Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 89, for William Saunders, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va Sea Service.
Saunders William
R. 89
CONTENTS
Va. half pay.
See D.A. Acc No. 837- Virginia State Pay William Saunders Y S File Va. Half Pay - an envelope with miscellaneous papers. Difficult to locate this man's name

Know all men by these presents, that I Elizabeth Murray of the Town of Freder- icksburg in the state of Virginia, do hereby ordin, constitute and appoint Ruben Saunders, of the County of King & Queen, & state aforesaid, My true and lawful attorney with power of substitution, to ask, demand due for and account, and receive from the state of Virginia or the United States, or both, any balance of half pay, commutation or interest that may be due within from the state of Virginia or the United States, or both, on account of the Revolutionary services of my husband, William Saunders deceased. Witness my hand and seal this 23 rd day of January 1850.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of XXXXXXXXXXXX W. Murray
Elizabeth Murray Seal.
State of Virginia
Corporation of Fredericksburg town
Be it known that on this 23 rd day of January 1850 before the subscriber, a Justice of the peace in and for the aforesaid Corporation, personally appeared Elizabeth Murray above named, and acknowledged the foregoing power of attorney

to be her act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year last above mentioned W m Warren S.P.
State of Virginia,
Corporation of Fredericksburg to wit:
I John James Chew, Clerk of the Court of Pleasings for the said Corporation aforesaid, in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that William Warren Esquire, who signed the foregoing certificate of acknowledg- ment, was at the time of signing the same & still is a Justice of the peace, in & for the Corporation aforesaid duly commissioned & sworn & that full faith & credit are due to all his acts and deeds as such. In further certify the signature of the said William Warren to be in his proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand I affixed the seal of the said Court this 23 rd day of January in the year of our Lord 1850, & of our Independence the seventy fourth.
J. J. Chew Clerk

State of Virginia,
Withmoreland, County, to wit
Whereas, at a Court held for the said County of Withmoreland, before the Justice of the said Court, on the 25 th day of February 1852, on the motion of William Murray, who made oath according to law, and with Ann Murray, Administratrix, John P. Yates & Michael N. Bradshaw, his securities, entered into an acknowledged bond in the penalty of $3000, conditioned as the law directs, Certificate was granted the said William Murray for obtaining letters of administration, on the personal estate of William Saunders deceased, in due form; And whereas by an act of the General Assembly of this Commonwealth passed on the third day of March, in the year 1819, entitled, "An Act, amending in part the several Acts concerning wills, the distribution of intestate estates, and the duty of Executors and Administrators," it was among other things provided, that the Clerks of the Courts shall, when required by an Administrator, make out letters of administration, in due form, in the name of the first Justice of the Court, which letters shall be signed by such Justice, and sealed with the Court seal.
Wherefore I Laurence Washington being the first Justice of the said Court, in pursuance of the above recited Act, do issue these letters of Administration, and do hereby authorize and empower the said William Murray well and truly to collect and administer all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said William Saunders deceased, in all matters and things concerning the same, according to law, hereby requiring the said William Murray to make and exhibit into the said County Court, a true and perfect inventory of the said goods, chattels and credits, and also to make a just and true account of his actions and doings therein, when thereunto lawfully required.
Given under my hand & the seal of the said Court this 28 th day of February 1852 in the 74 th year of the Commonwealth.
Laurence Washington J.P.
William H. Webb, Clk. of Withmoreland County Court

Petition of the heirs of William Saunders, Captain in the State Navy, for Bounty Land (additional)
William Saunders entered the service April 1 st , 1776, as 1 st Lieutenant in the Navy. He con- tinued in service as Commander of the Schooner Adventure, Manly Gally se to the end of the war. He was reported by a board of Officers in 1784 as having served to the end of the war. He received 4.666 acres of Land. His heirs are entitled to Bounty Land for his services, from April 1 st , 1776, to the end of the war, and the quantity allowed should be that allowed to a Major in the Land Service, deducting 4.666 acres
Respectfully Submitted John D' Smith
Cond. &c
March, 19 th , 1834.
To his Excellency Gov Floyd
Executive Department
Richmond Va February 4. 1850.
I hereby certify that the foregoing is truly copied from a book in this department, lettered on the back "Commissioners Report of Claims to Military Bounty Land."
Y. A. Reckord for Chief Clerk

