Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 31493, Richard Woodard, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
W.
Woodard Richard Wor Woodyard
S. 31493
Born in Md.
CONTENTS

23207 Kentucky
Richard Woodard of Union Co in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the co commanded by Captain Neal of the regt commanded by Col. Lynch in the Virginia line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 30 Dollars 11 Cents per Annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of Dec. 1833 and Year 6
Arrears to the 4th of Sept 73.00 Sem-ant. allowance ending March 15. 17.00 $90.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Danl Boyd Clerk Book E Vol. 7 Page 83
For letters P. Capt.
L. J. Tickler Oct. 25. 1836 -
Death not shown on Q.B. 32

22919 A. Woodyard K
From 177 - prints 19 in roll $30.
motion Roll look on Roll for Richard Woodward & Woodard. if not on Roll allow for nine months.
6 Lyon St R Morganfield
James R. H. of CC Union Co

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office.
April 15 1833
Sir:
The evidence in support of your claim, under the act of June 7, 1832, has been examined, and the papers are herewith returned. The following is a statement of your case in a tabular form. On comparing these papers with the following rules, and the subjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will shew what is necessary to be done. Those points to which your attention is more particularly directed, you will find marked in the margin with a brace, (thus: { ). You will, when you return your papers to this Department, send this printed letter with them; and you will, by complying with this request, greatly facilitate the investigation of your claim.
A Statement, shewing the Service of Richard Woodyard. Union Co. Pa.
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and Rank of the Company officers under whom he served. Names and Rank of the General and Field officers. Battles in which the applicant was engaged. Country through which he marched. Place of abode when he entered the service, and age at the present period. Evidence by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.      drafted Regular Soldiers   about 9  was the draft  as a regular soldier  for 3 years &  served as such  for about 18 mos   Genl Stephen Lawson Collymore   none   Va   Stafford Va   Trady if not on roll   
I am, respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
J. L. EDWARDS,
Commissioner of Pensions.

REGULATIONS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE 7, 1832.
The following regulations have been adopted:
This law has been construed to extend, as well to the line, as to every branch of the Staff of the Army, and to include under the terms "Continental Line," "State troops," "militia," and "volunteers," all persons enlisted, drafted, or who volunteered and who were bound to military service, but not those who were occasionally employed with the army upon civil contracts, such as Clerks to Commissaries and to Store Keepers, &c. Teamsters, Boatmen, &c. Persons who served on board of Private Armed Vessels are also excluded from the benefits of the law, as well as persons who turned out as patrols, or were engaged in guarding particular places at night, and were not recognized as being in actual military service.
Four general classes of cases are embraced in this law:
 1. The Regular Troops.  2. The State Troops, Militia, and Volunteers.  3. Persons employed in the Naval service.  4. Indian Spies. 
As rolls of the regular troops in the Revolutionary War exist in this Department, all persons, claiming the benefit of this law as officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians or privates, will in the first instance, make application by transmitting the following declaration, which will be made before a Court of Record of the County where such applicant resides. And every Court having by law a seal and Clerk is considered a Court of Record.
DECLARATION,
In order to obtain the benefit of the Act of Congress of the 7th of June, 1832.
State, Territory, or District of } ss. County of }
On this _____ day of _____ personally appeared (a) before A. B. a resident (b) of _____ in the county of _____ and State, Territory or District of _____ aged (c) _____ 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 (d) _____, with _____ and served in the _____ (e) regiment of the _____ line, under the following named officers:
[Here set forth the names and rank of the Field and Company Officers; the time he left the service; (and if he served under more than one term of enlistment, he must specify the particular period, and rank and names of his officers;) the town or county and State in which he resided when he entered the service; the battles, if any, in which he was engaged, and the country through which he marched. [This form is to be varied so as to apply to the cases of officers and persons who belonged to the militia, volunteers, navy, &c.]
He hereby relinquishes every claim (f) whatever to a pension or an annuity, except the present, and he declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of any Agency in any State, or (if any) only on that of the Agency in the State of _____
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
A. B.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion (g) that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and served as he states.
I _____ of the Court of _____ do hereby certify (h) that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office (i) this day of _____ &c.
If, on examination of the proper record the names of applicants, making such declaration, cannot be found, they will produce such proof as the rule given in note (j) points out.
Every applicant who claims a pension by virtue of service in the State Troops, Volunteers or Militia, except those who belonged to the New Hampshire Militia and State Troops of Virginia, will make and subscribe a declaration similar to the foregoing, with the following additions, viz:
(k) We, A. B., a Clergyman, residing in the _____ and C. D. residing in (the same) _____ hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with _____, who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be _____ years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
[And then will follow the certificate of the Court.]
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that A. B. _____ who has signed the preceding certificate, is a clergyman, resident in the _____ and that C. D., who has also signed the same is a resident in the _____ and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I, _____ Clerk of the Court of _____ do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court, in the matter of the application of _____ for a pension.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office, this _____ day of _____ &c.
Every applicant will produce the best proof in his power. This is the original discharge or commission; but if neither of these can be obtained, the party will so state under oath, and will then procure, if possible, the testimony of at least one credible witness, stating in detail his personal knowledge of the services of the applicant, and such circumstances connected therewith, as may have a tendency to throw light upon the transaction.
If such surviving witness cannot be found, the applicant will so state in his declaration (l) and he will also, whether he produce such evidence or not, proceed to relate all the material facts, which can be useful in the investigation of his claim, and in the comparison of his narrative with the events of the period of his alleged service, as they are known at the Department. A very full account of the services of each person

