Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5550, for William James, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
James, William
P. 5550
CONTENTS
1

No 17985
Mr James Lewis Edgar County Illinois
5550
Rejected
Paris - Will S Mayo Eth, Edgar County Illinois

STATE in the case of William James County of Edge in the State of Mississippi (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? 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.     Drafted In 17 81 - 2 - private Capt W. Lewis, Col. Lloyd   Vol " - 2 - private Same officers  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Montgomery County Virginia  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditionary evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditionary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Defective Seal 
I Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
Richd. H. Hayworth Examining Clerk.

Wm James
17985

State of Illinois } Edgar County } ss
On this 29th day of September 1832 personally appeared in open court being a court of record viz. The Circuit court for and for the county of Edgar & State aforesaid William James saw a resident of the county of Edgar and State of Illinois aforesaid aged 73 years the 14th day of April last this his age is given from a copy from his fathers family register who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of the act of Congress  providing for the Congress passed June 7. 1832. He states that in the year 1781. in Montgomery in the State of Virginia he was drafted into State service in the revolutionary war in Captain William Love's company, Major not recollected, and in Colonel Gloyd's Regiment for a two months term, was marched into the state of North Carolina and was in the battle of the Shallow ford of the Yadkin river served out his said term of two months but received no written discharge therefor. And immediately after returning home to Montgomery county in Virginia volunteered for two months more under the same officers as above stated during which term of 2 months volunteer was stationed on the head of Clinch river in the State of Virginia to guard the frontiers and prevent the depredations of the Indians. served out the whole term of said last two months as a volunteer but received no written discharge that he has no documentary evidence of his service that he has no documentary evidence of his service. He states that Terrell Weston & William Morris are persons to whom he is known in his present neighbourhood who can testify to his veracity and their belief of his services as a soldier in the revolution.
He states that he was born in Bedford county in the state of Virginia on the 14th day of April 1759. He has a copy from his fathers family register that in the county of Montgomery and State of Virginia. At the close of the

Resided in said last mentioned county and State of after 5 or 6 years removed to Jasper county in the State of Kentucky, after 10 years moved to Scott county in Kentucky, and about 3 years ago moved to Edgar county in the state of Illinois where he now resides & has for the last 3 years.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or an annuity except the present and declares that his name is not on the pension roll of the  any agency in any State.
William his Francis in mark
State of Illinois } Edgar County } ss
On the 29th day of September 1832 Personally appeared in open court Ferrill Hester and John Lyman  William Francis who being first duly sworn do hereby testify from their acquaintance with William Francis ear the applicant in the foregoing declaration for a pension that they believe he is of the age he represents, and that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood to have been a revolutionary soldier & that they concur in that opinion sworn to and subscribed the day and year first above written
Ferrill Hester John Lyman
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 Ferrill Hester and John Lyman as he has also signed the same, are residents in the County of Edgar and State of Illinois

And are credible persons and that their statement is entitled to credit
M c Whorter
Jonathan Mayo clerk of the circuit court for Edgar county in the state of Illinois do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of William James for a pension (In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and private seal (no judicial seal being yet provided) this 29th day of September A.D. 1832)
(Seal)
J. Mayo Clerk

FREE
Oct 13 '42
Hon. J. V. Edwards Comr. of Pensions Washington City D.C.

Marshall Ill 3 d . Oct. 1842
Sir I have the honor to enclose the evidence of the marriage of Sarah Head of Indiana the widow of Thomas Head -
The widow of William James of Edgar County Illinois with the depositions to refer to the evidence of Sarah accompanying her husband's deposition in files in your office. She thinks that Growth Service has passed for 6 months by the testimony of Henry Rooty -
I throw nothing abroad. It is possible the claim may have be presented before the passage of the Act of 7. June 3 d -
particularly as she says a letter which is long for the Department to Mr James informed her that no pension was made for those who did not serve longer than 6 months.
Resps
Abi Vansant
Hon. J. L. Seward

REJECTED
55-50
P.O.
William James
Service:
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: _____
Re-enlisted: _____
Attorney: _____
P.O. _____
_____ Recognized.
_____ Contract.
1918 Aug 25 Photostat copies of 3 pages mailed to Mary L. Dunsler.

William James Linn Refected.
M rs J. Mayes Esq. Clark
Paris Oct. 11 th Jan y 7842. No. 1000 Edgar Gooch 1000 N. Main St. March 23 rd 1852 let. 100 St. Louis, Illinois 13. April 1833 Hon J. C. Allen Mar 3. 1855

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims, of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of William James Smith 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? No

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? No Clergyman Certificate Witness
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? No
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 shown 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.

Jan 11. 1842.
J. L. Edwards Esq
Commr. of Pensions Washington City
Hon. J. Caren H. C.

Home of Representatives
January 10 th 1841
J. L. Edwards Esq. Committee of Pensions
Sir
Please have the goodness, to furnish me with an answer, to the inquiries contained in the enclosed letter, and much obliged,
Yours with servt.
J. Cusay.

H. H. Wilson Orizaba
Rev. James Oct 17 - 1832
Dear S r J. P. Waldo Concord, corner Bruns Washington City D. C.

House Rep
Washington Feb 2/1855
Hon J. P. Waldo
Commissioner of Pensions
Sir
Sometime since
Levi James of Paris Edgar Co Ill ? made application for on behalf of the Heirs of William James a soldier in the Revolutionary war, for Compen- sation for services of said William James who is dead. The papers in the case were placed in charge of J. M. Knight Esq. Please inform me whether they were ever filed in the Pension Dept, and if so? what action was had upon them, &c
Respectfully
Yours Obed Servt
J. H. Allen

Rev. War Section.
August 20, 1918.
Miss Mary C. Oursler, 1341 Monroe St. N. W., Washington, D. C.
Madam:
In reply to your personal request of the 18 th instant, you are herewith furnished under the provisions of the Act of August 24, 1918, copies of three pages from the Revolutionary War pension claim of William James , R. File 5550.
Very respectfully,
E. C. Sieman
Acting Commissioner.
  Name  Wm James  Date  Aug. 19, 1918     Rev. War.  No Ref. File  5550.    Photographic copies wanted of  1    pieces, consisting of  3 pages.    Remarks:     Exr.  McKelson Chief Rev War Section    APPROVED:  J. F. Desjard    Serial  LAW CLERK.    No.   

Miss Mary C. Osceola 1341 Monroe St. N.W. City
wants photostat copies of three pages from Red War Prisoner class of May Series of Va. Reg. File 56550-
Aug. 16, 1918.
✓ 45 ¢ cash 107
No receipt to her necessary
Proctor - Law 8-16-18
BUREAU OF PENSIONS Finance Division
AUG 16 1918
101
CHIEF OF STAFF J. P. [unclear] STAFF
I have this day received from Mr. [unclear] the sum of [unclear] for [unclear] No. [unclear] for $ [unclear] requesting [unclear] as per letter herewith.
Yours truly and very respectfully,
With Sincere Thanks for Chief of Division.