Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 6,339, Nathaniel Vasser, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Na
Vasser Nathaniel Sarah
No. 6,339
CONTENTS

4706.
Virginia Pensions
Sarah Masson
widow of Nathl Masson
who was a Private
in the Revolution
Reported
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 30 Dollars
Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1843.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of March 1844 and sent to
Wm. M. Coles Hosp of Virg
[Act of March 3, 1843]
Recorded in Book 153 Vol. 1 Page 153

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7. th July, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows—"
State of Virginia: Halifax County to wit:
On this 31. st day of January, 1839, personally appeared before me a justice of the peace in and for the county and State aforesaid Sarah Vesper or Vesser (for the name is differently spelt) a resident of said County and State, aged 82 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 7. th 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows—"
That she is the widow of Nathaniel Vesper or Vesser, late of the said County and State, who was a Private of the Virginia Militia, in the war of the Revolution — She declares, that she has no personal knowledge of the services of her late husband in the Revolutionary war, excepting what she heard from him in his life time, and from others who served with him at the period — She recollects distinctly hearing him repeat over and over again that he was a considerable length of time in actual service, was engaged in many battles, and suffered many hardships and privations — That from bodily infirmity, old age, and the consequent loss of memory, she cannot call to recollection the history of her husband's services as detailed by him; and therefore prefers to depend on the statements of old soldiers who served with him, whose certificates

accompany this declaration - That for the same reason above stated, she cannot state with any degree of certainty, the exact length of time he was in actual service altogether, although he served three tours of duty, each of three months, and rendered other service besides - yet she will only claim a pension for Nine months service altogether - She farther states, that her said husband departed this life long before the passage of the Act of Congress of the 7 th of June, 1832, and therefore has never drawn a pension of any sort or description, or received from his country any remuneration whatever for his services - In support of her claim, she refers to the Army Records of the period, and the accompanying certificates of old and reputable soldiers -
She farther declares that she was married to the said Nathaniel Vafon or Verser in the County of Halifax by Parson Dodson by the publication of banns in the spring of 1782, the particular day and month not recollected: That said Parson Dodson is dead - That her husband, the aforesaid Nathaniel Vafon or Verser died on the 18 th day of June, 1823: That she was not married to him, prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place, previous to the first day of January, Seventeen hundred and Ninety four: to wit, at the time above stated -
Sarah his Vafon mark
sworn to and subscribed before me this 31 st day of January, 1839 -
Matthew Goret, J.P.

Virginia: Halifax County to wit:
I do hereby certify, that the said Sarah Vaper or Vasser, widow of Nathaniel Vaper or Vasser deceased, is very old and infirm, labouring under many bodily infirmities of such a character that she cannot attend the County Court of Halifax to make the foregoing declaration - I for this certify that she is a worthy and reputable lady, and her statement entitled to full confidence - Given under my hand this 31 st day of January, 1839 -
Matthew Prewett J.P.
Virginia: Halifax County to wit:
I Charles Hudson of Halifax do hereby certify that I recollect distinctly that Sarah Hudson of Halifax was married to Nathaniel Vaper or Vasser by old Parson Dodson by the publication of banns in the spring of the year, 1782, the particular day and month not recollected - That the said Sarah Vaper is now a widow and has remained a widow ever since the death of said Nathaniel Vaper - Charles his Hudson so marked
sworn to and subscribed before me - I for this certify, that he is a credible person, and his statement entitled to full confidence - Given under my hand this 31 st day of January, 1839 -
Matthew Prewett J.P.
Virginia: Halifax County to wit:
I Peter Vaper do hereby certify, that the said Nathaniel Vaper departed this life on the 13 th day of June, 1823 - That he left his widow Sarah Vaper who is still alive, resident in the County of Halifax, who has remained a widow ever since his death, and is still a widow -
Peter his Vaper so marked

sworn to and subscribed before me - I further certify that the said Peter Vaper is a credible person and his statement entitled to full confidence - Given under my hand this 31 st day of January, 1839 -
Matthew Crowlitt J.P.
Virginia - Halifax County, to wit:
I William Hall Clerk of the County Court for the County of Halifax, do hereby certify that Matthew S. Crowlitt is a magistrate of said County and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 6 th day of February 1839 -
W m Hall Clerk
W m H. Cole H. H. R.
Virginia, to wit:
It appears that for Halifax County April 22 nd 1839 - Application, the subscription of Sarah Vaper of Halifax County, Virginia, with accompanying documents and notices, for a pension under the act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838, was printed in Open Court, and the whole of the papers read and fully explained to the entire satisfaction of the Court: Owing to said determination with the accompanying papers, be referred to the War Department - In testimony that the foregoing is a true copy from the said William Hall Clerk of the said Court, hands over my hand with the seal of said Court as above, this 22 nd day of April 1839 -
W m Hall Clerk
4358 Declaration of "Sarah Vaper" for a Pension under Act July 7 th 1838

