Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5420, for John Huntsman, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Huntsman John Betsy
R. 5420
CONTENTS

Betsy Huntsman Declaration for Pension under at 29 July 1848
Filed by Abraham L. Burnum Will Bond Tenn

State of Tennessee ss. On this Thirty first day of March A.D. one Hawkins County 3 Thousand eight hundred and fifty six. Personally appeared before the undersigned a justice of the peace. within and for the County and State aforesaid.
Sister Huntman a resident of Hawkins County in the State of Tennessee aged eighty two years. who being duly sworn according to law. with her Oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provisions made by the Act of Congress, passed July 29th. 1848. That she is the widow of John Huntman, who was a or Richard soldier in the Company commanded by Captain James or Richard Gaines in the Regiment Commanded by Col. Commanding either The Virginia State Troops or Continental line in said State or other service in said war. She states from what she has heard her said husband say in his lifetime that he entered the service at Charlotte Court House State of Virginia. and was drafted or enlisted for the term of 18 months or 12 months and actually served in said war during its existence that is previous to the year 1783 a period or periods in the whole for two years. and that he was honorably discharged. that during his said service he was at Stony Point Battle - and marched through Virginia to divers stations and was at various places during the war. he knew General Muhlenburg and may be said under hand that his discharge is or was perhaps left in Virginia. but she states that she has none of her husband's papers at this day and believes her husband was so discharged. may have a relation that she has no documentary evidence in support of these facts. But states that her husband actually died of disease contracted in the war as she believes and that she has heard her husband say that one William Ward in her service with him she further states that she and her friends have talked to one William Roach. who said he lived in Virginia near to said John Huntman, and that he the said Roach knew that the said John was a revolutionary soldier. and deposed to the fact. which deposition is lost. and the said Roach dead.
She further declares that she was married to the said John Huntman in the County of Hawkins State of Tennessee on the 23 day of May A.D. one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight that she was married to him before the first day of January eighteen hundred by one John Mitchell a Justice of the peace that the said
Mitchell is dead - that her name before her said marriage was Betsy Henson - that she knows of not a living person in this country that was at her marriage who was at her said marriage but that they are all dead. she states that after her said marriage her and her said husband continued to reside in the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee and cohabited as man and wife were so reputed and respected by all their acquaintances continuously to the day of her husband's death. which took place in the County of Knox State of Tennessee. on or about the day of October eighteen hundred and nine and that she has no record of the same. But she arrives at the correct date by the age of her youngest child, now forty six years of age. and that since the death of her said husband the said John

Huntsman. she has never again been married but has continued and is now a widow. she further states that owing to her age and consequent failure of memory she is unable to more correctly state the facts she is advised is material but that so far as stated are true to the best of her knowledge and recollection. she further states that she lives Nine miles from Rogersville that such is her bodily infirmity that she is unable to attend court at Rogersville.
That she has no written documentary or recorded testimony to submit as support of any fact here stated than what is herewith presented. But she swears in positive terms. that she has heard her husband say he was in the service in the Revolutionary war, and she believes it and that she was married to him as stated and is now positively and certainly his widow to wit the widow of John Huntsman of Capt Gains Company as aforesaid. she further states that she never has before made application for pension and the reasons are that she once many years ago employed a man to get her a pension as she supposes under act. 29 July 1848 1848 some proof was taken but as she believes the application was never made or the proof submitted to the pension office. and thus depending on the first gentleman so employed she has not till now applied at all. if said application was ever presented to the pension office she has no knowledge of it. but thinks no such application is on file. The name of this man was McAnnally - she now appoints Absalom S. Baren of Milp Bnd Tenn her sole attorney. to present her claim.
Betsy for Huntsman Mr Willie B. Kenner aged fifty seven years and Thomas Gibson aged fifty five years.
Residents of the County of Hawkins in the State of Tennessee upon oath declare that the foregoing declaration was signed by Betsy Huntsman in our presence. That we knew the said Betsy never knew her husband John Huntsman in his lifetime but from her statements alleged and his census with consideration of the same in the matter of history and other facts known to us. We are sure and have always been of the settled belief that the said John the husband of the said Betsy was a Revolutionary soldier as claimed. We have heard the said Betsy talk of these things ever since we knew her for over forty years, and such has been believed generally in this country by every body and that the said Betsy has lived here ever since we can recollect. We have always understood and believe they were married in this County, and continued to reside here and cohabit as husband and wife continuously to the day of the death of said John which took place about the year eighteen hundred and Nine and that she the said Betsy is this age she states to wit eighty two years or thereabouts. that she is positively the widow of John Huntsman deceased for since her death she has never again been married and that from her age and consequent bodily infirmity and for other good causes known to us she is unable