Power City Adm: Life Insurance

Know all men by these presents, that I William Murray of the Town of Fredericksburg in the State of Virginia, Administrator of William Saunders, deceased, do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint Ruben Saunders of the County of King and Queen, and State aforesaid, my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name, To prosecute by suit, Petition, or otherwise, and to demand and receive from the State of Virginia, and the United States, any half pay, commutation, and interest that may be due, particularly under the act of 5 th July, 1839; And to substitute and appoint one or more attorneys under him, with a general or special authority to do all he is permitted to do, and revoke the same at pleasure. And I will hereby ratify and confirm whatever said attorney or his substitutes may lawfully do in the premises. Witness my hand and Seal this 11 th day of March, 1850.
W m Murray (Seal) Administrator of W m Saunders

State of Virginia
Corporation of Fredericksburg Town
Be it known, that on the 11 th day of March, 1850, personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for the Corporation aforesaid, duly authorized by law to administer oaths, William Murray, subscriber to the foregoing Power of Attorney, and acknowledged the same to be his act and deed. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand the day and year last above mentioned.
R. B. Temple J.P.
State of Virginia
Corporation of Fredericksburg, &c.
I John James Choo Clerk of the Court of Hustings in the town and Corporation aforesaid, in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that R. B. Temple Esquire who signed the above certificate of acknowledgment was at the time of signing the same and taking said acknowledgment and still is a Justice of the peace in and for the Corporation aforesaid, duly qualified as such and that full faith and credit are due to all his acts and deeds as such, and that his signature above is genuine —
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this 12 th day of March in the year of our Lord 1850 and of our Independence the seventy fourth.
J. J. Choo Clerk

List of Officers of the State Navy agreeable to the arrangement 13th May 1784.
   James Barron  Commo  Commissioned July 3 rd 80.     Richard Barron  Capt  " Jan'y  76.    Thomas Silly  Capt  " Jan'y  76.    Richard Taylor  Capt      Coley Saunders  D o  Dead     Edward Francis  D o  Dead     Willis Wilson  D o      James Markham  D o      Wright Westcott  D o  Dead     Eliott  D o      John Harris  D o  Dead     William Saunders  D o      Michael James  Lieut      Gray  D o  Dead Black list     Thomas Chandler  D o  D o     William Steel  D o      W m H Parker  D o     
The above is a true copy of a paper to be found in 1 st Vol of papers concerning the State Navy.
Given under my hand at the Auditor's Office Richmond this 5 th day of February 1850. J. E. Heath, Aud.

Col J. S. Edwards Commr of Pensions
Sir
Mr Barbour informed me that you had refused to entertain the claim of Mrs Elizabeth Murray, the only surviving child, of Capt William Saunders of the Navy, until there was an administration on the Estate of Capt Saunders, her Father. I now have the honor to enclose you a Power of attorney from Mr William Murray who took out letters of administration on the Estate of his Grand Father, in the County of Westmoreland, where he lived and died, on the 28th day of February last, & which will be seen by reference to a copy of an order of Court of that date herewith enclosed.
As Mr Barbour is absent from the City at present I enclose this paper myself, and will thank to have them filed with those already on your files in the case of Capt W m Saunders for Commutation & Interest, presented by Mr Barbour in the early part of March.
Washing too
March 20 th 1858.
Very Respectfully Yr O bl Servt R Saunders " "

March 3, 1938
aw William Saunders R. 89 BA-J/AWF
Cora Duffey 203 South Fairfax Street Alexandria, Virginia
Bear Madam:
In compliance with your request of recent date, you are furnished herein the Revolutionary War record of William Saunders, pension claim, R. 89.
The date and place of birth of William Saunders were not stated in the claim, nor were the names of his parents shown.
William Saunders served from April 1, 1776 as 1st Lieutenant and Captain in the Virginia State Navy, until the close of the war.
He died "first of January, 179?". There is no reference to the wife of William Saunders.
His daughter, Elizabeth Murray, a widow and only surviving child, in 1845, was allowed the arrears of half pay due on account of his service during the War of the Revolution. She was living in January, 1850 in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
William Saunders, grandson of the above noted William Saunders, was referred to as living in Westmoreland County, Virginia, also of Fredericksburg, Virginia.
In 1850, Reuben Saunders was living in King

and Queen County, Virginia, and Ann and Abraham Murray were both of Westmoreland County, Virginia, in 1850. Their relationship to the Captain William Saunders referred to herein was not stated.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

