Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30780, James Whitecotten, Va.

SERVICE
Va.
NUMBER _____
Whitecotton, James or Whitecotton
D. 30780
CONTENTS

Kentucky
22 307
Sapper James Whitecotton in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Fountain of the regt commanded by Col Woodford in the Virgin line for 1 year and 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 70 Dollars 0 Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Oct 1833 and Thomas Allen Harrodsburg
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 175 00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 March 35 00 $210 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Sam Boyd Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 33

Certificate sent back for correction and altered from John to James Whitecott - A returned Geo S Waugh. Harrodsburg Ky
6 Nov 1833
1890 Aug t 29 L C Draper history Prior May 11 do do Prior

James Whitcomb Revolutionary claim

State of Kentucky - Mercer County Court, May Term 1833 On this Sixth day of May 1833 - Personally appeared in Open Court before the Worshipful Justices of the County as now sitting James Whiteworth, a resident of Washington County and state as aged Eighty two years who being first duly sworn according to Law, doth on his oath make the following Declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the Act of Congress passed June the 7 th of June 1832 That he enlisted for one year, at Staunton Augusta County State of Virginia, in Captain William Fountain's Company of Infantry and marched to Charlottesville in the state as and joined the Regiment commanded by Colonel Hordford, our Lieut. Colonel was Whally Scott after- wards Gov. of this state, to the best of his knowledge it was in the year 1776, we marched to Williamsburg and from thence to a place called the Long Bridge when we met the British and defeated them dreadfully, drove them to Norfolk, and from thence on board of their shipping with old Gov. Dunmore at their heads, we took possession of Norfolk when we were afterwards stationed for several weeks from thence we marched to a place called Spangfield near Williamsburg when we were stationed until my enlistment expired, and at which place I was honourably discharged, and in the year 1778 as well as this Deponent can recollect he enlisted in Captain Leonard Helm's Company, for a tour in the Illinois Regiment of nine months, he was enlisted by Abn Chapline who was then an Ensign and recruiting for that purpose at a place near Wheeling called Shurton, we marched to Wheeling and met Colonel George Rogers Clark the Col. of the Regt and we took boats and descended the River to the falls of the Ohio, and built a fort, cleared 5 or 6 acres of land and planted it in corn for the people

From thence we went to Illinois and took possession of Kaskaskia and remained there until my nine months term expired, I immediately enlisted again in the company of Capt. Joseph Brown for a twelve months tour, our Regt. was commanded by Col. George Rogers Clark. We marched to Vincennes, and took Gov. Hamilton together with all the men in the fort Prisoners, where we were stationed until my term of 12 months expired and at which I was honorably discharged, I will most solemnly declare that I served two years and nine months faithfully during the Revolutionary war, and that I received nothing except the bounty land that was promised, I have no doubt but what my name will be found on the rolls in the department, I James Whitecotton do hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a pension, except the pension and declare that my name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state - Sworn to and subscribed this day and year afd.
James Whitecotton Seal
We the undersigned, being citizens of Mercer County and state of Kentucky do hereby certify that we are acquainted with James Whitecotton who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration that we believe him to be eighty two years of age that he is reputed and believed to be by all who are acquainted with him, to have been a faithful soldier of the Revolution and we fully concur in that opinion, and that he is a man of truth. Sworn to and subscribed this day & year afd.
Isaac Chaplin Seal
Mercer County set May court 1833,
Thomas High Seal
Since the said court. Do hereby declare their opinions that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary soldier and served as he states, and that the said James Whitecotton states upon oath upon being further interrogated

that he knows of no person living in this country by whom he can prove his services under Colonel Woodford in Capt Fountain's Company as an enlisted soldier for twelve months; and that his only reason for his not swearing to his declaration in the County of Washington where he resides, is that the Rev d Isaac Chapline son of Captain Adam Chapline under whom he enlisted and with whom he served in the Illinois Campaigns lives in Mercer County and we do further certify that James White Cotton together with Isaac Chapline and Thomas Kyle both Clergymen severally came into court and made oath to the statements by them severally subscribed, and the said court do hereby further certify that it appears to them that Isaac Chapline who has signed the preceding Certificate together with Thomas Kyle are Clergymen resident in the County of Mercer and are reputable & credible persons and that their statements are entitled to full faith and credit.
I Thomas Allison Clerk of the Mercer County Court do certify that the foregoing contains the Original Proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of James White Cotton for a Pension.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of Office this 6 th May 1833
Thos Allison Clerk Mercer County Court

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
6 June 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. These 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 James White cotton Mercer County Kentucky
   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.     Enlisted 1776 1 - private Capt Fountain, Colonel Woodford, Lieut. Col 82 years Stanton Traditional evidence not certified credible - no clergyman named and no reason given - paper correct   Enlisted 1778 9 - " Scott Capt Helms, Colonel Clark, County of Augusta Virginia Service under Col Woodford should be paid as required by the regulations, see notes, mast. page.   Enlisted 1 - - " Capt Bowman, Col Clarke, Battle of Long Bridge  
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 _____ A. B.
Sworn to 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 (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

(MF 42)
Date Apr. 4, 1922
Name James Whiteworth No. 830780 War Res.
Photographic copies wanted of 1 pieces, consisting of 3 pages.
Remarks: _____
Exr R.E. Wilson Chief Post War Section
Serial 6372 No. _____
Law Clerk.