to appear before the County or other Court of this or any other County, that she is still a widow, and in every way the very person she represents herself to be.
Willie B. Skinner & Thomas Gibson
The foregoing declaration and affidavit were sworn to and subscribed by Betsy Skentman and Willie B. Skinner and Thomas Gibson.
On the day and year before written and I certify that I know the Claimant and know her relative family and pedigree. She has allways resided here in the age she states is the widow of John Skentman deceased, who it was allways said was a Revolutionary Soldier. That from her age bodily infirmity and other reasons she certainly is unable to attend Court, that I know the said affiants to be credible persons of no question as to their competency to know the facts they state, and that I believe all the statements herein to be true, and I have no interest in this claim nor am I concerned in its prosecution, and that I hold the office herein indicated.
John H. Altarn S.P. Seal for Hawkins County Court

Certificate of marriage
Betsy Hunt to man.

State of Tennessee S l
Hawkins County 3 d James K. Vance Clerk of the County Court for the County and State aforesaid do certify, that there appears of record in office this, a marriage bond of which I certify the following is a true copy. "Know all men by these presents, that we John Huntsman and John Harrison and jointly and severally held and firmly bound unto John Sevier Esquire Governor Ho. in the penal sum of two hundred dollars, to be void on condition there be no lawful objection why John Huntsman and Betsy Hennear may not be joined together as man and wife in the holy estate of matrimony. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals This 23 rd (twenty third) day of May 1798. (Seventeen hundred and ninety eight.) John Huntsman seal his mark. John Harrison seal Teste Richard Mitchell. and further certify that at that time there was no law in force obliging persons who solemnized the rites of matrimony to return the marriage license to this office. The legal presumption is and ought to be that the parties were married at the date of the bond to wit the 23 rd day May 1798.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official seal at office in Rogers- ville the 27 th day of March 1856
J. H. Vance Clerk

Secretary of War
Certificate
Betsy Huntsman s
Russian Claim

Executive Department Richmond Apr. 9 th 1856
Sir,
Your letter of the 28 th March last has been received. I have carefully examined the Army Register both in the continental & State lines and cannot find the name of John Huntsman recorded on either. If he was in the Militia there is now no means of ascertaining it as the rolls for the Militia service have not been kept. I have applied repeatedly at the Auditor's office & have invariably been told that nothing could be found there that was not exhibited in this department!
Very respectfully &c. George W. Munford Secy of the Com te
Absalom L. Buren Esq. Mill Bend Tennessee

Betsy Huntman born Anderson John
Betsy Huntman
John born original
Print Census of Persons Washington 1866
Mill Pond Town
1866
Sheet

No Betsy Huntsman widow of John Tenn A.L. Buren May 27/56
5420
July 29 1848

5420
P. O.
Betsy Skutman
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____ _____ _____
Re-enlisted: _____ _____ _____
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____ _____ _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract,

Col o John Jones - Brunswick.
The 1 st of January 1786
Dr Coll o
I was at your house to day and was sorry to find you from home for I wanted to see you before you set out for Richmond as it is really out of my power to go with you but I have to request that when you get there if you should find that the house will set longer then the middle of this month that you will write by the first opportunity and I will come down as soon as I have laid in provision for my family I have also to request that you will Col o Merriweather to sign the inclosed discharge and get a land warrant for the soldier and also Mr. Beverly Brown's patent from the land office and bring them out with you my compliments to my acquaintance at Richmond & please present our most respectfull compliments to your lady & family.
I am your Most respectfull friend
Very Able Servt
Thos. Claiborne
A B. tele May. Brins If he wants a Carriage he may have mine on reasonable terms
I do hereby certify that W m Ward a Soldier in Col o Russell's Detachment of the Virginia Line has served the full term of three years for which he was enlisted and is now hereby Discharged from the Service - and that he has received his pay in Continental Currency up to the 1 st day of December one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine, since which he has only receiv d two dollars in specie from the Commissary of Prisoners in Charles Town. Given under my hand at Williamsburg this 25 th day of July 1781
A Copy
H. Randolph
W m Johnston Capt. Com d o