will be indispensable to a favorable action upon his case. The facts stated will afford one of the principal means of corroborating the declaration of the applicant, if true, or of detecting the imposition, if one be attempted; and unless, therefore, these are amply and clearly set forth, no favorable decision can be expected. All applicants will appear before some Court of Record in the County, in which they reside, and there subscribe and be sworn to, one of the declarations above provided, according to the nature of his case.
The Court will propound the following (m) interrogatories to all applicants for a pension, on account of service in the Militia, State troops, or Volunteers, except the Militia of New Hampshire and the State troops of Virginia.
 1. Where and in what year were you born?  2. Have you any record of your age, and if so, where is it?  3. Where were you living when called into service; where have you lived since the Revolutionary war, and where do you now live?  4. How were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer, or were you a substitute? And if a substitute, for whom?  5. State the names of some of the Regular Officers, who were with the troops, where you served; such Continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circumstances of your services.  6. { To a Soldier. } Did you ever receive a discharge from the service, and if so, by whom was it given and what has become of it? { To an Officer. } Did you ever receive a commission, and if so, by whom was it signed, and what has become of it?  7. State the names of persons to whom you are known in your present neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a soldier of the Revolution. 
The Court will see that he answers to these questions are embodied in the declaration, and they are requested to annex their opinions of the truth of the statement of the applicant.
The applicant will further produce in Court, if the same can be done, in the opinion of the Court, without too much expense and inconvenience to him, two respectable persons -one of whom should be the nearest clergyman, if one lives in the immediate vicinity of such applicant, who can testify, from their acquaintance with him, that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood to have been a Revolutionary soldier, and that they concur in that opinion. If one of these persons is a Clergyman, the Court will so certify, and they will also certify, to the character and standing of other persons, giving such certificates.
The traditional evidence of service is deemed very important, in the absence of any direct proof, except the declaration of the party. And the Courts are requested to be very particular in the enquiry whether the belief is general, and whether any doubts have ever existed upon the subject.
Applicants unable to appear in Court by reason of bodily infirmity, may make the declaration before required, and submit to the examination, before a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record of the proper county, and the Judge or Justice will execute the duties, which the Court is herein requested to perform, and will also certify that the applicant cannot, from bodily infirmity, attend the Court.
Whenever any official act is required to be done by a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or by a Justice of the peace, the certificate of the Secretary of State or Territory, or of the proper Clerk of the Court or County, under his seal of office, will be annexed, stating that such person is a Judge or Justice of a Court of Record, or a Justice of the Peace, and that the signature annexed is his genuine signature.
No payments can be made on account of the services of any person, who may have died before the taking effect of the act of June 7, 1832; and in case of death subsequent thereto, and before the declaration herein required is made, the parties interested will transmit such evidence as they can procure, taken and authenticated before a Court of Record, showing the services of the deceased, the period of his death, the opinion of the neighborhood respecting such services, the title of the claimant, and the opinion of the Court upon the whole matter.
[a] The declarant must appear in open Court, unless prevented from doing so by reason of bodily infirmity; in which case the declarant will follow the rule laid down for his guidance.
[b] The declarant must make his declaration in the county where he resides. If he should fail to do so, he must assign a sufficient reason for not conforming to the rule.
[c] The age of the claimant must invariably be mentioned.
[d] The declarant must mention the period or periods of the war when he served.
[e] Every continental officer or soldier must give the name of the Colonel under whom he served; otherwise a satisfactory examination of the claim cannot be had. Every claimant must state, 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. 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 that 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.
[f] The law makes the relinquishment indispensable.
[g] The opinion of the Court is always required.
[h] The Clerk must give his certificate in every case.
[i] The Clerk must affix his seal, and if it has no device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal, or if he 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.
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 papers 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.
Proof of Service.
[j] 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 claimant's 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.
[k] The notes from [a] to [i] are all equally applicable to the cases of Militia men, Volunteers and State Troops. The proof required by rule in note [j] applies to continental troops only.
[l] This traditional evidence is indispensable in militia cases.
[l] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[m] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
W. L. Williams Ex Clk