State of Virginia Halifax County to wit:
The depositions of William Hudson & Charles Hudson taken before me Tho: C. Cokman a justice of the peace for Halifax County. These deponents being first duly sworn - on the holy Evangelist of Almighty God. depose and say - that they were born - and have been raised in this County - that they have known Mrs Vapere famely for many years previous to her marriage with Nathaniel Vapere. that they have always been near neighbors - and that during her intermarriage with the said Nathaniel Vapere - she had by him - eight children, to wit: Tabby - Vapere, Levi Vapere - Peter Vapere, Elizabeth Vapere, Martha Vapere. Abram M. Vapere, Susan Vapere, Rebecca Vapere. That Tabby Vapere was born about the year 1782. that Levi was born 1784. that Peter was born 1786, that Elizabeth was born 1789. That Abram was born 1791. That Martha was born 1793 That Susan was born 1795: that Rebecca was born...
signed and sworn to before me Charles Hudson This 28 day of Nov: 1839. March.
Thomas C. Cokman With Charles William Hudson Tho B Hamlett Clerk.
This is to certify that I am well acquainted with the deponents William Hudson & Charles Hudson - and that the fullest reliance or confidence is to be placed in any statement they may make. and that I do not doubt for a moment, the truth of the above deposition - witness my hand this 28 day of Nov: 1839.
Th. Cokman

Halifax County to wit:
[Faint, mirrored handwritten text, likely bleed-through from the reverse side of the page. The text is mostly illegible but appears to be a formal legal or official statement.]

Ray
WIDOW, &c.
File No. 6339
Sarah Conner
Wed:
South: Wadsworth
Port. Rev: H
Act: March 3 rd 1873
Index:—Vol. 16 , Page 2
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Sir,
November 28. 1842
I enclose you herein the Declaration made by Mrs. Sarah Waper to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed 3 rd March 1843 granting pensions to certain widows. You will please forward her certificate of pension awarded to Mount Laurel Halifax County Va.
Very Respectfully yr. obed. Servt. Clement M. Atkinson

[Faint, illegible handwriting on the top half of the page]
4942 Dec. 2/43.
Dec 1/43
[Handwritten signature or initials, possibly "H. L."]

Sarah Vesper 47000 = 143-10a Nathaniel Mice John Vesper Oct 31 32-33 May 18 th 1857- Com - handed to Griffith to Ex

Letter to C. M. Adkins & W. B. Reed Aug 11. 1823

Sarah Viper
Wid of Nathaniel
YS
Set June 7. 1838
Married 1782
dead 1823
Allen gave for $30 per acre &c Mehle lot. Buckner.
H. J. Bradford Esq Charlotte 6th
YS

State of Virginia Charlotte Ct. House October 5 th 1839-
Sir,
The enclosed papers of Mrs Sarah Vafser were presented to the Department last February, by the Hon: Walter Coles, at the instance and request of Mrs Vafser: They were then returned, for the approbation of the County Court, the papers being certified or rather executed before a single Justice of the Peace - Also, for additional Testimony in regard to marriage and service -
Enclosed the same papers, certified by the Court, with additional evidence in support of the claim, which I trust, will be satisfactory to the Department -
I am very respectfully your Obt. Servt &c
L. L. Edwards Esqr Commissioner of Pensions -
Wm J. B. Bedford

State of Virginia Charlotte Ct. House December 3 d 1839-
Sir,
I have received your letter of the 2 d of November last, in relation to the Claim of Mrs. Sarah Vasser-
You state "that the proof of the date of the marriage is not satisfactory -" you moreover state, "that any proof going to shew the fact that there were children before January 1794, will in this case, be satisfactory -"
In compliance with the request of the De- partment, I addressed a letter to the family on the subject, requesting the desired information, which you will find enclosed - I thought it unnecessary to obtain the Certificate of the Clerk as to the Magistrate, for the paper would speak for itself -
I am, Sir, very respectfully your Obed. Servt &c
L. L. Edwards C.S.G. Commissioner of Pensions -
Wm. L. B. Bedford

Mount Laurel Va. July 31 st
See
Aug 5 '83
Sarah Wall ward 38
Corrard City Washington City D.C.

