Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 14874, John Williams, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER _____
Va.
Williams, John
S. 14874
CONTENTS
carded

Date of death not on AB
Alabama 22.627
John Williams.
of Mobile Co. in the State of Alabama. who was a Private in the Co. — commander by Captain Ewell of the Regt. commanded by Col. Portefield, in the Virginia line for two years.
Inscribed on the Roll of Alabama, at the rate of 80 Dollars 00 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1834.
Certificate of Pension issued the 22 nd day of Nov. 1833. and sent to Schuyler Hogan. Mobile Ala.
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833. 200. — Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Mar. 34. 40. —
$ 240.
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Wm. Palmer Clerk, Book E — Vol. 8 Page 53.

FREE
37.365
ala
The Hon
Levi Cap
Sec of War
Washington City

State of Alabama Mobile County ss. On this 20 th day of September 1833 personally appeared before me Wm M. Gann Judge of the court  before of the County aforesaid. John Williams a resident of said County & State afor- said aged as he states Twenty six years on the first day of June 1833, who being duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath make the following declara- tion in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed 7 th June 1832. That he enlisted as a private soldier in the Army of the U.S. in the Virginia line in the year — (does not recollect which) with Captain Thomas Ewell and served in the 13 th Regt. commanded by Col. Porterfield and Major Dick. The Lieutenants of his Company were Bush & Bradford, and enlisted on Chocohito Richmond Va for three years but previous to his term of service having expired he entered for the War & served alto- gether three years that he was in the Battle of James- town, & the siege of York that he marched from Richmond to Williamsburg from thence to Gamston from thence to York town, that at the siege his Regt was placed on the right the French on the left the army he was attached to was commanded by Genl Know

that he was honorably discharged & lost his papers in the Cumberland river in attempt to cross the same -
and the said William Henry below signed, any every claim whatever to a pension or allowance except the present and he declares that his name is not on the pension rolls of any agency in any state
Given under my hand this day
John Williams Mark.
Sworn to me written before me William M. Garrison Judge of the County Court of Mobile County State of Alabama.
and the said Court do hereby declare their opinion, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier & served as he states.
W. M. Garrison Judge of the Court Court of Mobile County -
I Henry Lewis clerk of the County Court of Mobile County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Williams a Revolutionary soldier for a pension
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 20 th day of Sept. 1833 -
H. Lewis C. K.

Mobil 20 Sep 1851
To the Hon Levi Coffin Sir
Man he is
Enclosed is the application of John Williams a revolutionay soldier who is an applicant for a pension. upon as the certificate is made out it can be sent to him as safe way and as he resides twenty miles from this city
I have the Honor to be Most respectfully Yours &c
W B Morgan

27. 365 22. 62
John Williams. Alabama
Look on Va Roles on roles Adv 2 years - $80
John B. Hogan Mobile Alabama

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
28 th Oct 1883
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, showing the Service of John Williams
   Period when the service was rendered. Duration of the claimant's service. Rank of the claimant. Names and rank of the Field officers under whom he served. Age at present, and place of abode when he entered the service. Proof by which the declaration is supported.   Years. Months. Days.     3 priv Cap. Eusebius Col. Porterfield 76 years Richmond Va  
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)                      , who has 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 days 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 the 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 inquiry 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 _____; 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 organized 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.
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.
[k] 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.

June 24, 1940
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Honorable Will M. Whittington 226 House Office Building Washington, D. C.
JOHN WILLIAMS S. 14874 BA-J/MLB
My dear Mr. Whittington:
You are furnished herein the record of John Williams as found in the papers of pension claim, S. 14874, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
John Williams was born June 1, 1757; the place of his birth and names of his parents are not shown.
He enlisted in Richmond, Virginia, date not stated, for the term of three years, served as private in Captain Thomas Ewell's company, Colonel Porterfield's Virginia regiment, marched from Richmond to Williamsburg, thence to Jamestown and prior to the termination of the period for which he enlisted, reenlisted for the war, his service in all amounting to three years, during which he was in the battle of Jamestown and the Siege of Yorktown.
The soldier was allowed pension on his application executed September 20, 1833, at which time he was a resident of Mobile County, Alabama.
It is not stated in the claim whether or not John Williams ever married.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension, the name and address of the person paid and possibly the date of death of John Williams, Mrs. Denton should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data: John Williams, certificate #22627, issued November 22, 1833, rate $90 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act of June 7, 1832, Alabama Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Machine Assistant

