Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 18,496, for John Mc Comas, Virginia

SERVICE
NUMBER
Va
McComas, John
N. 18,496
Catharine
CONTENTS

Virginia N o 23,271
John M c Comas
of Cabell Co. in the State of Virginia who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Cravens of the Reg t commanded by _____ in the Virginia Troops time for 11 months
See letter 25 July 1835 to W. G. Singleton " 5 Sept " G e Samuel " " " " Pn. Ad. removed
Paid at the Treasury under the Act of the 6. April 1838 from 4 Sept 1836 to 31 March 1837, the day of his death. Agent notified 28 July 1838.
Inscribed on the Roll of Virginia at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 14 th day of Dec r 1833 and sent to Hon. W. M c Comas (W.R.)
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. 1833 91.66 2 / 3 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 March 34. 18.33 2 / 3
$110.00
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by D. Brown Clerk, Book E. Vol. 6 1 / 2 Page 24

Sol Thornbury 25 Jany 1841.
See letter to J. Brown Jr. April 26, 1841—
5970 Virginia
Catharine M c Comas widow of John W m Comas, dec Va who was a pensioner under the Act of 1832 and who died on the 31 Mar 1837 of Cabell Co in the State of Virginia who was a private in the Company commanded by Captain Craven of the regt commanded by Col. in the Virginia line for 11 months.
Inscribed on the Roll of Richmond at the rate of 36 Dollars 66 Cents per annum, to commence on the 31 st day of March, 1837.
Certificate of Pension issued the 4 th day of Jany 1841, to Sol t Thornbury, Cabell Co. Va
Arrears to the 4 th of Mar 1841 $ 143.46 Pemi=annual allowance ending
{ Act July 7, } 1838. }
Recorded by D m C d Clerk, Book 4, Vol. 2, Page 180.

28.863
Homelands
Alumni as a whole 11 months 31.66
For Mr. McCoras H.R.

Gabell County Virginia } 7.
On this 28 th day of October 1833 personally appeared before the County Court of Said County now in Session John W. Thomas a resident of Said County aged Seventy years, the 15 th instant who being first duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision of made by act of Congress passed June the 7 th 1832.
That he entered into the Service of the United States , as a private Soldier in the Militia in the year 1778 under the command of Capt. Robert  He Cravens and in the month of April we marched from the County of Augusta to West-fall, fort now in the County of Randolph from thence we marched to a fort on Buck Hannon river, from thence to West Station upon the West fork of the Monongahela, from thence to Rutter's fort from thence to Powers fort from thence to Hooe's  Hooe's Station which had been set on fire by the Indians a few hours before we arrived. from thence returned to Rutter's Fort from thence we returned to the County of Augusta and was discharged. This declarant further states that his term of duty was eight months though he only volunteered for six months but was compelled to serve two months longer by his

his Commanding officer. His declarant further states that he again entered into the service of the United States as a private soldier in the Virginia unit the month of December 1780 and marched from the County of Rockingham under the command of Capt. McKimbo Coger across the Blue Ridge to Richmond, which had been burnt up some few days before our arrival, from thence down James River below Williamsburg and then we crossed to the south side of James River from thence down the same to Mackey's Mills which had been set on fire some time before our arrival there from thence we marched thence to Genl. Gurgery's camp in North Carolina at which time and place we were all discharged having served a tour of three months.
He hereby relinquishes every claim whatsoever 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.
John W. Borman his mark
Questions by the court.
1 Where and in what year was born
Answer I was born in the state of North Carolina as I was told by my Parents on the 15 th day of October 1757
2 nd
Have you any record of your age and if so where is it?
Answer My age was recorded in my father's bible but what has become of it I know not.