State of Kentucky S County of Union 3
On the 21 st day of January in the year of our Lord 1833 personally appeared in open court before Daniel McKeny Lewis Greenwell & George Johnson Justices of the Union County Court now sitting Richard Woodgar a a resident of the County of Union and commonwealth of Kentucky aged Seventy 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 June 7 th 1832 that he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated that he entered the service of the United States in the County of Stafford and State of Virginia where this affiant then resided in the year  who was then drafted as a Militia Man, and placed under the command under the command of Captain Neal, and was marched under his command to Fredericksburg in the state of Virginia and from thence to Chesterfield Courthouse, the officers This affiant states that when he reached Fredericksburg, he was prevailed upon to enlist and become a regular soldier in states he done so, and the officers that belonged to the army to which he belonged as well as he now recollects was General Stephen and Lawson, and Col Lynch - This affiant states that when he entered the service as a Militia Man he was drafted for eighteen months but he only served about nine months as a Militia Man, before he enlisted for three

years, and he was in actual service as a regular soldier about eighteen months, he states that he was several times during his service detached and sent out as scouting parties against Dunmore's, that he was marching as a reinforcement to General Washington while he was besieging Lord Cornwallis but before the arrival of this affiant, General York was surrendered by Cornwallis to General Washington. This affiant never was in any general engagement, he states that he was born on the 5 th day of January 1755 in Charles County State of Maryland, he states that he has a memorandum of his age taken from his father's family register, he states that since the revolutionary war he has resided part of the time in Virginia, & part in St. Mary's County State of Maryland and part of the time in the state of Kentucky. And now resides in Union County State of Kentucky, if he ever received a discharge he has long since lost it, This affiant will state that Mr. John Pinson William Woodard James Woodard John Hays Joseph Hays who resides in his neighbourhood who can testify as to his character for veracity and the belief of his service as a revolutionary soldier he cannot recollect the year he entered the service or the year he was discharged as he is a man of no learning, he knows of no person by whom he can prove his services. He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present & declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state sworn to & subscribed the day & year aforesaid. Richard Woodard his mark