Executive Department
Richmond V a June 14. 1849.
I hereby certify that the foregoing are true copies of papers filed in this department.
W H Richardson
State of Tennessee § I, John T. Hill a resident at Rogersville in said County Greene County. Testify that many years ago Betsy Huntsman widow of John Huntsman dec d of this County told me that William Brant the Soldier within certified to by the Secretary of V a was in service in the Revolutionary War with her husband I upon such representation wrote and obtained this paper. I then saw an affidavit written made by William Roach now dead. Which affidavit is probably lost but Roach stated on oath that he was in the service with John Huntsman the former husband of Betsy now living in this County, he said he was at Charlotte C. H. V a saw him enter the service and knew he served in said service two years and was honorably discharged. Roach knew Huntsman well and knew his family in Virginia. I wrote for further testimony of witnesses named by Betsy to Charlotte County Virginia but was informed they were all dead. It is generally believed by all our old citizens that John Huntsman the husband of Betsy was a Revolutionary Soldier and many swear to the fact but the papers do not to be found except they be in the pension office as they were sent to Hon. A. Johnson Rep in Congress from Tenn. in 1848. The evidence of Huntsman's service is founded on what he always claimed in his lifetime corroborated by facts since found to exist, and is doubtless true. Though no direct proof can be found.
John T. Hill
Sworn to and subscribed before me this
3 rd day of May 1856.
J. O. R. Armstrong J.P. (Seal)

Communication of A. L. Runen In Reply to Huntman's Pension Claims

Mill Brook near ... April 8th 1866
In the claim for a pension for services of ... old D. D. ... 1818 ... to be submitted ... the Revolutionary War ... and ... station ... facts and circumstances there as is now trail known to have been taken with the facts of his age from and the time of ... such service his service ... his death. Before any law was enacted giving him a pension 1809. The respectability of his circle and life being a near relative to the Hon. Adams Strongman ... into a member in Congress ... present worthy Relic out of one of the first families of like renown in Tennessee. These and other evidences have ... Without doubt ... the firm belief in that ... General ... that ... was the husband of Betsy ... a soldier in the Revolution ... records of Richmond without effect as showing the enclosed letter from the Secretary of the Army ... I might give your department every assurance in support that the claim is just ... all this ... is respectfully submitted for your most mature consideration ... the end be attained. Merely stating that I believe I have never any other presented and any not claim nor the true merits of which I was not well convinced of beforehand. I sincerely hope therefore a favorable action upon the length of service as alleged and further that the same may be established by records in your department.
With Very great respect I am your obedt. Servt. At Salina L. Burrows Mill Brook Tenn.
The Honorable J. Minot Commr of Pensions Washington D.C.

Certificates of the County Court - Betsey Huntman Pension claim.

United States vs. Betsy Hunt, June 1850. Whereas it appears to this Court that a relation of interest has been shown that Betsy Hunt is an aged woman of the County of Fauquier, State of Virginia, and that the said Betsy Hunt is the widow of John Hunt, who was a private soldier in the Revolutionary War with General Washington, and that the said Betsy Hunt has been a citizen of the United States for sixty or seventy years last past, and that she is a very aged woman perhaps eighty years old or thereabouts, and that in her old age infirmity is a consequence of her age, that like all old people to generally appear before the said Court, this Court is now and always has been fully satisfied of the respectability and creditability of the said Betsy and her family, and that the same is well and generally known to be in every respect respect in this Country. And it further appears and is generally and universally believed by traditional evidence handed on at every time heretofore mentioned that John Hunt was a soldier in the Revolutionary War from Charlottesville, Virginia, that he served several terms of duty and was discharged by Capt. [blank] at [blank] in the year 1781. This tradition is direct from the declarations always made by Hunt himself in his lifetime, but this Court is well informed and is of opinion that no person is living in this Country that directly knows of these facts. But that the said John Hunt did serve in the said War is a general belief in this Country and always has been, and in the opinion of this Court is true, and that the declaration of the said Betsy for the purpose aforesaid herewith in the opinion of this Court is without any doubt any where true, and that she was married to said John Hunt in this Country and that he died about the year eighteen hundred and nine, and there is no known record of the same, and that the said Betsy has never again been married but is now the said Hunt's widow. Wherefore these distinct and several facts are known to this Court to be well understood and as traditional generally and universally believed from before the parties have always been known, and such is the opinion of this Court, and such tradition is still further strengthened thus. John Hunt was known to have been acquainted with one William Ward a soldier in service with him. The said Ward belonged to Colonel Newells Detachment of the Virginia Line previous to the year 1781, and who was discharged by Capt. William Johnston at Williamsburg during that year; all of which is corroborated by one William Roach of Capt. [blank] Company of The Virginia Line that he knew Hunt in service and that he knew Ward, and made both to the same one.

his lifetime that said William Roach knew John Huntsman in the service and that he was certainly a soldier therein is satisfactorily shown to this court by the oath of Wilson Roach a son of said William the said Wilson now living in this county. What has become of the affidavit in question of William Roach though taken several years ago for the purpose of substantiating a claim to pension for the said Betsy seems to be uncertain whether it is on file in the pension office or whether lost, but of the tenor of the affidavit this court is by testimony here adduced well satisfied and that it found that John Huntsman here in question was in the service of the Revolutionary war for about two years and from other circumstances and facts within the knowledge of this court there is a unanimous concurrence of opinion that John Huntsman was a non commissioned officer in said service, and that Betsy Huntsman aforesaid is his widow.
Given under my hand and seal in open court this 5 day of May 1856
J. B. Galt of the County Court of Hawkins County Tenn.