3 Where were you living when called into service where have you lived since the revolutionary war and where do now live
Answer When I served my first tour of duty I lived in the County of Augusta the second tour I lived at the same place but it was Rockingham County which was taken from Augusta since the war I moved to the County of Greenbrier then to the County of Montgomery from thence I moved to Kanawha County and have resided on the river Guyandotte for thirty five years and now reside in the County of Cabell formed out of part of Kanawha
4 To whom were you called into service; were you drafted, did you volunteer or were you a substitute and if a substitute for whom?
Answer The first tour I did volunteer the 2nd tour I was drafted
5 State the names of some of the regular officers who were with the troops where you served such Continental and militia regiments as you can recollect and the general circumstances of your service
Answer my first tour of duty I was under the command of Col Sampson & Matthews Capt Robert Robert Cravens Lieut McRae First Ensign George Mollon The second tour I was commanded by Col William Noll

Major Guy Hamilton Capt- Michael Cogan Lieutenant Lieutenant Michael Roach Ensign George Null
Did you ever receive a discharge from the service and if so by whom was it given
Answer When first took of duty I received my discharge was Verbal and the 2nd I received a written discharge of capt Roll but has since lost it
7 State the names of persons to whom you are known in your neighbourhood and who can testify as to your veracity and their belief of your services as a soldier of the revolution
Answer
Andrew Barrett Esq Andrew Stratfield Esq and John Samuels clerk of Cabell County
We Stephen Sprouck a clergyman residing in the County of Cabell and John Landly residing in the same County do hereby certify that we are well acquainted with John McCombs who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration that we believe him to be 76 years of age that he is reputed and believed in the neighbourhood where he has resides to have been a soldier of the revolution and that we concur in that opinion Stephen Sprouck John Landly

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 Stephen Spurlock who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in Cabell county, and that John Laidly who has also signed the same, is a resident in the county of Cabell and is a credible person, and that their statement is entitled to credit.
I John Samuels clerk of the court of Cabell county Virginia do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said court in the matter of the application of John McCormas for a pension.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal of office this 4 th day of December 1833 in the 58 th year of the commonwealth.
John Samuels.

Virginia
At a Court held for Cabell County on Monday the 26 th of October in the year year 1840 The declaration of Catharine M c Comas In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress of the 7 th of July 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and and pension to certain widows" in these words to wit on this 26 th day of October in the year 1840 personally appeared before the justices of the County Courts of Cabell now sitting Catharine M c Comas a resident of said County and State aged Eighty one 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 provisions made by the act of Congress passed July 7 th 1838 entitled "An act granting half pay and pension to certain widows" That she is the widow of John M c Comas deceased who was a private soldier in the service of the United States in the war of the Revolution that her said husband made his declaration in Cabell County Court on the 22 nd day of October 1832 as appears by an order of said court made on that day That not having been married to her said husband till after the war she cannot speak of his service of her own knowledge but relies upon his said declaration made as above which she supposes is on file in the pension office and to which she begs leave to refer That she often heard her husband speak of his service before and after he obtained his pension That she has no documentary evidence in support of her said claim except what she has referred to but relies further on the affidavit of her sister in law Catharine

McComas accompanying this taken on the 5 th day of October 1840 before Joshua Butcher Esq r Justice of the peace in and for Logan County Virginia She further declares that she was married to the said John McComas on the day of February One Thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Six that her husband died on the 31 st day of March one thousand Eight hundred and thirty Seven that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty four viz at the time above stated Sworn and subscribed
on the day & year above written in open court Catharine her  X McComas mark
Test
John Samuel C.C.
And the court do declare their opinion that the Statement made by the said Catharine McComas in her declaration aforesaid as to the service of her husband is entitled to the fullest credit and that it was proven to the satisfaction of the court that John McComas deceased who is mentioned in the foregoing declaration was a revolutionary ven- =sioner and that he departed this life on the 31 st day of March 1837 leaving a widow the said Catharine McComas In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of office on the 27 th day of October 1840 John Samuel Clerk of Cabell County Court

