Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 5457, for William Hutchison, Virginia

SERVICE
Va.
NUMBER
Hutchison, William
P. 5457
CONTENTS

Virginia
At a Court held for the County of Monroe at the Court House on Monday the 17 th day of October 1836 In the 61 st year of the commonwealth
This day personally in Open Court before the County Court of Monroe aforesaid William Hutchinson a Resident of Monroe County aforesaid aged Seventy Nine years, who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in Order to Obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th June 1832: that he entered the Service of the United States under the following named Officers and served as herein stated: that in the year 1776 he volunteered to serve a term of duty of one year as a Common Soldier under the Command of Captain John Henderson who was sent to guard the frontier settlements of white people against the incursions of the Indians; that he commenced his services at Coote's Fort on Indian Creek (now) in the County of Monroe in the month of May as near as he now recollects. Shortly after having joined the company at the Fort, he was marched from the said Fort across New River through a part of what is now the County of Giles - a country thinly inhabited, and was kept ranging that section of country almost constantly for one year the term for which he volunteered: after having served faithfully as aforesaid, in the Spring of the year 1777 he again volunteered under the Command of Captain Archibald Wood who took Command of the Company aforesaid, for the same service, to serve as long as the Indians might disturb the white Settlers as aforesaid; in the fall of the year 1777 Captain Wood's Company marched up the Blue Stone River to the settlements of white people near its head to protect them against the Indians whilst they might be gathering their fodder: that he marched the wilderness & over mountains where it is likely few human beings except savages had ever

before had. He continued to serve in this little band of rangers (except one year that he was detached therefrom by his Captain as an Indian Spy) the full term of four years actively, arduously and almost incessantly marching or rather ranging from Cook's Fort to Wood's Fort on Rich Creek & back wards and forwards through that wild mountainous Country under almost ever possible privation and difficulty; frequently carrying orders & communications, alone, from his Captain to the Forts & back again, often in the night time, when he could hear near him the shrill whistle, the yell or warg tread of the Savage. If any orders or communications were wanted to be sent express, he was generally the one selected to do it; he always performed the service however difficult or dangerous, his believe to the full satisfaction of his Captain and fellow soldiers. Whilst he was under the command of Captain Wood, he, Philip Cavender and Nicholas Woodfin were ordered out or detached from the Company by that Officer as Indian Spies, he continued to serve in that Capacity, at the imminent hazard of his life - lying out at night with no covering but his blanket, no shelter but the forest; when frequently the panther scream, or Indians yell would remind of his duty. After having served four years as aforesaid, Captain Gray from the County of Rockbridge V a took Command of the said Company. He continued to serve under Captain Gray for the term of one year and in the Spring of the year 1782 when all signs of a Savage foe had disappeared and when there seemed to be no further use for the Company aforesaid he left the service & Captain Gray returned home. He received no discharge, it was not thought to be necessary. He knew he

had served his country faithfully - received the approbation of his Captain & his permission to go home. He knew no regular Officers in this service - he served with no other continental regiments or companies except the officers and company aforesaid. He has no documentary evidence of his service, but he knows the Rev. Jacob Cook & John Ellison whose testimony he can procure who can testify to his service. He was born in the County of Augusta State of Virginia in the year 1757. He had a record of his age in his Father's bible which was burnt when his father's house was burnt, on Rich Creek in the (now) County of Monroe Va. He lived in the County of Greenbrier Va (which is now Monroe) when he was called into service. He has lived generally in the County of Monroe since the Revolutionary war, and he now resides in the County of Monroe. He hereby relinquishes ever 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. William Hutchinson Sworn to & Subscribed the day & year aforesaid.
On this 17 th day of October 1834 personally appeared in Open Court before the County Court of Monroe Jacob Cook of the County of Monroe aforesaid and made oath according to law, that he was in Cook's Fort in the year 1776, (Being the son of Valentine Cook who owned the plantation whereon the fort was) that William Hutchinson now of the County of Monroe, was then in said Fort under the Command of Captain Gen John Henderson; that he started from the Fort under the Command of the said Officer against the Indians that he frequently returned to the Fort and still appeared to be in the service; that he was in the same kind of service when Capt Archibald Wood

