Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30746, John True, Va.

SERVICE
NUMBER
True, John
S. 30746
CONTENTS

22 311 Kentucky
Dead
due to H. G. Armstrong Dr. due
John True 1849 of Oldham Co in the State of Kentucky who was a private in the com commanded by Captain Seague of the reg commanded by Col McWilliam in the Virginia line for 9 months
Inscribed on the Roll of Kentucky at the rate of 30 Dollars and Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 day of Sept 1833 and 1834
Arrears to the 14th of Sept 33 $ 73.00 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 March  15.00 $90.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Dan Boyd Clerk, Book 6 Vol. 7 Page 29

John Zuer -
24999

State of Kentucky Oldham county, ss. On this 19 th day of Nov r in the year 1832 personally appeared in open court before the undersigned Washington Carter & Roger Little, the justices of the county court of Oldham of the state John True aged 79 years a resident citizen of said county & 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 the 7 th day of June 1832 - viz. I John True being duly sworn de- liberately state that I am now 79 years of age that I was born in the county of Culpepper and state of Virginia and resided in Spotsylvania county of said state when the revolutionary war commenced and served my country in said war as follows viz In the spring of the year 1780 (the month I cannot recollect) I was drafted in Capt John Hens company of Col George Stabbelfield of the Virginia Militia for three months and marched to Williamsburg and from there to the Rappahannock River where we were stationed as a guard to prevent the British from landing and we continued there until my time expired - and I was honorably discharged and again in the last of May 1781 I was again drafted in Capt John Leagues com- pany (of Fredericksburg) in Col William McWilliams Regiment of the Virginia Militia, and we marched into Albemarle and joined Genl. Wayne at the Raccoon ford of Rappahannock, and after the British had collected Lord Cornwallis returned to Little York and we pursued him and besieged him and I I was taken sick a short time before he surrendered I was in a hospital within two miles, as my time had expired, after his capitulation was discharged and

honorably Discharged, having served upwards of six months of faithful service, and I further state that I do not know of any person except my brother Larkin True of Hancock County Kentucky and one other man by whom I can prove my services in this state and I am so old that I cannot search after them - I further state that I have no documentary evidence by which I can prove my age or services having long since lost my Discharges - I hereby relinquish all claim which I have to any pension or annuity except the present and I am not now a pensioner of the United States or of any state - Witness my hand this 19 th day of Nov r 1832 - John True
William Dawkins. minister of the gospel Oldham County Ky. This day Mr. Larkin True Garrett a clergyman residing in this county and I know him to be of the neighborhood of John True also hereby certify that we are well acquainted with the said John True who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration, and we believe that he is of the age he has stated, and that he is respected and believed in the neighborhood in which he resides to have been a revolutionary soldier and we concur in the opinion, and we further state that he is a credit- able man and a man of veracity Witness our hands this 19 th day of Nov r 1832
at Larkin & Garrett
William Dawkins minister of the gospel

Ky St Oldham County Court Nov. 19 th 1832.
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the order of appointment that the above applicant was a revolutionary soldier & served as he states, and the Court further certify that it appears to them that Sarker Garrit who has signed the preceding certificate is a resident of the County of Oldham and is a credible person and that his statement is entitled to credit.
J. H. Grinstead Washington County
John Sibley, Appr.
State of Kentucky Oldham County ss.
I, Robert Mc Baccard Deputy for Isaac R. Swathney Clerk of the Oldham County Court in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Dine for a pension.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court at Westport this 19 th day of November in One Thousand Eight hundred and thirty two and in the 41 st year of the Commonwealth.
R Mc Baccard For Isaac R. Swathney D.O.C.

