Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 5729, for Philip Mathews, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Mathews, Philip
S. 5729
carded
CONTENTS

Let Agent May 29 1836. H. H. H. H. H. H. H. H. H. H.
1826 Virginia
Philip Mathews of Pt. Edward in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Allen of the Regt commanded by Col. Meredith in the Virginia line for 7 months from 1776
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 23 - Dollars 33 Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 12 th day of Feb. 1832 and sent to B. J. Warland Pt. Edwards. Va.
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1832 34.99 Semi-annual allowance ending 4 th March 1833. 11.67 $46.66
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by Nathan Rice Clerk Book 20 Vol. 7 Page 106

Rechar
5729.
INVALID.
Sum
File No. 5729
Philip Mathews
Re Rev War
Act: June 7 th 32
Index: — Vol. 12 , Page 236
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Philip Matthews which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? ys II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? ys 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? ys 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? ys VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? ys VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? ys VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? ys IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? ss 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? ss

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? yes
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? There are Credible Witnesses
XIV. †If the applicant has produced a witness or witnesses as to his service, has the magistrate who administered the oath certified that he, she, or they are persons of credibility? ss And is the official character and signature of the magistrate certified by the proper officer under his seal of office? ss
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? ss
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? ss
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? 1 & 2
 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 the 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.
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 authenticated 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 end 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.

6771
Philip Matthews
from 1776 private 7 months, \$23.\frac{33}{100}

6771  BRIEF in the case of  Philip Matthews  of  in the State of  (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? 76  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.     Spring In 17 76 — 7 — private Gen. Col. Chas. Allen Col. Meredith Maj. James—  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None mentioned  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Prince Edward Co. Va.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Witnesses  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correct 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
T. Waugh
Examining Clerk.

Philip Mathews 11-6771.

State of Virginia. Prince Edward County ss. In a court held for the County aforesaid, on the 20th day of August 1832. personally appeared in open court, Philip Matthews, aged 76 years, a resident of the state and County aforesaid, who affirmed in solemn form, that in his affirmation make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7th. 1832. That he entered the service of the United States, in the spring of 1776 under the following officers. Viz. Capt Charles Allen of the County of Prince Edward Va; and marched to Manchester, thence to Williamsburg thence to Hampton, where Colo. Meriwether and Maj. James, took command. That he does not recollect the number of the regiment, after staying in Hampton some two or three months, he marched to Portsmouth and continued there until he was discharged in December the same year, making in all a term of seven months, and that he has no papers or discharge and that John Cunningham of this County knows of his service, who is now living; He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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. — Philip Matthews.
(W m William Johnson) Blygman, writing in the state of Virginia and the County of Prince Edward, and Davis Hill of the said County and state, hereby certify that we are well acquainted Philip Matthews who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that he believes him to be about 76 years of age, that he has respected and believed in the neighborhood, where he resides, to have been a soldier of the revolution, and that we concur in that opinion. Given under our hands this 20th day of Aug 1832.
(William Johnson)
Davis Hill.
The affidavit of John Cunningham and George Gillispie both of the County of Prince Edward, and state of Virginia, taken this 20th August 1832. Where affiants say that they were both in the service of the revolution and were in the same Company that was commanded by Capt Charles Allen of Prince Edward, and performed a tour of duty rather more than seven months, with Philip Matthews of the said County, that he the said Matthews did perform the said tour of duty and that Colo Meriwether & Maj. James were the field officers commanding, and that no written discharge was given, and that they do not now recollect the reason why it was omitted.
John Cunningham.
George Gillispie.

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 is a revolutionary soldier and served as no other, And the court further certifies, that it appears to them that William Johnson (who has signed the foregoing certificate) is a citizen and resident of the said County and that David Hill, John Cunningham and George A. Gillespie who have also signed the same are residents in the County of Prince Edward and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to credit. —
I Branch J. Worsham clerk of the court of Prince Edward County, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings in the matter of the application of Philip Mathews for a pension. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 28 th day of August 1832. —
B. J. Worsham Clk,