Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 7927, for Thomas Jopling, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
Jopling Thomas
W. 7927
Mary or Molly
CONTENTS

19.969.
Virginia
Thomas Sopling
of Nelson Co, in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Walker of the Regiment commanded by Colonel Russell in the Virginia line, for the term of two years, from 9 February 1776 to 9 February 1778,
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 22 nd day of August, 1828,
Certificate of Pension issued the 30 th of August 1828 and sent to Hon. W. C. Rives, Lindsay's Store, Virginia
Arrears to 4th of Sept. 1828. - 1. 57 Semi-anl. all'ce ending 4 March, 1829. 48. ~
$ 49. 57
{ Revolutionary Claim, Acts March, 18, 1818, and May 1, 1820. }

5752 Virginia Molly Jopling widow of Thomas Jopling Va who served in the Revolutionary
war, as a private due for $80
Inscribed on the Roll at the rate of 96 Dollars Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1848.
1 July Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of October and sent to
Robt H Gray Lynchburg Va
Recorded on Roll of Pensioners under act February 2, 1848, Page 16 Vol. 3

7071
Hon. Jas. Garland H.R.

State of Virginia } S.S. Nelson County }
On this twenty seventh day of April 1840 personally appeared before the Court of Nelson County, Molly Sopling, a resident of the County aforesaid aged Sixty nine years, who being first duly sworn, according to law, doth, on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress, passed July 7, 1838, entitled "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows". That she is the widow of Thomas Sopling who was a private in Captain Walker's Co. of the United States Army during the revolutionary war; that she is unable to specify the particular service performed by her late Husband, but refers to the files of the War Department for information, he having been placed on the pension list, Roll of the Virginia Agency under the laws of March 18, 1818 &c.
She further declares that she was married to the said Thomas Sopling on the twenty fifth day of November in the year seventeen hundred and ninety that her husband, the aforesaid Thomas Sopling died on the twentieth day of March 1837 ; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service, but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz: at the time above stated.
her Mary X Sopling mark
And thereupon, the said Declaration is ordered to be certified to the War Department. And the court doth further order it to be certified, that the said Thomas Sopling and the said Mary Sopling, (whose maiden name was Mary Stevens), were married on the 25th day of November, 1790, and that she, the said Mary, hath remained a widow ever since the death of her said husband, which event happened on the 20th day of March, 1837. - That the said Mary Sopling is a person of good character, and that her oath is entitled to full credit.
A true copy from the records of said Court. In testimony where-

Sp. I Spotswood Garland, do hereunto set my hand as clerk of the said Court and affix the seal of my Office, this 11th Day, of May, in the year of our Lord Thousand eight hundred and forty.
Sp. Garland, Clerk of Nelson County Court

I know all men by these presents that we Thomas Jopling Junr and James Stephens Jr are held and firmly bound unto Beverly Randolph Esqr. Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia and to his successors in the sum of fifty pounds current money to be paid to the said Randolph and to his successors for the use of the said Commonwealth. We bind our selves and each of us our and each of our heirs Executors and Administrators jointly and severally firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated this
The condition of this Obligation is such that, whereas there is a marriage short to be solemnized between the said Thomas Jopling Junior Bachelor and Mary Stephens Spinster both of the County of Amherst: if there be no Lawfull cause to obstruct the said Marriage then this obligation to be void or else to remain in full force
Teste
Will Loving Jr Sam Spencer
Thomas Jopling Seal James Stephens Jr Seal
Sir This shall be your sufficient warrant to issue Licence to join Thomas Jopling Junr and my Daughter Mary together in the holy State of Matrimony. Given under my hand and seal this
Attest
Sam Spencer James Stephens Jr.
James Stephens Seal
To the Clerk of Amherst County
I Samuel M. Garland Clerk of the County Court of Amherst in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that the above is a true copy of the record as on file in my office with the exceptions of the dates which are expressed on the record in fair legible figures as follows viz: in the bond "22 nd day of Nov 1790" and in the certificate "Second day of November 1790".
Samuel M Garland Clerk
State of Virginia, Amherst County to wit:
I Samuel M Garland above named do hereby depose and say that I hold the office of Clerk of the County Court of Amherst in the State of Virginia and that the above is a true extract from the records of said office with the exceptions above named as certified by me.
Samuel M Garland Clerk.
Sworn to before me James Powell
State of Virginia Amherst County to wit:
I Samuel M. Garland Clerk of the County Court of Amherst in the State aforesaid do hereby certify that James Powell is magistrate of the peace duly commissioned and qualified in and for the County aforesaid. That his name to the above certificate is in his own hand writing and all due faith and credit are due to him as such. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this 7 th day of December 1838 and in the 63 rd year of the Commonwealth
Samuel M Garland

20629.
Thomas Jopling
Welson County
Virginia
act 18 March 1818
claim admitted by Mr. Edwards.
Hon: M. C. Rives A. R.

Virginia, to wit:
At a court of Monthly Session, held for Nelson County, at the Courthouse, on Tuesday the 29 th day of April 1828.
Be it remembered that on this 29 th day of April 1828, personally appeared in open court, being a court of record for the county of Nelson, being made a court of record by an act of the General Assembly of Virginia, Thomas Sopling, resident in said county, aged seventy three years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the provision made by the acts of Congress of the 18 th March 1818, and the Act of May 1820; that he the said Thomas Sopling enlisted for the term of two years, on the 9 th day of February in the year 1776, in the state of Virginia, in the company commanded by Thomas Walker in the line of the State of Virginia on the Continental establishment; that he continued to serve in the said corps until the 9 th day of February 1778, when he was discharged from the service at the Valley Forge in the state of Pennsylvania; that he continues to serve in the said corps hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension, except the present; that his name is not on the roll of any state, except Virginia; and that the following are the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension ; that heretofore he had property sufficient to maintain himself and family, consisting of sundry slaves and a small tract of land, but that by death and for debt he has now no slave, and has also sold his land and the money applied to the payment of his just debts.
And, in pursuance of the Act of the 1 st May 1820, I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the 18 th day of March, 1818, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it, as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the Revolutionary War" passed on the 18 th day of March 1818; and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed: — (see over.)

- one cow, one sow, two beds and furniture, & a small parcel of household and kitchen furniture - which the court values at. } $ 30:00
Thomas Jopling Seal
My occupation heretofore has been that of a planter and farmer, but from age and disease I am unable to pursue it. I have no daughter or son, and no person living with me except my wife, Molly Jopling, aged about fifty eight years, in infirm, bad health. I am aged about seventy three years and in infirm health.
That since the 18th. day of March, 1818, the following changes have been made in my property -
   Description of property. Name of the Person to whom disposed of. Time of sale. Amount of money or description of property received in return.     110 acres of land, in which I had a life estate, by devise from James Stevens dec d James S. Benn. 1824 Feby. 2 d . $250. every cent applied to the payment of a debt to Rives & Brown, contracted for necessary articles of merchandise.   The following slaves, Dacey a woman, Hannah a woman, Rachel, Tom a young man, Claiborne a boy, Spotswood a boy, Brown a boy, Joe a man, Fanny a woman, and her child, Louisa a woman, and Elvira a girl; the first seven have died, the balance sold. - Rives & Brown. 1828. April 28. $818. applied to the payment of a debt due to Rives & Brown secured by deed of trust on said slaves.  
Thomas Jopling Seal.
The following evidence was produced to the court in support of the foregoing declaration, to wit. A paper purporting to be the discharge of the said Thomas Jopling from the service of the United States, in the following words and figures, to wit: "Thomas Jopling a soldier in the 9th, Virg a Reg t being enlisted for two years hath served out his time faithfully and is hereby discharged from the service. Given under my hand this 9th. Feby. 1778. R d R d Col o Comm d of Genl. Muhlenburg's Brigade."

Robert Rives personally appeared in Court, and being sworn stated that, he is one of the partners of Rives & Brown (a mercantile concern in this county), that the debts contracted, for which the property was sold as mentioned in the foregoing declaration, were for necessary articles for the use of the family of the said Thomas Jopling, for clothing for his negroes, for necessary articles for the use of his plantation, and for sundry doctor's bills paid by the said Rives & Brown, for the said Thomas Jopling, to a considerable amount.
James S. Penn also appeared in court, and being sworn stated that, he purchased the land mentioned in the foregoing declaration of Thomas Jopling (who had only a life estate in the same) and that the purchase money thereof was applied to the payment of a debt which the said Thomas Jopling owed to the mercantile firm of Rives & Brown of this county.
Doctor Robert J. Rineaid also appeared in court and stated, that he has been acquainted with the said Thomas Jopling for many years, and that from age and disease he believes the said Jopling to be entirely incapable of supporting himself.
All which is ordered to be certified to the War Department.
I, Spotswood Garland, Clerk of the Court of Nelson County, in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify, that it appears, to the satisfaction of the Court, that the said Thomas Jopling did serve in the Revolutionary War, as stated in the preceding declaration, against the common enemy, for the term of nine months under one engagement, on the continental establishment. I also certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedule thereto annexed, are truly copies from the records of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited, in the aforesaid schedule is Thirty dollars. —
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this 30th. day of April 1828.
Spotswood Garland, Clerk of the Court of Nelson County State of Virginia.
3

April 2, 1931
Captain C. G. Porsher United States Coast Guard Curtis Bay, Maryland
Rev. & 1812 Wars Section MCS:MLB
Dear Sir:
You are advised that it appears from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, W. 7927, that Thomas Jopling enlisted February 9, 1776 in Virginia, served in Captain Thomas Walker's Virginia company, and was discharged February 9, 1778.
He was allowed pension on his application executed April 29, 1828, at which time he was seventy-three years of age and was a resident of Nelson County, Virginia.
He died March 20 or 29, 1837.
While a resident of Amherst County, Virginia, the soldier married November 25, 1790, in that county, Mary or Molly, the daughter of James Stephens, Jr.
She was allowed pension on her application executed April 27, 1840, at which time she was sixty-nine years of age and was living in Nelson County, Virginia.
The Revolutionary War records of this bureau fail to afford any information in regard to Thomas Jopling, Sr., or of Josias Jopling.
Very truly yours
E. W. MORGAN Acting Commissioner