Mount Laurel July 31. 1833
Sir
At the request of Mrs. Sarah Vaper (of this County) I write to You. She was a Pensioner under the act of Congress of the 7 th July 1828, and engaged W m S. B. Bedford of Charlotte County Va. to obtain her pension certificates and prepare the papers for drawing the pensions. After they were arranged she made W m M c N. Gordon (a Merchant of Richmond) a power of Attorney to draw the money from the agent for paying pensions in Richmond - W m Gordon drew the pensions & paid the amounts over to W m Bedford. Supposing (as he informed me) that W m Bedford had Authority to receive it from the fact of his having handed him the papers. I enquired of W m Bedford afterwards concerning the pensions & he informed me that W m Gordon had the money. But upon making application to W m Gordon found he had paid it over to Bedford. Thus the old lady who is very poor and needy is likely to be fooled out of her money - Bedford has no visible means or property out of which the money can be made unless he chooses to pay it. And Mrs. Vaper desires to be informed if there is no other quarter from which she may seek redress. Bedford had no authority whatever I understand for drawing the money from W m Gordon - and is no doubt able to pay Mrs. Vaper if he chooses to

do so. Please let me know from you when the amount and stage
Mr Rupert Gurney Yr obedt Servt
Clement M. Atkinson

The authorized agent of Mrs. Vaper, proposed that I should give my bond for the amount with interest, and that he would cheerfully wait until I could draw in force funds I had in Richmond, which he stated was sufficient to cover the sum and interest, if necessary, in the hands of the Han- ton & Ashton legal trustees, all parties being se- cured and contented. I also had Mrs. Haimbach, of all our creditors, stand on the same footing with the note I had to pay, and will pay, whenever the same is presented. I am sure you will think this proceeding, that through mis- take and without my knowledge, the difficulty grew out of that I expressed to her that this note at some time might be called for, and that inquiries on previous to Mr. Vaper was intend- ed by me. This almost caused a collision between us, but as I had no other way of getting the money, I was forced to do so. I am a lawyer, in good standing, and patronized by the most useful and respectable people of the community, and I am ready at most seasons to comply with my engagements on short notice. The note I gave Mrs. Vaper, shall be settled forthwith, and I hope that the family should have occasion to complain to the Department,

in so short a time after a satisfactory arrangement had been made with their legal Agent, and without even applying for the money -
By reference to the returns made by the Pension Agent in Richmond, you will find that no Pension Money has ever been paid to me , (except in one or two cases, where the parties could procure no friends to draw for them) having always refused to act except in cases of necessity -
The parties have selected their own friends, and most generally some Merchants of their County trading in Richmond - and if they suffer, it is not my fault. In all the claims for presented by me for Pensions, I have merely acted as the Agent and Attorney at law for the parties, and upon the establishment of the claim, so soon as the Certificate is issued and received by me, it is placed in the hands of the owner to do what he or she pleases to do with it -
I am very respectfully your Obt. Servt &c. Wm L. B. Bedford
J. L. Edwards esq Comm r of Pensions - War Department -

I William Holt Clerk of the County Court for the County of Halifax in the state of Virginia do hereby certify, that I have had the said Office for the last five years - that I have examined the Book containing the Register of marriages, in my Office from May 1751 (at which time the Register commenced) to the year 1820, and that the marriage of Nathaniel Vesper to Sarah Warren is not found therein - I further certify that the records of marriages aforesaid, appear to be irregular and are not so full (Between the years 1781 & 1785) as to raise a presumption against the said marriage, for instance in 1781 there are 10 marriages 1782 17 1783 6 1784 17 1785 37 1786 27 & 1787 32 And it appears to be a Register of marriages by Reformed ministers only, and my Office furnishes no record of marriages solemnized by ministers of the attached Church prior to the Revolution.
In testimony of all which I have set my hand & affixed the seal of the said Court at my Office, this 29 th day of September 1839.
Wm Holt Clerk

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress of the 3 d March 1843, granting pensions for our service to certain Widows, who have received pensions under the act of July
7. 1838.
State of Virginia County of Halifax ss On this 30 th day of November 1843, personally appeared before me Beverly R. Fleming a justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid Sarah Vaper, a tenant of Halifax County Virginia aged Eighty Six years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefits of the provisions made by the act of Congress passed on the 3 d March, 1843 granting pensions to widows of persons who served during the Revolutionary War.
That she is the Widow of Nathaniel Vaper, deceased, who was a private in the Revolution, and died on the 18 th day of June 1833. That under the act of Congress of the 7 th July 1838 she was allowed a pension for five years, at the rate of thirty dollars per annum. Commencing on the fourth day of March 1836 which Pension Certificate has been surrendered. She further declares that she is still a widow.
Sarah Vaper mark
Sworn to and subscribed on this day and year above written. before me Beverly R. Fleming J.P.