We Morris Moore a clergyman residing in Union County & State of Kentucky & William Woodard residing in same hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Richard Woodard who has subscribed & sworn to the foregoing declar- -ations that we believe him to be Seventy eight years of age that he is respected & believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution & that we concur in that opinion Sworn to & subscribed this day 1 year ago.
Morris Moore
William Woodard
And the said courts do hereby declare their opinions after the investigation of the matter & after perusing the interrogatories presented by the War department that the above named applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states - And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Morris Moore who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman & resides in Union County & State of Kentucky & that William Woodard who has also signed the same is a resident in the same County & State & is a credible person & that their statements are entitled to credit.
Daniel W. Kenny Geo. Johnson Lewis F. Marshall
Justices of the Union County Court

I James R. Hughes Clerk of the Court of Union County in the State of Kentucky do certify that the within and foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Richard Woodard for a pension as awarded to be entitled by said Court
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 21 st day of January 1833 in the year of the Commonwealth
James R. Hughes
Richard Woodard
Declaration
22919 Mr Woodard or Woodward is well known to me he is an honest respectable but very ignorant old man, he cannot obtain any further testimony. Said as he is, if his name cannot be found on the Rolls, as Richard Woodward, or Richard Woodard, he must be contented with a pension for 9 months, which he served in the militia, to which he is certainly entitled
Chitt Lyon
Richard

VETERANS ADMINISTRATION
WASHINGTON May 8, 1940.
Honorable Louis Ludlow House of Representatives Washington, D. C.
BA-J/ILL am Richard Woodard S. 31493
My dear Mr. Ludlow:
Reference is made to your letter of May 4, 1940, in which you request the Revolutionary War record of Richard Woodard, who served from Virginia and resided in Union County, Kentucky, in 1831-3.
The data which follow were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 31493, based upon service of Richard Woodard in the Revolutionary War. His name is shown also Woodyard and Woodward, but was borne on the pension roll as Richard Woodard.
Richard Woodard was born January 5, 1755 in Charles County, Maryland; the names of his parents were not given. At the time of the Revolutionary War, he resided in Stafford County, Virginia.
Richard Woodard enlisted, the date not given, served as private in Captain Neal's Virginia company, marched to Fredericksburg, thence to Chesterfield Court House and after about nine months, at Fredericksburg, enlisted in Colonel Lynch's Virginia regiment and was discharged sometime after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, this later service amounting to about eighteen months.
After his service in the Revolutionary War, this soldier resided in Virginia a part of the time, in St. Mary's County, Maryland, and in Kentucky.
Richard Woodard was allowed pension on account of his service in the Revolutionary War on his application executed January 21, 1833. He resided then in Union County, Kentucky.

Richard Woodard made no reference to wife or children.
In 1833, James Woodard and William Woodard were residents of Union County, Kentucky; no relationship between them and this soldier's family was stated.
For information in regard to the date of last payment of pension, name and address of person paid and, possibly, the date of death of this pensioner, application should be addressed to The Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, this city, and the following data furnished:
Richard Woodard Certificate #25201 Issued December 9, 1833 Rate $30 per annum Commenced March 4, 1831 Act of June 7, 1832 Kentucky Agency.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

House of Representatives
Washington
Dec r 1 st 1833
James L. Edwards Esq r
Enclosed herewith you will find the papers relating to the Pension claims of John Pearson, and Richard Mudard, returned for reexamination; please advise me of the result as early as practicable
Very Respectfully
Your Ob t Serv t
Chitt n Lyon

31473 INVALID.
Ray
11940 - May 8 - J. H. L. to Hon. L. D. Smith Ludlow J. R. C.
File No. 31,473
Richard Woodard
Dis Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32 nd
Index: -Vol. 2 , Page 463
[Arrangement of 1870.]

LOUIS LUDLOW 12TH DISTRICT INDIANA
SUBCOMMITTEES: TREASURY AND POST OFFICE CHAIRMAN DEFICIENCIES
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WASHINGTON, D. C.
May 4, 1940
Hon. E. L. Bailey, U. S. Veterans Administration, Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Bailey:
Will you kindly send to me all of the information shown in your files, both of a personal and military nature, regarding Richard Woodyard, a private in the Virginia Revolution?
In 1831-3 he was living in Union County, Kentucky, aged 80.
Very sincerely,
Louis Ludlow