2
John S. Barbour Esq.
Present

Washington City. D.C. February. 16 th , 1800
Dr Sir
It was a matter of some surprise, when I found that you had left the City the day after you filed the papers in Capt William Saunders's Case. You told myself and Mr Lumpkin, that the Commissioners had agreed to take the Case up the last of the week, and I have remained here upon excuse, under the impression that you would certainly be in place to attend to it. I am now preparing to leave here, and shall leave to day for home, & then to Norfolk. I will thank you to drop me a line or so upon your return to the City, and say whether or not Your Son was able to procure any additional evidence.
Another Agent has intimated that he has full evidence in the Case. As the power of attorney, has been so very recently executed by Mrs Murray, that about the middle of January, I think the money may be drawn under that, as we are not bound to give the information of her death. If however there should be any difficulty on that point, one of the Sons of Mrs M, will administer on the Estate. Write me upon your return, & believe me
Respectfully Yr Mo, obl Servt R. Saunders

May 1870 Capt. Wm Saunders deco
General
Hon. J. G. Edwards
Chair of Public
Finance

Jan 29/50 CINCINNATI OHIO JAN 27
Wm Lloydden and half pay
FREE
James L. Edwards Esq Govt. of Louisiana Washington City
Col. Wm Lloydden

Stearns Post Pawka Taw. July 27 th 1850
Sir
I had the honor to address you late in last evening, in which I stated that I had enclosed you a Power of atty. from Mrs. Elizabeth Murray the only surviving child & heir of Capt William Saunders of the Natl State Navy, authorizing her to prosecute any claim that she might have for Mary Catherine of half pay Commission under the act of 3 rd July, 1832. In the hurry of matters I omitted to enclose the Power & did not discover the omission until a few moments ago. I now have the honor to enclose it, with the request that you will place it in file with my other letter
Very Respectfully Yr obed Servt W. Saunders J. B.

Wm Saunders ad July 5 1832
April 30 1846 2
April 30 1846
Record Vol 43 page 178.

Pension Office
April 30. 1846
I certify that I have examined the claim of Elizabeth Murray, the daughter and only heir of William Saunders, who was a Captain in the Virginia State Navy, and I find that under the act of July 5. 1832 she was allowed half-pay for his service from the 22 d of April 1783, to the day of his death. She now claims half-pay from the first of January 1782; and my opinion is that the claim should be allowed. I therefore certify that half-pay is still due said heir, at the rate of $250 per annum  \frac{93}{100} , from the first of January 1782 to the 22 d April 1783, and it is requested that the amount may be sent to S. H. Parker, Esq. at Richmond, Virginia, attorney of Elizabeth Murray.
commissioner of Pensions
Approved
Secretary of War.
I have Entered this on Reg. J. L. E.

July 9 57
Case of W. Saunders vs State Navg.
Dr. Saunders by J. J. Barton
Conner

To Col. J. L. Edwards, Commr of Pensions Sir,
I enclose the evidence of service of Lieut William Saunders of the Virg a State Navy.
His representatives have rec d . half pay, and they now claim commutation agreeably with the later rules and precedents of the office & Department.
It appears from the paper marked A that John H. Smith Esq: Commissioner of the State to adjudicate such cases & report for action thereon, has set out his service as beginning 1 st April 1776 as 1 st Lieutenant in the State Navy & that he served to the end of the war and that his compensation is correlated with that of a Major in the Army so far as Land bounty is due.
And on the 13 th May 1784 a board of officers reported said Saunders as a Captain in service at the end of the war. He has Rec d 100 per cent.
J. L. Barton
for Mr Saunders now present.
Rich d . Feby 9 th 1850

Wm Saunders du halfpay
adm? Feb. 7. '45
F. A. Dickins Jan 22 d 45.

