Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S 16888, for John Jeffries, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Jeffries, John
S 16888
CONTENTS
banded

7422 Indiana
John Jeffries
of Tippecanoe in the State of Ind who was a private in the company commanded by Captain Webb of the Inf'ty of the Pa. Vols by Lieut. Col. Holt Richardson time for 8 mos
Inscribed on the Roll of Indiana at the rate of 26 Dollars 66 Cents per annum to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 9 day of April 1833 and sent to Mrs. B. Brown La Fayette
Arrears to the 14th of March 33.32 Femi-anl. allowance ending 4 Sept 13.33 $66.65
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Daniel B. Clerk Book 8 Vol. 7 Page 146

18017240 Mrs. Jeffries Jeffries Tippecanoe Co Indiana
from 1777 private 8 months, $26 \frac{66}{100}
Thomas B. Brown La Fayette,
Saml. H. Hosen Clark Indiana

BRIEF in the case of John Leffris -  County of Tippicanoe in the State of Indiana  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? 72  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 177777 2 As a Private Gen. Col Hott Capt Gatward   vol the length of time not recollected - Col Hott Richardson   vol does not recollect the time he served in that engagement. he volunteered   5. In what battles was he engaged? Skirmish at Manchester  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Giles Co Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? authenticated  
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
John C. Stokley Examining Clerk.
He states his service to be over 8 months

John Jeffries 17240

State of Indiana } Tippecanoe County. } Tippecanoe Circuit Court.
October Term A.D. 1832.
On this eleventh day of October in the year of our lord, one thousand eight hundred and thirty two. Personally appeared in Open Court before the Honorable John R. Porter president judge and James Wylie and John Provolt his associates, judges of the Circuit Court of Tippecanoe County now sitting John Jeffries a resident of Fairfield Township in the County of Tippecanoe in the state of Indiana, aged seventy two years the seventh day of February last past, 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 7. 1832. That he entered into the service of the United States under the following named officers and served as herein stated; That he was  was called out  volunteered , as a private under Captain William Gatewood. (Colonel Holt, Richardson & General Nelson) in the County of Essex in the state of Virginia, as he verily believes in the year 1777. for the term of two months, and marched from Essex County to Richmond, and towards the mountains to prevent the British from attacking and cutting off General Wayne's army But his regiment and company is not recollected by him now, and was marched back to Essex County and dismissed, but received no written discharge. And in a short time after that he volunteered under Captain William Warren. (Col Holt Richardson) in Essex County for two months, and marched to old Williamsburg the old seat of government, and Jamestown, and was marched back to Essex County and dismissed, but received no written discharge. Then in a short time After that he volunteered again under Major — Brimstead (General Needham) in King & Queen County Virginia, the length of time not now recollected, had a skirmish with the British at Manchester, British burned warehouses and a large quantity of Tobacco, and marched and joined the

the main army near Richmond on James river commanded by General Lafayette, and marched to Shocco hill, and there dismissed. And a short time after that he volunteered again under Captain John Webb, in Essex County of the 7 th Continental Virginia regiment, (as he believes) (Col William Roane) he does not recollect for what length of time he did engage, nor how long he served in that engagement, marched to Halls ford on Chickahominy river, by old Williamsburg to Little York, where and when Com Wallace surrendered & got a discharge in writing signed by Captain John Webb, and Col. William Roane; and that time  engagement he served in the revolutionary war in the several aforesaid engagements, longer  than and over eight months, when he returned home to Essex County in Virginia he put his said discharge in the ceiling or plastering over head in his father's house and has never seen it since, and that he does not know where it now is, and that since that time he has resided part of his time in the state of Virginia, part in the state of North Carolina, part in the state of Ohio and of late in the state of Indiana, and that he has no documentary evidence, and that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure, who can testify to his service: And 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, and subscribed the day and year aforesaid, John Jeffries. = Samuel Hoover, Clerk We John Hoover - - - residing in the township of Fairfield, county of Tippecanoe in the state of Indiana and Daniel Hoover residing near (the same) hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with John Jeffries who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be seventy two years of age, and that he is respected, and believed in the neighbor

hood where he resides to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn to and subscribed on, John Hoover the day and year aforesaid. Daniel Hoover
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 John Hoover and Daniel Hoover, who has signed the preceding certificate are residents of Tippecanoe county, and are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit.
John R. Porter. James Wylie John Provost I Samuel Hoover Clerk of the Tippecanoe Circuit court do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of John Jeffries for a Penson
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and seal of said Court at office this eleventh day of October one thousand eight hundred & thirty two.
Saml. Hoover. Clk. J.c.c.

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 Jeffries 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.     1777 1 mos. Priv. William Galtwood Holt Richardson Pa.   a short time after 1 mos. William Warren Holt Richardson   ✓ ✓ Major Armstrong   1781 ✓ John Webb William Roach 7 th Va.   He stated he served over 8 mos. in all.  
Battles engaged in, St. with British at Manchester. Residence of soldier at enlistment, enlisted in Essex Co. Va. Date of application for pension, Oct. 11, 1832 His cl. ab. Residence at date of application, Fairfield Twp. Tippecanoe Co. Ind. Age at date of application, born Feb'y 7, 1760.
Remarks: There is no data on file as to his family.
Respectfully,
* Carmoallis surrendered in 1781
Acting Commissioner.

John Jeffers BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned 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? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

 XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? Citizens only  XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? no  XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes  XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct?  XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service?  XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes  XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 5 
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. 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 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 shewn 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.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
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 claimants 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.
‡QUERE XVI. 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 paper 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.
In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, 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.

J. L. Edwards Esq. Ch. clk. Pension Office Washington City

Lafayette Ia. October 18th '32
Dear Sir,
I enclose to you now two applications for pensions under the recent act of congress - one in favour of John Loeffler, & the other in favour of John Blue - These men were both present in our court last week & are very infirm & needy - The applications & evidence are I believe both legally drawn up, & by giving to these cases your earliest & convenient attention, while you will relieve their anxiety, you will much oblige
Your Obedt. Servant Thomas B. Brown
J. L. Edwards Esq of the Pension Office -
P.S. When the other cases from this county, White & Long's have been decided on, will you have the kindness to inform me of the fact - as also of the above -

Rev/
Newbern, Ind.
Sept 21, 1916.
Commissioner of Pensions, Pension Office, Dept of Interior, Washington, D.C.
Dear sir, -
Please, send me the history of the services of John Jeffries in the Revolution (File No. - S. 7. 16, 888 Rev. War)
He was born 1760 and was a private in Captain William Haterwood's Company, Colonel Holt Richards Virginia Regiment and a resident of Tippecanoe County, Ind. in 1832.
Please, give me all the information concerning him, wife and his family.
Yours truly
Waltah Hoover.

1896 no to Ind. To Ind. vol. 1896
16.888 INVALID.
No. 16.888
John Jeffries Pr. Rev. M.
Act: June 7 th 82
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 446
[Arrangement of 1870.]
Nov. 2, Soldier's pension to Mrs. May E. S. Lafayette,
1896 Mch 23 Do Mrs. Richards Indianapolis
(Apr. 12 th Soldier's pension Mrs. M. J. Seymour. 1916 Oct. 14 Stock to Ketchum.