Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 17516, for Williamson Jones, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Jones, Williamson
S. 17516
Carded
CONTENTS
At about 1759 in house in Va. res at end Carolina Co Va res after Rev. W res in 1835 Morgan Co Ind

Indiana 19313
order to pay
15 Nov. 1836
William Jones
is Morgan Co in the State of Ind a who was a pr in the Co commanded by Captain Coleman of the reg t commanded by Col. Matthews in the Wa line for 6 mos
Inscribed on the Roll of Ind a at the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 14th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 26 day of Aug t 1833 and Wm B Rep. Marlow
Arrears to the 14th of March 40.00 Pension allowance ending Sept = 10 00 50 00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by David Boyd Clerk, Book 6 o Vol. 7 Page 117
Original returned for correction dated for William B. Williams and returned to Mr. C. Rep. Marlow on 17 November 1833

20.512.
20.513.
Williamson Sons, of Morgan County, In- diana.
after 1776 private 6 months, 57/20.
Wm O. Raper
Geo A. Phelps, blk., Morgan County, Martinsville Indiana.

BRIEF in the case of Williamson Jones ,  County of Morgan , in the State of Indiana . (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? A Judge.  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? Yes.  3. How old is he? 73 years.  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.     Vol. In 1776. 4 or 6 As a Pl. Pl. Gen. Nelson and Col. Matthews, Major Royell, and Capt. Danl. Colman, Col. Matthews, Major Royell.    He states that he was called out three different times, and served six or eight weeks each time.
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None.  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Caroline County, Va.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional.  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct. 
X  Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
W. R. Turner , Examining Clerk.

(11)
State of Indiana Morgan County
Morgan Probate Court November Term 1832
On this 13 day day of November 1832 personally appeared before me John Matthews Probate Judge within and for said county - Williamson Jones a resident of said county aged Seventythree or four years. Who being duly sworn according to Law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the provision made by the Act of congress passed June Seventeenth  Seventh 1832
That he entered into the service of the united States army when he was about 16 or 17 years old but does not recollect with certainty as he has no record of his age, that he volunteered in the service of the United States in the year about 1776 - Some time in warm weather. But cannot recollect at what time in the year it being so long ago, and he has become so frail both in Body and Mind, he acted as fifer for the company to which he belonged during the campaign for the term of four or six weeks and perhaps longer but can't recollect. He was out under the command of General Gibson and Colonel Matthews Maj. Dugdale

(2) and Captain Daniel Colman and the their officers names not recollected th he then lived in Caroline county State of Virginia. That he Marched to the Town of Richmond to fight the British and when they got to Richmond the British was not there but he says he recollects of seeing the officers look with a Spy Glasses at York to see if they could see the British and from there we went to Williamsburg and from there we returned home, and at an other time he says he went out against the British at Richmond it being on James River some time after the first time he was out at that time he thinks he went to a place called Yorktown and there he was taken sick and went into the Hospital and there remained 8 or ten days until he got better and was able to perform duty again and while he was at the town of York his sister made and sent him a shirt by Colonel James Wren at that time the British were expected daily and did not come

(3)
until he was discharged but shortly after that time they made their appearance and he says the Americans defeated Cornwallis and he returned home and at two or three other differ- ent times he says he was called out he thinks between the first and last time before mentioned as well as he recollects as much as six or eight days weeks at a time he says he thinks he passed through a place called Newwood he thinks the field officers were the same in all the expeditions in which he was out He says Col. Matthews was a very rough man he says Matthews said that god would damn every man he should curse He says this very same Matthews was Colonel Matthews hung a man until he was almost dead and then let him go, he says there was an officer belonging to the Regiment by the name of Major Boyle and that one night it thundered and lightened very hard and he was standing century and some time in the morning an officer came near to this Major Boyle and the Major called out to the man and asked him where he

(145) had been and when he so said the Man Muttered Something he could Not tell what. The Major had in his hand an oak Staff about as large as his finger and he struck the officer a number of blows with the same. and took his sword from him he says the Army had been Marching all the night for the purpose of getting away from the British. He says he was one night with the light infantry and the Main Body of the Army Marched on and cross'd some bridges and as they went they set fire to the bridges so that when the infantry Marched on and came to the bridges they were all on fire and they had Much trouble to get across unhurt. they were afraid that the British would cross over and overtake them but they escaped unhurt. He says to the best of his recollection first and last he believes he was in the Service or army of the United States in the Revolutionary war Six Months or more. He says he was Young and had No learning and did not expect to get any pay for the same therefore he did not charge his Memory with the particulars that he served as a Substitute for his brother

(15)
John Jones and James Jones. He served for James Jones about one week. And for John Jones about two weeks and he does not recollect at what place. He says he was born in Essex County in the State of Virginia in or about the year 1759 but having no record of his age he is not sure as to the time. He says his parents were poor and poor men — for a living and gave him no learning at all. That at the time he entered the service he lived in Caroline county in the state of Virginia and lived there all the time during the revolution and afterwards until he moved to the state of Kentucky but does not recollect — and stayed about one year and from there moved into Fayette county near Bryant Station and there he lived three or four years and moved from there to a creek called State near the iron works and from there he moved to Big Benson in Franklin county in said state and from there he moved to the state of Indiana in Harrison county and from there he moved into Morgan county where he now lives and has lived for about eight years.