that the Command of the same Company. He knows that the said William Hutchison was frequently sent by his Officers from the Company to the Fort & from the Fort to Woods Fort on Rich Creek with expresses & communications as he supposed from his activity & faithfulness. He believes that the Officers had full confidence in the Courage & activity of the said William Hutchison. His services must have commenced in the Spring of a year 1776. This deponent was then a boy but he recollects the Circumstances well. Sworn to & Subscribed Jacob Cook
This day John Ellison personally appeared in Open Court before the County Court of Monroe and made oath according to law, that he is well acquainted with William Hutchison who this day made his declaration in Court to obtain a pension; that the said Hutchison was in Cook's Fort on Indian Creek in the (now) County of Monroe in the year 1776; that he believes that the said Hutchison served a tour of duty as a ranger against the Indians under the Command of Captain John Henderson; he recollects that said Hutchison frequently returned to the fort & still appeared to be in service; that he recollects that Captain Archibald Wood was an Officer at his own Fort on Rich Creek & that said Hutchison was a soldier there at the same time. Sworn to & Subscribed John Ellison (Mark)

We Jacob Cook a Clergyman residing in the County of Monroe and Henry Alexander residing in the same County hereby certify that we are well acquainted with William Hutchinson who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing declaration; that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; that he is reputed and believed in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a Soldier of the Revolution and that we concur in that opinion. Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
Jacob Cook Henry Alexander
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War department, that the foregoing applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier, and served as he states. And the Court further certifies that it appears to them that Jacob Cook who has signed the proceeding Certificate is a Clergyman resident in the said County of Monroe and that Henry Alexander who has also signed the same is a resident in the said County and is a Credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit that the said Jacob Cook and John Ellison who have signed the foregoing affidavits & sworn to the same are persons of strict integrity and Credibility and that their evidence is entitled to full credit.
I John Hutchinson Jr Clerk of the Court of Monroe County do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of said Court, in the matter of the application of William Hutchinson for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal of Office this 18 th day of October 1834 and in the 61 st year of the commonwealth.
J. Hutchinson Jr Clerk

Answers to the questions propounded by the County Court of Monroe to William Hutchinson a revolutionary soldier in Open Court October 17 th 1831.
1 st I was born in Augusta County & State of Virginia in the year 1757.
2 d I had a record of my age in my father's bible but it was burnt when my Father's house was burnt on Rich Creek (now) in the County of Monroe.
3 d I lived in Greenbrier County (now Monroe) when called into service; in the County of Monroe generally since the revolutionary war; and I now live in the County of Monroe.
4 th I volunteered.
5 th I knew no regular Officers in this service except those under whom I served. I served with no other Continental regiments or companies except the Company of Capt d Henderson, Capt d Wood & Capt d Gray. I volunteered under the Command of Captain John Henderson to guard the frontier settlements of white people against the depredations of the Indians. I joined this Company at Cook's Fort on Indian Creek (now) Monroe County in the year 1778 I think in the month of May. We marched across New River into the (now) County of Giles & continued to range that part of the Country in search of Savage for until the expiration of an year. In the Spring of the year 1779 I again volunteered to serve under Capt d Archibald Wood as long as the Indians might disturb the settlements of white people in that part of the Country; in the fall of that year we were marched to the head of Blue Stone to protect the white people there while taking their foddler. In the year 1778 or 9 which I do not recollect Captain Wood ordered me, Philip Cavender & Nicholas Woodfin out as Indian spies. This was the most difficult & dangerous part of my service.