State of Virginia
Logan County to wit
I Catharine M c Comas of the State & County aforesaid do Solemnly swear that from the best information I possess that I was born on the 7 th day of April  March in the year 1772 in the County of Shenandoah in the State of Virginia and that Catharine M c Comas is the widow of John M c Comas who I know was in his life time a pensioner and who was my brother and further that I was present when my said brother John M c Comas and the said Catharine M c Comas was married that the marriage was solemnized by the then regular minister of the Baptist Church in the County of Montgomery in the State of Virginia some time in the year one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Six. Catharine her M c Comas
Test Peter Dinges Virginia Logan County to wit
This day Catharine M c Comas of Logan County & State of Virginia personally appeared before me the undersigned a justice of the peace in and for said County and subscribed and made oath to the foregoing affidavit in due form of Law and I further certify that the said Catharine M c Comas is known to me as a credible person and her statement on oath entitled to full faith & credit Given under my hand & seal this fifth day of September October 1840 Joshua Butcher
I Edwin Robertson Clerk of Logan County Court do hereby certify that Joshua Butcher as above is a magistrate of said County and that the foregoing signature purporting to be his is genuine In testimony whereof I have affixed the Seal of my office & subscribed my name this 5 day of Oct r 1840. Edwin Robertson

At a court held for Leavens County at the court house thereon on Monday the 26 th day of October 1840.
Isaac McComas the brother of the late John McComas died. This day made oath that Isaac McComas the oldest child of John McComas died, late a pension- er of the United States was fifty three years old about the middle of December last 1839 which is around to be certified to the proper authorities at the city of Washington. Given under my hand this 26 th day of October 1840
John Samuel Clark county clerk.
Le 26 10 40
107443

Know all men by these presents that we John M c Comas and Isaac Hatfield are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency Patrick Henry Governor of Virginia for the time being and his successors in the just and full sum of Fifty Pounds current money to the which payment well & truly to be made, we bind ourselves our heirs executors admrs and assigns jointly and severally firmly by these presents As witness our hands and seals this 21 st day of Feby 1786 the twenty first day of February One thousand seven hundred and eighty six. The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above bound John M c Comas hath this day obtained license for his marriage with Catherine Hatfield daughter of Andrew Hatfield of this county; Now if there should be no lawful cause to obstruct the said marriage, then the above obligation to be void else to remain in full force power and virtue.
Acknowledged before
John M c Comas
Isaac Hatfield
Isaac Hatfield
Virginia. Montgomery county S t .
I Alice D Montague clerk of the county court of said county do hereby certify that the foregoing is a correct and true copy of the marriage bond of John M c Comas which is on file in my office, with the exception of the date which is expressed in the body of said bond in fair, legible figures, and in copying the same I have added the date in writing. I have examined my office particularly, and cannot find any other evidence going to establish the mar- riage.
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of my office this fifth day of December One thousand eight hundred and forty.
Alice D. Montague, Clk.

Rev WIDOW, &c.
File No. _____
18496 Catharine McCormac
Widow of John McCormac Prin. Ben. Har.
Act: _____
July 7 th 1838
Index:—Vol. _____
m , Page 24
[Arrangement of 1870.]

M c Thomas Va. at June 1832 when paid? a. 1837. $34.66
H H G 29/10
Mr Hany Due 31 st March 1837 for that service JH

W. Va. No. 443. Catharine M c Comas widow: of Silas. let to S. Thornburg Nov: 14. 40
Act 7 July 1838.

Callie est veuve Jan 15 Jan 25 1894 3 père
habet fratris J. L. Edward Egan Va. Commissioner of pensions Washington City D. C.
McLemore