No 24.999 John True Oldham Co. Kentucky
from 1780 private 9 months $30
J. T. Berry Lagrange Oldham Co. Kentucky

WAR DEPARTMENT,
Pension Office,
June 13 th 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 subjjoined notes, you will readily perceive that objections exist, which must be removed, before a pension can be allowed. The notes and the regulations will show 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, showing the Service of John Tame Oldham Co. 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.     Before Spring 1780 3 Private Col. Tubbfield 79 years Traditional evidence   At May 81 upwards of six months Capt. League Col. McMillan Genl. Wayne Pittsylv. Va. King's Certified credible by the Courts & one witness in definite as to service note stated credible - -  
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 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 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 [j] 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.
[m] If a witness cannot be found, the declarant must state the fact.
[n] The answers to the interrogatories must all be written, and sent to the War Department, with the declaration.
3597 John N. Robertson

October 25, 1934
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Lena C. B. Williams 401 Butts Building Wichita, Kansas
JOHN TRUE S. 30746 BA-J/MLB
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letters of October 5, in which you request the Revolutionary War records of John True, Sr., who was a resident of Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1810, probably served from Spotsylvania County, Virginia, and received a pension; also, of William Mitchell who, you state, enlisted from Culpeper County, Virginia, where he resided at the time of the Revolutionary War, was living in Woodford County, Kentucky, in 1810 and received a pension.
The Revolutionary War records of this office have been searched and no claim for pension or bounty land was found based upon service of a William Mitchell as described. The pension which you state he received may have been paid by the state from which he served.
The record of a John True was found who served from Virginia and later settled in Kentucky, where he received pension, and it is given below as shown in pension claim, S. 30746, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
John True was born in Culpeper County, Virginia; the date of soldier's birth and names of his parents are not stated.
At the commencement of the Revolutionary War the soldier was a resident of Spotsylvania County, Virginia. He enlisted in the spring of 1780 and served three months as private in Captain John Hines' company, Colonel George Stubblefield's Virginia regiment. He enlisted the last of May, 1781, served as private in Captain John League's company, Colonel William McWilliams' Virginia regiment, was at the siege of Yorktown but was taken ill before the surrender of Cornwallis and was discharged after having served "upwards of six months" on this tour.

John True was allowed pension on his application executed November 19, 1852, at which time he was aged seventy-nine years and a resident of Oldham County, Kentucky. It is not shown in the claim that he ever resided in Woodford County, Kentucky.
He died April 2, 1855, and his widow, Margaret True, died April 22, 1855.
Reference was made in the claim to Maria W. True, "one of the children" of the soldier, John True, and his wife, Margaret, also to Maria W. True's husband, John True; no other names of children are given, nor any places of residence.
In 1852, the soldier, John True, referred to his brother, Larkin True, then of Harrodsburgh, Kentucky.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Assistant to Administrator

Bardstown Ky Rev. War Records.
Gentlemen:
Please send me the Revolutionary War Record and any data you have of John True - Virginia-
Yours truly,
Mrs A. D. Campbell.
Box 165
Bardstown
Ky.

1934 Oct 25 - Hirt to Genal C.B. Williams - MK B. 1937 May 19 - Hirt to Mrs. A.D. Campbell L.H.K.
30746 INVALID.
Rev
File No. 30746
John Fine His Rev. wife
Act: June 7 th 1890
Index: - Vol. 9 , Page 422
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Jeffersonville Dec 11. 1843
Sir
I herewith transmit the original Pension Certificate of John True who was allowed 30 $/yr Annually payable at the Kentucky Agency - Also the Certificate of the Probate Court of the death of said pensioner on the 2 nd day of April 1835 and of the death of his widow Margaret True on the 22 nd of the same month -
Also the family record of said John True attached to the Certificate of the Court
Also the Power of Attorney of Maria M. True one of the children of said John True and Margaret True authorizing her husband John True to receive the balance due to her father John True and any allowance which may have been coming to Margaret True the widow of said pensioner -
Also the affidavit of John True the Attorney
After an examination of the papers found to be correct - an order for the payment at Louisville will be most convenient
Very Respectfully
Wm G. Armstrong
How I. L. Edwards Com r of Pensions -

21 Dec 1843
W. G. Armstrong

Pension Office December 21 st 1843
Sir,
I herewith return the papers in the case of John True dec d . The enclosed printed instructions should be strictly complied with and when the vouchers shall have been prepared they should be forwarded to P. Argus Esq r . Third Auditor of the Treasury that the pension may be paid in conformity to the Act of the 23 rd August 1842.
I am &c
W. G. Argus Esq r Seyersville Indiana.