Washington 21 Jany 1845.
Sir.
I have the honor to present to you the claim of Mrs. Elizabeth Murray only heir of Capt. William Saunders of the Va. State Navy for a balance of half pay under the act of Congress of the 5 th July 1832. In this case the half pay was paid at the rate of $243 1 / 2 per ann at the Treasury from the 3 d Sept. 1783. See papers marked A & B. The half pay should have been allowed at the rate of $250 93 / 100 per ann. and have commenced 1 st Jany. 1782. You will find in page 450. 10 Vol. Hening's Statutes at large that an act was passed at the November session of the legislature declaring "That the Officers of the Navy of every denomination, be, and they are hereby reduced." except "such Officers as shall be thought necessary for the command of the look-out boat Liberty." Consequently unless there be some evidence of the Officers having served after that period it cannot be presumed but he had become superfluous by this act. Again by reference to the enclosed copy of a letter of Genl. Barron to the Gov r of Virginia, dated 1 st March 1782 it will be seen that before at that time the

They had been obtained, and that he was then without a command.-
D. is a power of attorney from M rs Elizabeth Murray the sole heir (on whose name the money was paid at the Treasury) to S. H. Parker Esq. 2 Es is a letter from said Parker requesting Mr. Mathews to present & attend to the claim, with an endorsement by Mathews requesting me to do it in his absence.
Yours very respectfully Francis A. Dickinson.
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Com r of Pensions.

Mar 27 46 Indr. of for
Capt Wm Saunders Willis Wilson Shepherd Tucker
J. Edwards esq Comm r of Pensions The W. C. Co. Washington City

Auditors Office V a
25 March 1846.
Sir
I have received yours of the 17 inst.
The names of Captain W m Saunders and Capt Wilkes Wilson, are to be found in the arrangement of the Navy next preceding the fall session of the Gen l Assembly 1781. How long they continued to hold command after that arrangement does not appear. These two officers both settled their depreciation accts. So also did Lieutenants Theophilus Fired and John Archer who are not included in the arrangement and of whose time of service I can find no evidence.
At the request of Charles J. Faulkner esq r I opened your letter to him enclosing a copy of his administration bond as adm r of Thomas Walls which he designed to file here. He left for Martinsburg before your letter arrived.
I am very respectfully
Yours
J. E. Heath

Mar 3. 1845.
2
James M c Edward Esq John Oliver Esq Mr. Saunders Committee of Pensions.

Washington 30 Oct. 1845.
Sir,
When I presented the claim of Lt. John Archer of the V t . State Navy for a balance of half pay under the act 5 th July 1832 I only presented it from the 22 d April 1783 instead of the reduction of the Navy, say 1 st Jany. 1782. Having thus failed to claim what I should have done I beg you to take the case under consideration and do justice.
Yours very respectfully Francis Adkins
James L Edwards Esq Com r . of Pensions.

Washington 30 Oct 1848.
Sir,
In presenting the claim of Capt. William Saunders of the V th State Navy for a balance of half pay under the act of 5 July I only wished that it should be paid from the 22 April 1783 instead of the 1 st Jany 1782 (the time of the reduction of the Navy.) I now have to ask you to be so good as to reconsider the case and have justice done.
Yours very respectfully Francis A. Dickinson.
James L. Edwards Esq. Com r of Pensions.

Wm Saunders act July 5. 1832.
Feb 7. 1845
Recorded vol 43 page 157 & 158

Pension Office
February 7 1845
I certify that I have examined the claim of Elizabeth Murray, a widow, who is the child and only heir of William Saunders, who was a Captain in the State Navy of Virginia; that for his service she is entitled to the half-pay provided for by the act of the 5 th July 1832, entitled "an act to provide for liquidating and paying certain claims of the State of Virginia;" that she has already received half-pay at the rate of $243:33 1 / 3 per annum from the 3 rd of September 1783, at the rate to the first of January 1797, when he died; but she is entitled to half-pay at the rate of $250:93 from the 22 nd April 1783 to the day of his death, which she now claims. The difference between the amount paid, and that now claimed, should in my opinion be allowed, and I certify that the same is now now payable to J. H. Parker, Esq. of Richmond, Virginia, attorney of Elizabeth Murray.
Approved
Commissioner of Pensions
Secretary of War

Feb. 24, 1938
Cora Duffy 203 S. Fairfax St. Alexandria, Va.
William Saunders R. 89 Va. half pay

Rev. and 1812 Wara Section R.-59-Va. Half Pay AWF/eel
November 16, 1929
Mrs. G.D. Chenoweth Yorktown Virginia
Dear Madam:
I advise you from the records of this bureau, it appears that William Saunders served in the War of the Revolution as Lieutenant and Captain in the Virginia State Navy, from April 1, 1776, to the close of the War.
He died "first of January, 1797".
His daughter, Elizabeth Murray, a widow and only child, in 1845, was allowed the arrears of half pay due on account of his services. In 1850, she was living in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Soldier's grandson, William Murray, lived in Westmoreland County, Virginia. referred to also 1850
He died February 23, 1850. then
Name of soldier's wife not stated.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.