State of Virginia Halifax County ss.
I Beverley R. Fleming a Magistrate in the County do hereby certify that I have the most satisfac- tory evidence, viz: personal knowledge that Sarah Vaper the Widow of Nathaniel Vaper deceased, who has this day personally appeared before me and made Oath in due form of law to the foregoing declaration is the identical person or widow who was allowed a pension under the act of the 7th July 1838 and that she still remains a widow. Given under my hand at the House of the said Sarah Vaper This 30 th day of November, in the year 1843. Beverley R Fleming J. P.
State of Virginia Halifax County ss I William Scott Clerk of the County Court for the said County do hereby certify that Beverley R Fleming is a Justice of the peace for the said County duly commissioned & qualified that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of the said County. Subscribed my name this 27 th day of Nov 1843 W m Scott Clk.

Certificate of Charles Hudson
That the within is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in the office of the Secretary of the Navy at the Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.
Given under my hand at the Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. this 10th day of March, 1881.

Virginia: Halifax County to wit:
I Charles Hudson of Halifax, do hereby certify, that I was intimately acquainted with Nathaniel Vaper or Vesper late of Halifax county, in the Revolutionary war, and know the fact being a soldier with him at the time, that said Nathaniel Vaper was in the month of January 1780, drafted in the Militia for the term of three months under Capt Joshua Powell from Halifax, and marched to Portsmouth in Virginia - Charles Womack was Lieutenant in the company - He served the said three months faithfully, and was honorably discharged from service -
That during the same year (1780) about June or July the said Nathaniel Vaper was drafted in the Militia a second time for the term of three months under Capt. Fankiner of Halifax and marched to the Point of Fork and James River, which term of three months, he served faithfully, and was honorably discharged from service -
That the said Nathaniel Vaper during the year 1781, was drafted in the Militia the third time for the term of three months under Capt Roberts of Halifax and marched to Yorktown, and was engaged in the siege of that place - He served the said term faithfully, and after the surrender of Cornwallis was regularly discharged from service - The said Nathaniel Vaper served in the whole Nine months as coming within my personal knowledge and was a good soldier - I am in the 79 th year of age, and was a soldier of the Revolution -
Charles his Hudson
Virginia: Halifax County to wit:
This day Charles Hudson of Halifax came before me a Justice of the peace in and for the county and state aforesaid, and made oath that the foregoing certificate subscribed by him in my presence, contained the truth to the best of his knowledge and recollection - I further certify, that he is a worthy, respectable and

and credible old soldiers of the Revolution, and his stat- ment entitled to the utmost confidence - Given under my hand this 31. st day of January, 1839 -
Matthew Dowell Jr.
Virginia - Halifax County to wit:
I William Hall Clerk of the County Court for the County of Halifax aforesaid hereby certify that Matthew H. Dowell is a true copy of the said County and that the foregoing is a true copy of the same to wit his is genuine
In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal of office and subscribed my name this 6 th day of February 1839
W. Hall Clk.

Virginia: Lunenburg County to wit:
I Peter Hudson of Lunenburg, do hereby certify that I was well acquainted with Nathaniel Vasser in the Revolutionary war, and recollect that he served three tours of duty in the militia of three months each, under Capt. Powell, Capt. Faulkner, and Capt. Roberts, all from the county of Halifax. I was not in service with him, but recollect that he was drafted, and marched under the above named officers. I further certify, that according to my best recollection at the time, that said Nathaniel Vasser was married to Sarah Hudson in Halifax, in the fall spring of 1782, by the publication of banns, by old person Dodson, who has been dead for many years. I am in the 77 th year of my age, was a soldier of the Revolution, and now a pensioner of the United States. — Peter his Hudson mark
Virginia: Lunenburg County to wit:
This day Peter Hudson came before me a Justice of the peace in the County aforesaid, and made oath that the above certificate, contained the truth, to the best of his knowledge and recollection. I further certify, that he is a credible person and his statements entitled to full confidence. Given under my hand this 23 day of August 1839 P.H. Hunt J.P.

Virginia Shenandoah County to wit
William H Taylor Clerk of the county court of Shenandoah in the said State, do hereby certify that the within is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in my office and that the same is a true and correct copy of the original now on file in my office
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal and hereunto set my hand this 26 day of August 1839
W. H. Taylor Clerk of the county court of Shenandoah
[Faint, mirrored text from the reverse side of the page, likely bleed-through from the original document.]