ROOMS OF THE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WISCONSIN,
MADISON - Apl. 25 th 1891.
REUBEN G. THWATES, SECRETARY. DANIEL S. DURRIE, LIBRARIAN.
Hon. Green B. Rains -
My Dear Sir:
I wrote you in January for copies of the pension declarations of two Ky pensioners - Mr. Ravenscraft, of Harrison County, under the act of 1818; & Joseph Saunders, of Jefferson Co - (I think of Jefferson) - both served under Gen. George R. Clark. I wish to add
✓
James Whitecotton, whose name appears in the pub. list of pensioners of 1835, then of Mercer Co Ky; & in 1840, his names in Marion Co Ky. He too was a soldier of Gen. Clark's. Getting advanced in years, I am anxious to get all the

facts extant for a work on Genl. Clark so famous in the early settle- ment & Indian Wars of the West & the conquest of the Illinois Country - & hence I need transcripts of these three declarations. I hope you will do what you will care to aid me in these researches.
I do not remember to have sent you a copy of my work on the Autograph collections of the signers of the Declaration of Independence - which I will gladly do, if acceptable to you.
Very Truly Yours, Lyman C. Draper.
File with James Wilson Apr 30 1860

30780
Reg INVALID.
Am
File No. 30,780
James White cotton His Rev. Mrs
Act: June 1 st 39 th
Index:—Vol. 2 , Page 449
[Arrangement of 1870.]

1906 Apr 6- History of James Whitecatton to Miss Daye M. Whitecatton. M.B.H.
1922 Mar 20+ Thos. M. Bunter 1413 1 E. 57. St. Chicago Ills. info of cost of copies (see cor. in Basil Meek S. 15521.) au.
1922 Apr. 4. Copies mailed to Thos. M. Bunter (see cor. in Basil Meek as above) au

J. H. WHITECOTTON, LAWYER.
Paris, Missouri, _____ 190
Commissioner of Pensions Washington D.C.
Dear Sir — I wish you to give me the Military History in the Resolution of the following
"James Whiterson granted a pension of $70.00 a year Oct 21 1883 while a resident of Mercer Co Ky for services as a private of the Va. Militia"
and that you send to me at your earliest convenience the certificate showing same.
Very truly yours (Miss) Daisey M. Whiterson

WAR DEPARTMENT.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I certify that, in conformity with the law of the United States of the 7th June, 1832, John White cotton of the State of Kentucky " " who was a Private in the Army of the Revolution is entitled to receive Seventy — 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 21 st day of Oct one thousand eight hundred and thirty=Three
Lewis
Secretary of War.
Examined and } Countersigned. }
G. H. Brumf
Actg. Commissioner of Pensions.

Hamburg Ky. July 31. 1833.
Hon Levi Cags Secretary of War.
Sir
The claims of The Rev. Tho: Kyle and James White Cotton as Revolutionary soldiers have been rec d and examined, as the agent of Mr. Kyle I have to inform you that he cannot state the time of his voluntary service, as marked not stated, in your title of the 3 rd June with the exception of his service under Capt. Brady which to the best of his knowledge was about 2 months as he informs me you will please make such allowance as the nature of his application entitles him to receive, and I am authorised to say that it will be perfectly satisfactory -
In the case of James White Cotton I find upon examination a clerical error was committed by the Clerk in making out the Court Certificate, it has been corrected by him as you will see, he can offer no additional evidence in support of his claim as to his service under Col Woodford as he knows of no person living by whom he can prove his his service in V.A. he is a man of veracity and those who know him know believe he served as he states in his declaration, I am authorised to say that he will be willing to abide your decision without a murmur
I am very respectfully
Your Most att e and Very H m ble Serv t
Geo S. Maugh

Hanoverburg Ky 31 st Oct r 1833
In Sir,
The pay certificate of John Whitecotton instead of James has been rec d . for $70. per annum you will find by examination of his Declaration that his name is James Whitecotton, and if I mistake not he served at least two years and six months, It is probable the proof is not entirely sufficient as to his 12 months service in the State of Va. but his service in the Illinois Regt. I think was 21 months, I assure you his Character as an honorable man is good and his reputation as a soldier of the Revolution equally good. He thinks he is as much entitled to receive $80. as any soldier of the Revolution but knows of no person in this country living by whom he can prove his 12 months entitlement in Virginia, he wishes his pay pay certificate corrected as to name, & a further allowance if found worthy & forwarded without delay to myself or Thos Allin Clerk Respectfully yr. m t ob d Geo d Maugh