1914 Feb 11 Hist. to Miss Emma Cotton. V. L. H. 1940 June 24. Hist to Hon. Hill M. Whittington - - - M.L.B.
Over here
14874 INVALID.
File No. 14,874
John Williams Pri Rev War
Act: June 1 th 1832.
Index:—Vol. 1, Page 413
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Benton, Ark. Feb. 1. 1914.
Commissioner of Pensions.
My dear Sir -
In reply to yours of Jan 28 th . will state that John Williams was born in Westmoreland County Virginia in 1755. He enlisted in the Army the first year of Rev. War. George Washington was the Commander in chief - but I do not know his name. My grand- mother thinks, that William Washington a cousin of Geo. Washington was the Capt. I know he was with Washington at Trenton. After he was discharged he went to South Carolina - & in 1784 he married Martha Duncan. She lived in the Edgefield District. I do not know the town. He died near Mobile Ala. in 1855. A few months over 100 yrs of age. He was wounded in the left leg just above the knee. He rec'd a pension for several years.

which was sent to him at Mobile, Ala. His widow was Martha Duncan Williams. Who survived him for several years. Martha Duncan's mother's maiden name was Rachael Howell. John Williams mother's maiden name was Lucy Bailey
Benjamin Bridges was born in Ga. near Savannah - in 1756 - & married Francis Williams in 1786 -
After the war - he moved to Ky. He was killed at his first mill by a man named Perkins in 1804 - near Bowling Green Ky. He served in Rev. War under Capt. Jacob Turner.
James Campbell was born in Lenon Co. (near Kingston) N. S. - in 1754 was in the 10 th N. C. Reg. After the war he returned to North Carolina & lived there till his death in 1829.
Yours
I am sorry you find nothing of Cotten or Baker.
But trust you at least find something of John

Williams - My Grand mother lived near him in Mobile Ala when he drew his pension - & my father remembers it too -
Hoping to receive an early reply -
Respt -
Miss Emma Cotten
711 So. Market St
Benton Ark -

June 24, 1940
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
BA-J/WHF:MLB
Honorable Will M. Whittington House of Representatives Room 226 House Office Building Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Whittington:
Reference is made to your letter of June 20, in behalf of Mrs. Charles E. Denton, Shelby, Mississippi, whose letter you enclosed and which is returned herewith. Mrs. Denton requests the Revolutionary War records of Isaac Williams, Captain of Cannon's regiment, enrolled as a pensioner in 1818, in Greene County, Alabama; John Williams, enrolled as a pensioner in 1833, in Mobile County, Alabama; Peter Williams, enrolled as a pensioner in 1834, in Pickens County, Alabama, and Samuel Williams, enrolled as a pensioner in 1836, in Covington County, Alabama.
The pension records of this office show that Captain Isaac Williams of Alabama, cited above, received his pension for service in the War of 1812. As Mrs. Denton is interested in compiling Revolutionary War data, it is assumed that she would not be interested in the War of 1812 record. The records of the Revolutionary War soldiers cited above are furnished you, herewith.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
BUREAU OF PENSIONS.
Washington, D. C., _____, 19____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Williams a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pension on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     ✓ 3 years Pvt. Thomas Emili Porterfield Pa        
Battles engaged in, Jamestown + Siege of York
Residence of soldier at enlistment, enlisted in Richmond Va.
Date of application for pension, Sept. 20 1880 His el. was al.
Residence at date of application, Mobile Co. Ala.
1823 1757 Age at date of application, b. June 1 1757
Remarks: No data as to family
The above noted is the only John Williams found on the Rev War Pension roll of the State of Alabama.
Respectfully,
Commissioner.

DEMOCRATS
WILL M. WHITTINGTON, MISS. MON C. WALLGREN, WASH. ROBERT T. SECREST, OHIO LEX GREEN, FLA. LEO KOCHALIKOWSKI, ILL. A. LEONARD ALLEN, LA. VINCENT F. HARRINGTON, IOWA JERRY VOORHIS, CALIF. KENT E. KELLER, ILL. W. R. POAGE, TEX. H. K. CLAYPOOL, OHIO WADE KITCHENS, ARK. JOSEPH A. MCARDLE, PA.
SEVENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS
WILL M. WHITTINGTON
CHAIRMAN
House of Representatives U. S.
COMMITTEE ON FLOOD CONTROL
Washington, D. C.
June 20, 1940.
REPUBLICANS
HARRY L. ENGLEBRIGHT, CALIF. CHARLES R. CLASON, MASS. EARL R. LEWIS, OHIO HARVE TIBBOTT, PA. CARL T. CURTIS, NEBR. THOMAS R. BALL, CONN. H. CARL ANDERSEN, MINN.
COMMITTEE CLERK
H. E. WILKINSON, JR., MISS.
COMMITTEE ROOM
227 HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING
The Veterans' Administration, Washington, D. C.
Attention: Revolutionary and 1812 Wars Section.
Gentlemen:
I make reference to my conversation with Mrs. Finch today, and I enclose herewith communication from Mrs. Charles E. Denton, of Shelby, Bolivar County, Mississippi, with the request that you furnish me the copy of applications for pensions referred to in said communication.
I will appreciate your forwarding me the information, addressing me 226 House Office Building, and I will appreciate also your returning the enclosed letter from Mrs. Denton.
I will await your response.
Very sincerely,
r.
enclosure.