having to be so much exposed to running more riskier of losing my life. I served in this Capacity for one year: I then joined my Company again and continued to serve as before, making the time, in all, that I served under Captain Wood four years. Cap t Gray from the County of Rockbridge V a then took the Command of the Company & I continued to serve under him for one year; this was in the year 1781. In the fall of that year I, with about thirty others, were ordered by Cap t Gray to go to the head of Blue Stone to guard the Settlers there while taking fodder after marching about 20 miles all the other men refused to go any further, an old man by the name of McGuire wished to go to the said Settlement, he & I got a man by the name of David Clay to pilot us the nearest way, after we had started from the Company some short distance, we found that about ten or twelve Indians were in pursuit of us, they continued to pursue us frequently through water to our necks & mud to our knees. Until dark, we then heard their yells, & saw none heard any more of them. We continued our route until some time after dark when we arrived at the place where we were ordered; we had travelled near forty miles from the time we left the Company (see we stopped); it was about 9 o'clock in the morning when we left the Company 6 th I received no discharge, but in the Spring of the year 1782 was permitted by Cap t Gray to go home.
7 th The Rev Jacob Cook James Ellison John Ellison Richard V. Shanklin James Houchens Asa Ellison John Neely & many others.
Teste
J. Ketchison J. Cml Octo 17 th 1836

June 30, 1937
William Hutchison R. 5457 BA-J/AWF
Mrs. George Yerger, Jr. Mound Louisiana
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War record of William Hutchinson of Augusta County, Virginia, later lived in Monroe County, Virginia.
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, R. 5457, based upon the service of William Hutchison in the War of the Revolution.
William Hutchison (as his signature is shown in the claim) was born in the year 1757 in Augusta County, Virginia. The names of his parents were not given.
William Hutchison, while a resident of Greenbrier (that part which was later Monroe) County, Virginia, served from sometime in May, 1778 until in the spring of 1782, at various times as Ranger and Indian Spy, under Captains John Henderson, Archibald Wood, and Gray, guarding the frontier settlements from the incursions of the Indians.
He applied for pension October 17, 1836, then a resident of Monroe County, Virginia.
The claim was not allowed, as proof of six months' service in an embodied military corps, was not

furnished.
It was not stated that William Hutchison was ever married.
John Hutchison, Jr., was Clerk of the Court of Monroe County, Virginia in 1838; it was not stated that he was related to the William Hutchison referred to herein.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

1919 Jan 25 - Frst. to Mrs. Refor a Bond 1927 Feb 19 - Hist to Harriett S. Soley and 1937 - mels 4. Hist to Mrs. S. K. Soley and P. O. 1937 June 30 - Hist to and Mrs. Leo. Yerger Jr.
5437
William Hutchinson
Service: _____
REJECTED
Enlisted: _____, 18
Discharged: _____, 18
Application filed: _____, 18
Alleges: The printed list of 185-2 gives cause of suspicion as follows:
Re-enlisted: Claims for service in Indian Wars - further proof required.
Attorney: _____
P. O. _____
_____ Recognized. _____ Contract.

Wm. Hutchinson
p. 67
Suspended see Wts 31 In Hutchinson p. 29 1836. See original declaration.
5457
Act. of June 30

MRS. GEORGE YERGER JR. MOUND, LOUISIANA
Mound, La. June 10, 1937
Commissioner of Pensions Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir;
I would be very grateful for any information you could give me concerning William Hutchinson from Augusta County, Va. I understand that he lived in Monroe County Va. when he applied for his pension for service in the Revolutionary War.
Thanking you, I am,
Yours truly,
Maye H. Yerger