That he is known to William Gregory Peter Monical George & Phelps Hiram Matthews and John Butterfield who can testify as to his character for veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier of the reuelutionary war. that he knows of no person whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his services and that he has no documentary evidence thereof He says he verily believes that he was in the service of the United States six or eight months when all added together He says he received no discharge as he recollects of at this time from any officer that he has no record of his age nor never had
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the agency of any state or territory sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid Williamson his mark

(7)
We John Butterfield Clergyman residing in the county of Morgan Clay Township State aforesaid and Grant Stafford of said county and Green Township Do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Williamson Jones who has sworn to the above decla- -ration that we believe him to be of Seventythree or four years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides to have been a soldier in the revolutionary war and that we concur in that opinion Sworn to and Subscribed the day and year aforesaid
John Butterfield"> John Butterfield Grant Stafford
And the said court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter and after putting the interrogatories presented by the war departments 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 Butterfield who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman residents of Morgan county Clay Township Indiana and that Grant Stafford who has also signed the same is a resident near the same place and are creditable persons and that their statements are entitled to full credit
John Matthews Probate Judge Morgan County

I George A Phelps Clerk of the Probate court of said county and State do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of Williamson Jones who applies for a person
Witness George A Phelps Clerk of the Probate Court of said county and the seal of said court at Martins ville this 13 th day Nov 1839
Geo. A. Phelps Clerk
Wm Jones
20513

17576 INVALID.
File No. 17576
Williamson Jones
Dis Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 447
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Branch Bank Indianapolis 4 Nov 1836
Sir
I forward you the accompanying papers for the purpose of procuring your authority for payment
Yours Respectfully
B. H. Morton
Washington
Acting for Saml Merrill Agent for paying Pensions in Indiana
Hon S. L. Edwards
Commissioner of Pensions

The State of Indiana Morgan County ss
Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a justice of the Peace, in and for the county of Morgan aforesaid Williamson Jones who, being duly sworn, depoueth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and 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; That in his first tour which he thinks took place in 1776 he served not less than 5 weeks as a private soldier. That he does not recollect the length of time that intervened between the first & second tours but that he served in the latter not less than 3 weeks as a private. That he served at different times, and different expeditions, after his discharge from the above engagements, as private militia in the Army of the United States, the length of which he does not now recollect, but that he is confident that all his engagements when taken together would make a term of 6 months or upwards.
Sworn to & subscribed before me this first day of June 1833 — C. B. Cutler Justice of the Peace
his Williamson Jones mark

State of Indiana Morgan County ss I Hannibal R Stearns Clerk of Probate Court of the County of aforesaid hereby certify that C. B. Butler Esq., who has subscribed the above Certificate is and acting Justice of the peace in and for the said County of Morgan, that the above signature purporting to be his is his genuine signature, that the above named declarant subscribed and was sworn to his declaration open court and that his witnesses sub- scribed and were sworn to their declaration Certificate in like manner; And that the seven preceding pages contain the original proceedings of the above named Court in the matter of the Application of William Jones for Pension —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of the said Probate Court at Martinsville this first day of June 1833 —
Hannibal R Stearns
Clerk P. Court

Yours Truly G. G. G.
五
Vertical text in the right margin, likely containing marginalia or a secondary column of text.

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of
Williamson Jones, further proof or explanation.
which require
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? 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? 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? No.  18 - 3 VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? 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?

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? XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? 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? 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? XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
 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.

Green New York
Mortimerville Pa. Oct 12
Indiana
Cert act
Miss B. D. [initials]
Commissioner of Pensions
Edwards War Department
Washington City
one you

Martinsville Indiana 9 th October 1833
Mr J L Edwards
Sir You will discover upon examination of the declaration made by the the individual, to whom the certificate herewith enclosed was given for a pension that you have mistaken his name, If you will take the pains to examine his declaration and his signatures thru throughout. You will discover that his as first name is Williamson instead of William
You will please make the correction and forward me the correction same as soon as practicable
Yours
respectfully
W. H. Craig for Wm O. Ross