State of Tennessee } Hankins County } I James D. Vance Clerk of the County Court for the County and State aforesaid do hereby certify that John Attum Esq. and Joseph R. Armstrong Esq. whose official signatures appear herewith were at the several dates of their attestations and still are acting justices of the peace within and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that their signatures thereto are genuine. And I further certify that Joseph B. Galbraith Esq. is Chairman of our said Court, that the facts set forth in his Certificate of the action of the Court in the case of the claim of Betty Huntsman widow of John to a pension were proved by respectable witnesses sworn in Open Court, that the Verifi- -cation and attestation took place in Open Court and that the said Galbraith is duly Commissioned and qualified as Chairman aforesaid and that his signature here- with is genuine.
Given under my hand and official Seal at open in Rogersville in said County this 5 day of May A.D. 1856. J. D. Vance Clerk

Betsy Huntsman widow of John Declaration for Warranty Land under act 3 March 1885,

State of Tennessee Co. On this 31 st day of March A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty six. Personally appeared before me, a justice of the peace within and for the county of Hawkins County Betsy Huntsman a gro eighty two years of age, a resident of the county of Hawkins State of Tennessee, who being duly sworn according to law, declares that she is the widow of John Huntsman, deceased, who was a Sergeant in the company commanded by Captain James or Richard James, or  Richard  James in the Regiment of Virginia Inf y Ma. or Regs. permanently Col., in the Revolutionary war. that her said husband
Enlisted or was drafted - at the  time  of  the  Revolutionary war in the State of Virginia and entered the service of the United States during the existence of the said war, for the term of Eighteen Months and continued in actual service in said war, for the term of Eighteen Months , and was honorably discharged at
on the day of  the  month of  the  year of 1783, and that afterwards he served another term probably one year in said war and continued in said service till about the time peace was made. For further particulars she refers to the testimony filed in her claim to pension under act 27 July 1848. She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the County land to which she may be entitled under the act passed March 3 rd 1855.
The further States, that she was married to the said John Huntsman in Hawkins County Tennessee on the 23 day of May A.D. one thousand eight hundred and ninety eight (1798) by one John Mitchell Justice of the peace - and that her name before her marriage was Betsy Warner, that her said husband died at Knox County Tennessee on the day of  the  month of  the  year of October A.D. one thousand eight hundred and Nine , and that since the death of her said husband she has never again been married but has continuously and is now a widow. For further particulars she refers to the testimony filed in her claim to pension under act 27 July 1848.
She makes this declaration for the purpose of obtaining the County land to which she may be entitled under the act passed March 3 rd 1855. Betsy her Huntsman mark
We the undersigned and residents of Hawkins County in the State of Tennessee upon our Oaths declare, that the foregoing declaration was signed and acknowledged by Betsy Huntsman in our presence and that we are old enough to know and do know the said Betsy to be the said John Huntsman in his lifetime but believe he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, that he and the said Betsy lived together in this county as man and wife from about the year 1798.

I hereby certify that her said husband John Huntman deceased the year eighteen hundred and thirty  thirty  six  six that the said Betsy is the widow. Therefore from our acquaintance with the family and the said Betsy we know positively that she is the person she represents herself to be
William B Kemre Thomas Gibson
I hereby certify that the within affidavit was subscribed to before me, on the day and year above written. And I certify that I personally know the affiant to be of known  known to me and of sufficient knowledge to know the facts they state that they are just  just and true and I know the claimant, have known her for twenty five years know her relations family and her pedigree know that she is the widow of John Huntman deceased and that she is the identical person who represents herself to be, and I know no interest in this claim. Witness my hand & seal this said 31 st day of March 1856.
John Atton Notary Public

State of Tennessee S.S. David Knox County J. G. James H. Vance Clerk of the County Clerk for the County and State witnesseth do hereby certify that John Atkinson here is now and was at the date his attestation herewith and acting Justice of the Peace in and for said County duly commissioned and qualified and that his signature herewith is genuine
Given under my hand and the Seal of said County at office in Rogersville This 12 day of May 1856 J. G. James Clerk