Rev. and 1812 Ware Section. and 1812 Section 39-Va-Half Pay NW/eel
October 10, 1929
Mrs. W.R. Miller Box 491, Lakewood Norfolk, Virginia
Dear Madam:
I have to advise you from the records of this bureau, it appears that William Saunders served in the War of the Revolution as Lieutenant and Captain in the Virginia State Navy, from April 1, 1776, to the close of the War.
He died "first of January, 1797".
His daughter, Elizabeth Murray, a widow and only child in 1845, was allowed the arrears of half pay due on account of his services. In 1850, she was living in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Soldier's grandson, William Murray, lived in Westmoreland County, Virginia.
He died February 28, 1850.
Name of soldier's wife not stated.
Very truly yours,
EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.

October 13, 1927
Miss Margaret S. Brown 1401 Columbia Road Washington, D. C.
Madam:
I have to advise you from the records of this Bureau, it appears that William Saunders served in the War of the Revolution as Lieutenant and Captain in the Virginia State Navy, from April 1, 1776 to the close of War.
He died "first of January 1797".
His daughter, Elizabeth Murray, a widow and only child in 1845, was allowed the arrears of half pay due on account of his services. In 1850, she was living in Fredericksburg, Virginia.
Soldier's grandson, William Murray, lived in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He died February 28, 1850. Name of soldier's wife not stated.
Respectfully,
WILLIAM G. COOPER Commissioner.

MRS. GEORGE DURBIN CHENOWETH REGENT COMTE DE GRASSE CHAPTER YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA
Yorktown - Virginia
Pension Department - Washington - D.C.
Gentlemen -
Could you furnish any information as to a pension paid the widow of William Saunders , who served as Lieut. and Captain in State Navy during the Revolutionary War, and who died in 1819 -
Would like copy of any document giving dates and all information to be attached to an application for membership in the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution -
Would appreciate an early reply -
Very truly yours.
(Mrs. G. D. C.) Emma L. Chenoweth Regent

Harfars. July, 1, 29.
Gentlemen -
Can you tell me if Sara Saunders, wife of Capt (or Lieut) William Saunders received a pension after his death 1819? Also give dates.
See Journals of the Committee of Safety Apr. 1, 1776 & May 8, 1776.
I place greatly any information you may give me -

I am sincerely Mrs. N. R. Miller Lakewood Box 491 Norfolk Va.

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section. EEL
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF PENSIONS WASHINGTON
September 26, 1929.
Mrs. W.R. Miller Box 491, Lakewood Norfolk, Virginia
Dear Madam:
I advise you that the data furnished by you are not sufficient to enable this bureau to make intelligent reply to the queries contained in your letter.
Please fill out such of the blank spaces below, as the information in your possession will permit, and return to this bureau.
First name of widow Sara Jones Saunders Full name of soldier William Saunders (Lieut & Capt.) Revolutionary War. Residence of soldier at enlistment Caroline County, Va. Residence of soldier after service (Carolina or Essex) ? Name of state from which he enlisted Virginia Approximate date of birth ? Approximate date of death May 1819
Kindly return attached letter with your reply.
Respectfully,
Earl D. Church EARL D. CHURCH Commissioner.

1401 Columbia Road, Washington, D. C., May 14 th . Gov. of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir, I am collect- ing data concerning my Revolutionary ancestor, Col. William Saunders, Capt. State Navy; he served from Apr. 1, 1776, to the end of the war. Will you

Kindly advise me if he was a Pensioner.
Any information you can give me will be greatly appreciat- ed.
Very respectfully, Miss Margaret S. Brown.

1927- Oct. 15- Hist to miss margaret S. Brown aug 1929- Oct. 18- Hist to Mrs N. B. Miller aug 1929 Nov. 16, Hist to Mrs. G. D. Chencovich Aut.-M.E.E. 1938- mch 3- Hist to Cora Duffey aug
ACT OF FEBRUARY 14, 1871.
WAR OF 1812.
3286
Henry William Saunders Capt-
U.S. Navy Revolution Discharged _____, 18
5086
N'f. Pay — act '32
Admitted
Received _____, 187
89.
Attorney.