Department of War Pension Office October 29 1836.
Sir
I have rec d the declarations of Thomas Steel & William Hutchinson and have placed them in file. The only service which Mr Steel claims for, is a draft of six months; but he also states that he was discharged before the expiration of the term, and procured a substitute. As no allowance is made for the service of a substitute, the claim of Mr Steel is rejected.
The claim of William Hutchinson was originally suspended because he had set forth services at variance with all historical facts, touching the frontier service in Virginia during the war of the revolution. He then, and now, claims practical and continuous service of five or six years in the character of a volunteer in the companies commanded by Captains Wood & Henderson. When it is recollected that at that early day in Western Virginia, during a great part of the year, all the inhabitants were fortified in order to avoid the dangers of an attack from the Indians; and that even while a part of the settlers were engaged in the clearing and cultivation of their lands, the residue were abroad, scouting and watching the movements of the common enemy, and to give the alarm in case of his approach, it will be seen that in all probability every able bodied man was engaged

Second year in the present war: for some time after the year 1754 ; but the service was not at that time considered as military, nor is it so viewed at the present. It is true, however,  also that there were at the period I speak of, regularly embodied corps, authorized by the State for the protection of the frontier; (and also a corps of spies and rangers was established); the service of the latter generally commenced in the spring, and terminated in the fall of each year. But the service of Mr. Hutchinson never has been performed in neither of these corps; as the militia did not serve for years successively, nor were either Captain Wood or Henderson in the regular service.
It appears from the papers of Jacob Cook & Mr. Ellison, that the forts styled, Wood's or Cook's forts, were blockhouses built and owned by these two men for their own, and the safety of the neighborhood in  times of  times of dangers. They Having received grants of lands from the Crown before the breaking out of the war as an inducement for them to settle upon the frontier, their system of defense like that of all early settlements was a kind of domestic police adopted to give pro- tection to their settlements, & had no connexion what- ever with the military operations of the country. H on Hutchinson Esq r , Amos Morse Esq r I am Respectfully Yours

Parkersburg, W. Va., Dec. 30, 1926.
Gentlemen:
Please give me what information you have, if any, regarding William Hutchinson, Revolutionary Soldier, born in Augusta Co., Va., 1757.
In 1776 volunteered one year under Capt. John Henderson. Began service in May at Cork's Fort on New River, now Giles Co., Va., guarding the Fort against Indians. Served later as spy under Capt. Archibald Wood & Capt. Gray. Left the service 1782.
Harriett S. Foley. Box # 118-R.D. 2, Parkersburg, W. Va.

Res. Sec. m
Revolutionary Records Pension Office
Dear Sir,
Kindly send me the history of the revolutionary claim for Pension of William Hutchinson (Hutchinson) of Monroe County, West Virginia (Virginia) being particular to mention beneficiaries of claim,

This is written in the interest of my client Mrs. Reford Bond of Oklahama, one of the descendants of person and stage,
Yours very truly
Mrs. Chas. H. Jones, 1812 G. St. N.W. Washington, D.C.
Jan. 19 th 1919.

MRS. S. K. LOY STATE GENEALOGIST D. A. R. CASPER, WYOMING
February 12th 1937.
Veteran's Administration, Washington, D.C.
Dear Sirs:
I would appreciate receiving from your office, data as follows:
(a) In the volume called "Virginia Militia" by McAllister, is this item: WILLIAM HUTCHINSON, Pension Declaration of- b. Augusta Co. Va. 1757. Volunteer 1776 under Capt John Henderson to guard frontier. Was under Capt Gray in 1780 around Bluestone Pension issued (to him) in Monroe Co. ---- 1835.
Query: What state was that Monroe county in? If it is Monroe county Ohio, I should like all data in connection with this man. If not Ohio, am not interested.
(b) Want service record and personal data on: ANTHONY HADEN ( Hanover ) Revolutionary Army V.1 Reg 103.
(c) Want data of record ( place of birth, family etc.) of JAMES NASH: War 5. 141 RC: HD- 1834 Doc. 35-9 JOHN NASH (Northampton) S of W. 1835 Pen 2 - 86 (Was this a Penn. county?) JOHN NASH War 4 - 291 War 5 141. ( Northampton, ? )
JOHN ASH H D 1833-1884 JOHN ASH: 13 V R - 302 Defense of Upper Ohio.
Thanking you for the service, I am, _____
Yours truly,
(Mrs. S.K. / Eliza Nash Loy)
Miss Ford O.K.
OK
see also vol 2 p 11
Check 2 Because of great demand for R.H. data - etc. - Yours truly, John Nash

March 3, 1937.
Mrs. S. K. Loy Casper, Wyoming.
BA-J/ILL John Nash S. 38254 William Hutchison R. 5457
Dear Madam:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the Revolutionary War records of William Hutchinson who was born in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1757, John Ash R.D. 1833-1834, John Ash 13 V R -302 Defense of Upper Ohio, Anthony Haden (Hanover) V.1 Reg. 103, James Nash War 5. 141 RC; HD-1834 Doc. 35-9, John Nash (Northampton) S of W. 1835, and John Nash War 4-291 War 5-141.
Because of the great demand for Revolutionary War data and the limited trained clerical force available for furnishing such information, it is not possible to comply in full with each request for information pertaining to soldiers of that war. The records of William Hutchison and John Nash, listed by you, are furnished you herewith as found in pension claims based upon service in the Revolutionary War.
Very truly yours,
A. D. HILLER, Executive Assistant to the Administrator.

March 4, 1937
William Hutchison R. 5457 BA-J/AWF
Mrs. S. K. Loy Casper Wyoming
Dear Madam:
The data furnished herein were obtained from papers on file in pension claim, R. 5457, based upon the service of William Hutchison in the War of the Revolution.
William Hutchison (as his signature is shown in the claim) was born in the year 1757 in Augusta County, Virginia. The names of his parents were not given.
While a resident of Greenbrier (that part which was later Monroe) County, Virginia, William Hutchison served from May, 1776 until the spring of 1782, at various times as Ranger and Indian Spy, under Captains John Henderson, Archibald Wood, and Gray, guarding the frontier settlements from the incursions of the Indians.
He applied for pension October 17, 1836, then a resident of Monroe County, Virginia.
The claim was not allowed, as proof of six months' service in an embodied military corps, was not furnished.
It was not stated that William Hutchison was

ever married.
John Hutchison, Jr., was Clerk of the Court of Monroe County, Virginia in 1836; it was not stated that he was related to the William Hutchison referred to herein.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Rev. and 1812 Wars Section.
February 19, 1927
Harriett S. Foley Parkersburg, R. D. 2, Box 118 West Va.
Madam:
I have to advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim R. 5457, it appears that William Hutchison states that he was born in 1757 in Augusta County, Virginia; and while residing in Greenbrier County, Virginia, later called Monroe County, he served from May 1776 to the spring of 1782, as a Ranger and Indian Spy, under Captains John Henderson, Archibald Wood and Gray, guarding the frontier settlements against the Indians.
He applied for pension October 17, 1836, while residing in Monroe County, Virginia, but his claim was not allowed, as the Act of June 1832, under which he applied, did not provide for service on the frontier as described by him. No family data on file.
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

V. L. M. Rev. War Section.
January 25, 1919.
Mrs. Reford Bond, Mrs. Charles H. Jonas, 1813 G Street N. W., Washington, D. C.
Madam:
In response to your letter dated the 18" instant, you are advised that in the pension claim Rejected File No. 5,487 William Hutchison states that he was born in Augusta County, Virginia, in 1757, and while residing in Greenbrier County, later called Monroe County, Virginia, he served from May 1776 to the spring of 1783 as a Ranger and Indian Spy under Captains John Henderson, Archibald Wood and Gray, guarding the frontier settlements against the Indians.
He applied for pension October 17, 1836, while residing in Monroe County, Virginia, but his claim was not allowed as the Act of June 1838, under which he applied did not provide for service on the frontier as described by him.
There is no data on file as to his family.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner. ck