs. McIntire J. - [illegible] back [illegible]
Runaway
INVALID.
File No. 3607
Francis Winstead
Sergt. Pa. Line
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: — Vol. 24 , Page 407 th
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Francis Wentzel  Heads in 6 th Pennsylv 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? 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? no 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? no 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? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
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?
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? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
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 - 5
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 shown 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.
The statement of the applicant as to his service is not satisfactory. It is well known that minute men were required to be in readiness to act against the enemy when they should appear in their neighbourhood and that they were consequently engaged in actual service against the enemy but for a short period at one time. The time claimed by the applicant cannot be allowed.
The applicant should make a statement respecting the time which he thinks he was in actual service. Although he might have been almost necessarily engaged at some particular periods, yet there were other periods of the 18 th

months when he finds not so continually in service. His claim for the time charged cannot be allowed.
Sep 27, 1883
NO. 0444 Francis Wintthal
(5)
P. Parsons. Register

Francis Hullman  West 25 $80. pr ann
Payments to be made
at Jonesboro Tenn a
by W m K. Blair Esq r
Agent for paying Pension- ers, in the Agency of Jonesb- orough Tennessee
25,562.52
Recorded in the Pension Of- fice, in Book E Vol. 16
Page 136 by David Boyd Clerk.
Rec. by J. Alexander Tenn

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, Francis Winstead of the State of Virginia who was a Private and Sergeant in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive — Eighty — dollars and _____ cents per annum, during his natural life, commencing on the 4th of March, 1831; and payable semi-annually on the 4th of March, and 4th of September in every year.
Given at the War Office of the United States, this 1 th day of February one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four.
L. W. Cope Secretary of War.
Examined and Countersigned. }
J. L. Edwards Commissioner of Pensions.

State of North Carolina Edgecomb County
To all persons to whom these presents shall come
We do certify Some time in the year of 1793
Francis Winstead mov d from the norther d parts of Virginia with his family and Settled in the county of Edgecomb and there Lived as a peaceable orderly Citizen also a preacher of the Gospel and he being well known in divers parts of the county and We further say that when he went off to the Western Country that he went without any of any accusation of accusation of any thing being laid to his charge more than what was Fair and honest as to our knowledge or Expectation For which Reason we hereunto subscribe our names this 14 th of
Thomas Wills J.P. W. Battle
Amos Johnston J.P.
Nathan Mayon B.
James Ruffin J.P.
John Gorn J.P.
Isaac Battle J.P.
March 1000— Nathan Gilbert J.P. James Pitt Thomas Pitt Elijah Moor Edwards Cobb Gordon Sharpe J.P. John Williford J.P. Joshua Goff J.P.

William White Matthew White head Abraham Taylor Solomon Cooper
Mr Robbins
Littlebury Land
William Robbins serv
John Williford junor
Benjamin Williams
T. W. Baker a d
W. W. White J. Jr
William Gannner
Jonathan Wilson
Benjamin Thornhill
John Williams John Williams
John Taylor
Brittan Bennes
John Wells
James Draughon
Thomas Williams
Drewry Williams
Joshua Williams
John H. Egan
Edwin Pinder
Lewis J. J. J.
Wm Draughon
Benjamin Weaver serv
William Mars
Caum Drake
Rowling Robbins
Stephen Robbins
William Robbins jun
John Williams
Creighton Gibson
William Dixon
Thomas Sharp
John Bedland 52W

News
February 1. 1834
Mr Albin
James
Loganville Henry Root
11

"amended Res: Pension claim" Free
James L Edwards Esquire commr. of Pensions Washington city Dis. Col.

Providence. January 21 st 1834
Sir
Enclosed you will receive the Resolved Francis Brinsfield's amended claim -
The old Gentleman, says that he cannot confidentially say that he was in actual service less than Eighteen Months , during the war of the Revolution. He entered the service in November 1776 - and continued in service, as a private man, until the close of the war, 1782 - being more than five years, though he says he was not in actual service all that time, but only 18 months. - (You will see his additional affidavit duly authenticated)
Mr. Brinsfield is a gentleman who stands high in the estimation of society as a man of health, and a high sense of honor. It is believed that he served as he states - and no man is more worthy to receive the full amount of his services - He has the fullest confidence in your disposition to do justice to the veterans of the Revolution -
I am with great Respect Your old servant D. Alexander

MRS. MARTIN J. BURELBACH 510 WEST FOURTH STREET CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE
August 5, 1935.
Veterans' Administration, Washington, D. C.
Dear Sirs:
I would like to obtain the Revolutionary pension record of FRANCIS WINSTEAD , who served in the Virginia line, and later drew pension in Tennessee. I shall very greatly appreciate any information you may be able to furnish along this line.
Very truly,
Mrs Martin J Burelbach
Mrs. Martin J. Burelbach 510 West Fourth Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee.