Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 11710, for Abram Keen, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va.
Keen, Abram
S. 11710
CONTENTS
carded

32704
Virginia
Abraham Ween.
of Mecklenburg in the State of Virginia who was a Sergeant Private in the Company commanded by Captain Royal of the Regt commanded by Col. Dick in the Va. line for
Reported
Inscribed on the Roll of Richmond at the rate of 33 Dollars 33 Cents per an. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 18th day of Mar. 1850. Hon. T. S. Bocock, H. R.
Arrears to the 4th of Semi-annual allowance ending
Revolutionary En. Act June 7, 1
Recorded by Book E Vol. 62

Declaration of "Abram Keen" Va for a Pension under Act of June 7 th 1832; Va.
Adm d 8 mo. Drasm $333 33 p an On 4 March 1831
Since as a Drasm allow by the Secretary of the Navy
Hon. J. S. Beecher House of Reps

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress passed June 7 th 1832 -
State of Virginia: Mecklenburg County to wit:
On this 31 st day of May, 1839, personally appeared before me a Justice of the peace in and for the County and State aforesaid, General Abraham Keen, a resident of said County and State, aged 77 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, passed June 7 th 1832 -
That at the commencement of the Revolutionary war, he was a resident of Halifax County, Virginia; That in 1777, he moved to the County of Amelia, and in the year 1785, he settled himself in the County of Mecklenburg, where he has ever since resided - That at an early age, he first entered the service of his country as a Volunteer under Capt. Hill in the County of Halifax, and during the early part of 1777, marched to Petersburg, thence down James River and finally was discharged at Petersburg. He does not at this time recollect the term for which he enlisted, or the exact length of time he served; but verily believes, he was in actual service on this occasion, three months - and was honorably discharged from service - That in 1780, he entered the service again from the County of Amelia, and was drafted in the Militia under Capt. Munford for the term of three months, and marched to Petersburg, thence up and down James River, and then regularly discharged at Petersburg - He

served the said term faithfully - That as well as he recollects, in the month of February or March 1781, in the County of Amelia, he enlisted under Capt William Royal as a Dragoon in the Virginia State service to serve for and during the war, and was at- tached to the commands of Major Call and Col Alexander Dick Scot. Brigade . He first marched to Cumberland Pt. House in order to procure arms; thence to Rich- mond and various other places until after the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown - in October 1781 - He was then regularly discharged in December 1781 , until further called for - which was never done - John Royall was Lieutenant, and a man by the name of Brackett was Cornett in the Company - Generals Lafayette, Wayne, Nelson and others were Field Officers - He was in actual service on this occasion Eight months - He furnished his own horse, and in short, every thing except arms and cap - He thinks he served altogether 14 months in the Revolutionary war, for which service he claims a Pension - That until recently, he had declined making an application for a Pension, because he con- sidered it his duty, and the duty of every good sol- dier to serve his country, free of reward or bounty, whenever called upon - But of late years from sick- ness, deaths and other misfortunes in his family, he has sustained heavy losses; which now induces him at this late period, to apply for and accept the bounty which his country has so nobly tender- ed to its officers and soldiers in their latter days. That he is well apprised, that in consequence of this delay, he has lost the testimony of many wit- nesses who are dead and gone - He has no docu- mentary evidence - No Clergyman resides in his immediate neighborhood - He hereby sities =

gushed every claim whatever to a Pension or Annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the Army of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed before me this 31 st day of May, 1839 —
J. H. West J.P.
We James W. Oliver & Druy A. Bacon residing in the County of Mecklenburg, do hereby certify, that we are well acquainted with General Abram Keen, who has subscribed and sworn to the foregoing Declaration; that we believe him to be 77 years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhoods where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution; and that we concur in that opinion —
J. W. Oliver —
D. A. Bacon
sworn and subscribed before me this 31 st day of May, 1839 —
J. H. West J.P.
Virginia: Mecklenburg County to wit:
I do hereby declare my 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 I further certify that James W. Oliver & Druy A. Bacon, are residents of the County and are credible persons, and that their statement is entitled to full confidence — Given under my hand this 31 st day of May, 1839 —
J. H. West J.P.

Virginia: Mecklenburg County to wit:
I do hereby certify that the within named Abram Keen cannot from bodily infirmity attend the County Court to make the foregoing Declaration —
I further certify, that said Abram Keen is a worthy, reputable and credible citizen, and his statement entitled to full confidence — Given under my hand this 31 st day of May, 1839 —
Virginia: Mecklenburg County to wit:
I Richard B. Bapst Clerk of Mecklenburg County Court as hereby certify that John F. Finch is a magistrate as above, and that the foregoing signatures purporting to be his are genuine.
In testimony whereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal of office at office this 7 th day of June 1839.
Test Rich d B. Bapst C. C.

8 No. ✓ Let. W. J. Berfour, Dec.
1839 Lt. to Mr. J. B. Bedford
August 14. '49
Hon. T. C. Burch 22 d Oct 1849 Lt. to Hon. T. Cuning 31 31/49.
Act 7. July 52

Rev. John
11.710 ✓ INVALID.
ms
File No. 11.710
★ Abraham Keen Dragoon Rev. War
Act: June 7 th 1832
Index:—Vol. A , Page 399
[Arrangement of 1870.]
★ Abraham Keen Records corrected May 13/85

State of Virginia - Charlotte Ct: House April 3 d 1849 -
Sir,
Genl Abraham Keen of Mecklenburg County, Va, has requested me to ask of you as Comr of Pensions the kind favor to re-examine his claim for a Pension under act of June 7 th 1832 - His Pension papers were filed, I think, in 1839, and the last intelligence I received in relation to them, was that the proof was not entirely satisfactory - I have not your letter before me. If not entitled to a pension as one of Mead's or Spottswood's Legion, prior to that enlistment he was in in the Militia service, more than six months, for which he should receive a pension - He is very old and infirm, and for the last fifteen or twenty years been confined mostly to his house - Taking into consideration his rank and standing in society, which has been furnished the department in affidavits, I would suppose his simple statement of service, without proof, (which from inability he is unable to seek for) ought to have weight with the Department - He will be satisfied with a Pension for six months in the whole.
I am Sir, very respectfully
your Obt. Servt &c Wm J. B. Bedford
J. L. Edwards esq. Comr of Pensions -

✓ Department of the Interior March, 23 rd 1850.
Sir.
I herewith return the papers in the case of Abraham Heen, an applicant for a pension under the Act of June 7 th 1832, and I am of the opinion that he should be allowed for eight months service as a Dragoon.
I am very respectfully Your O be Servant
T. Emory
Secretary.
J. L. Carrara Esq d Bureau of Pensions.

50
William J. B. Bedford Esquire Charlotte C o House

Mockleg: Clerks Offi: 10 th June 1839.
Sir,
I have examined attentively the records of this offi: for the Qualification of Genl. Kren to his commission as Brigadier General. but have not been able to find it - he might have qual: in some other county in the Brigade. The evidence of his having been commissioned can easily be procured. at the office of the Secretary for the Comth: If it should be considered an indispensable
Respectfully Your
Ob: Servant.
Richard B Baptist

State of Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:
I William P. Hamlett do hereby certify that I belonged to Col Mead's Regiment of Virginia State Dragoons in the War of the Revolution, and recollect that Abram Keen of Mucklenburg, (now General Keen) was attached to the same Regiment under commands of Capt Royall, Major Call & others - How long the said Abram Keen was in the service, I am unable to say; but am under the impression, he was discharged in December 1781, until called for again; the terms on which the whole of us were discharged - We were never called into service afterwards - I am in the 80 th year of my age, and now a prisoner of the United States -
William P Hamlett
Virginia: Charlotte County to wit:
This day William P. Hamlett came before me a Justice of the peace in the county aforesaid and made oath that the above certificate subscribed by him in my presence, contained the truth to the best of his knowledge, and recollection - I further certify that he is a credible person, and his statement entitled to full confidence - Given under my hand this 1 st day of July, 1839 -
John Harvey J.P.

Virginia, Charlotte County Court:
I Winlass Robinson Clerk of the County Court of said County do hereby certify that John Harvey is an acting justice of the peace in and for the said County, and that the signature annexed & hereunto being like his is genuine.
Given under my hand and the seal of my Office this 3rd day of July 1839
Winlass Robinson C

Abraham Keen
V o
Act July June 7. In Original
5

State of Virginia Charlotte Ct. House July 3 d 1839-
Sir,
You will find enclosed the Declaration with accompanying papers of Gen l Abram Keen of Mecklenburg - who claims a Pension under the acts of Congress passed June 7 th 1832. General Keen claims as a private soldier in the Revolution - He admits that in consequence of deaths and removals of his old fellow soldiers he cannot adduce more satisfactory evidence of his services - He had determined at one time, when his services could have been established to the full extent of what he claims, not to claim a Pension, for the reasons stated in his declaration - I hope, however, from the high character and standing of General Keen, the enclosed papers will prove satisfactory satisfactory - As the Agent of Gen l Keen, any communications on the subject, will be addressed to me -
I am, Sir, very respectfully Your Ob t . Serv t &c W m J. B. Bedford
L. d. Edwards Esq Comm r of Pensions -

Virginia
Mecklenburg County to wit:
I Richard B Baptist Clerk of Mecklenburg County Court do hereby certify that it appears from the records of my office that Abram Wren was on the 9 th day of April 1793 recommended to the executive of this commonwealth as a proper person to fill the office of Captain of the light company annexed to the first Battalion - and on the 14 th day of June 1802 the same individual was recommended to the office of Major of 2 nd  Battalion in 22 nd Regiment and on the 12 th day of May 1806 the same, was recommended to the office of Lieutenant Colonel, Commandant, in the 22 nd Regiment.
In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal of office at office this 10 th day of June 1839 in the 63 rd year of the commonwealth.
Test Richard B Baptist Clk