Wichita, Kansas October 5, 1934
Bureau of Pensions, Revolutionary War Dept., Washington, D.C.
Gentlemen:
Please send me a copy of the Military history of John True Sr., a Revolutionary soldier. He was a pensioner and lived in Woodford county, Kentucky in 1810. He probably served from Spottsylvania county, Virginia as he lived there about the time of the Revolution.
Thanking you in advance for this information, I am
Sincerely,
Lena C B Williams
Lena C. B. Williams, 401 Butts Bldg., Wichita, Kansas

May 19, 1939
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mrs. A. D. Campbell Box 165 Bardstown, Kentucky
JOHN TRUE S. 30746 BA-J/MLB
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the record of John True, a Revolutionary War soldier of Virginia.
You are furnished herein the record of the only John True found in the records of this office who served in the Revolution from Virginia. The data thereof were obtained from the papers on file in pension claim, S. 30746, based upon his service in the Revolutionary War.
John True was born in Culpeper County, Virginia. The date of his birth and names of parents were not stated.
At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, the soldier was a resident of Spotsylvania County, Virginia. He enlisted in the spring of 1780 and served three months as private in Captain John Hines' company, Colonel George Stubblefield's Virginia regiment. He enlisted the last of May, 1781, served as private in Captain John League's company, Colonel William McWilliams' Virginia regiment, was at the siege of Yorktown but was taken ill before the surrender of Cornwallis and was discharged after having served "upwards of six months" on this tour.
John True was allowed pension on his application executed November 19, 1832, at which time he was aged seventy-nine years and a resident of Oldham County, Kentucky. It is not shown in the claim that he ever resided in any other place after leaving Virginia.
John True died April 2, 1835, and his widow, Margaret True, died April 22, 1835.
Reference was made in the claim to Maria W. True, "one of the children" of the soldier, John True, and his wife, Margaret, also to Maria W. True's husband, John True; no other names of children are shown, nor any places of residence.
In 1832, the soldier, John True, referred to his brother, Larkin True, then of Harrodsburgh, Kentucky, his age not stated.
In order to obtain date of last payment of pension and name and address of the person paid, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data: John True, certificate #22311, issued October 21, 1833, rate, $30 per annum, commenced March 4, 1831, Act. June 7, 1832, Kentucky Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

State of Indiana Epperson County No 3
Before me John Pugh an acting Justice of the Peace within and for said County personally appeared Ann Epperson of said age who being first duly sworn says she was acquainted with John True in Spottsylvania County in the State of Virginia during the Revolutionary War, and that she was drafted (and as she understood went into the United States army but how long she remained there she does not now recall, neither does she recall the year, she merely recalls of his being drafted, his starting from home (as it was then said) to join the army and his return home again after his having been in the army (as she understood) but whether he served all the time for which he was drafted, she does not know, and further saith not.
Sworn to before me 8th Nov 1832 J. Pugh J.P. Mark

State of Indiana Jefferson County ss
I Richard B. Talbott Clerk of the Jefferson Circuit Court do hereby Certify that John Pugh Esquire before whom the foregoing deposition was made was then and still is an acting justice of the peace within and for said County duly Commissioned and qualified and that full faith and credit are due and ought to be given to all his official acts as such - In testimony whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the County aforesaid at Madison this 8 th day of November A. D. 1832. R. B. Talbott Clerk
I do hereby certify that Ann Epperson who made the foregoing affidavit is a person entitled to entire credit. She has lived in this town many years and her character in all ways has been during her residence here unblemished.
William Hendricks
Mem. 26 S. Senate.
Madison Indiana
July 3. 1833.

Knox City
W.D.
Respectfully
Ref. W. August.
Mary Department.
23 July 1833.
Library Office Resolutions -
To the Sec
3 of

Labrange Ky.
July 13 th 1833
2 nd Sir. I herewith return the papers forwarded on the application of John Bone for a pension with the certificate of Mr. Kendrick a United States senator from Indiana as to the credibility of Ann Epperson - Mr. Bone states there is only three courts in the county where Ann Epperson lives in the course of the year, and the first court is in September next - that he is old and in great need, if any thing can be done for him, it must be shortly, or he will not need it -
Yrs respectfully Edw. T. Berry