Cabell Co. Ho. Va
14 th Jany 1841
Dear Sir
I have just received the pension Certificate of Catharine M c Comas in which I find a mistake
In the certificate you say She "is entitled to receive a pension at the rate of Thirty six dollars and Sixty Six cents per annum Commencing on the thirty first day of March 1837 "
This should commence on the 4 th March 1836 So says the Law you will please inform me whether you intended it to commence on the 31 st March 1837 or whether you did not make a mistake
I will hold the Certificate sent me until I hear from you
Very Respectfully your obl Servt
J L Edwards Esq. Solomon Thornburg

James L. Edwards Esq Comm: Leavitt Richmond 21 April 1841.
Dear Sir
Enclosed are the papers sent to me for the purpose of drawing the pension allowed Mrs Elizabeth McComas, which the agent declines paying on account of the following alledged informality.
1 st - The signatures of the witnesses near the bottom of the first page, are not in the right place - they should have been under the magistrates' certificate immediately below.
2 In the attestation of the witnesses to the power of attorney, the word "attest" is used, instead of the words "Sealed &c."
This poor woman's papers have been returned already before for informality at the expense of double postage and unless the objections stated are deemed material I hope you will direct the payment of her pension. I know Mr. Thornburg personally. He is a member of the legislature - a gentleman of high respectability, and I know he attends to the old lady's pension papers gratuitously. I know his hand writing and would willingly qualify to it.
Very sincerely yours
J. Brown Jr.
I am not yet recovered entirely from the effects of a severe illness which attacked me on the 1 st of Jan. but I am about again - I hope to see you before long either here or in Washington.

Treasury Department,
Second Comptroller's Office,
July 26. 1838.
Sir:
Under the act of the 6th of April, 1838, entitled "An act directing the transfer of money remaining unclaimed by certain Pensioners, and authorizing the payment of the same at the Treasury of the United States," Catharine McComas widow of John McComas deceased a Pensioner on the Roll of the Richmond, Va Agency, at the rate of thirty six Dollars and sixty six Cents per annum, under the law of the 7 th June 1832 has been paid at this Department, from the 4 th of Sept. 1836 to the 31 st of March 1837, the day of his death —
Respectfully, yours,
William H. Parrish Comptroller
To the Commissioner of Pensions, Present.

Catharine M c Comas
Wid of John
VS
At July 7 1838
Marric 1786
deat Mar 31. 1837
Allan p 31 66
He am p m 31 st
March 1837
M
Sol. Thornbury
Cabell C. H.
VS

John M. Thomas Pensylvania Coal Company
My main character is good W. H. H. H.

John M c Comas - alleges in his declaration that he served 11 Mo. in the Pa a Militia under Capt Graves & Col. Matthews etc. - To says the abstract -
I the undersigned John M c Comas, in pursuan- ce of the requisitions of the Secretary of War, make the following re. declaration of my Service as follows. To wit - I am a native of North Carolina. was born October 15. th 1757. I lived in the county of Rocking- ham during the war of the Revolution -
On the 3. d day of April 1778. I volunteered in Rocking- ham County for six months, and marched from thence to Faggarts Valley. under Capt. Robert Graves, a line company consisted of from fifty or sixty men, on getting to Faggarts Valley, Capt. Graves left 15 of us including my- self under Lieut. Colonel Michael Front - with the remainder the Capt returned & picked up his company & then went on and joined Genl. McArthur's Camp - a party left at the Valley as before stated, marched to Burns Station. then to the Monongahela. then through the little hills in (now) Pocahontas county. then to the head of the Valley and then to Nuttall Fort - after taking place my term of six months expired and we started home. but was immediately was pained by an express who informed us that some children had been killed in their vicinity by a party of Indians, and urged us to return to the relief of the settlement of the settlement. - the Lieut. Colonel with 10 or 12 of us did accordingly return to Nuttall Fort. and remained there & in the vicinity in actual service defending the settlement from Indian invasion until about the first of December of the year 1778 I got home on the 25 th Decr. I then returned when they were to be had. but was generally billeted on some one or other of the settlers - I never was furloughed - I was in actual service all the time -
I think it was in the fall of 1780. it was at all events the same in which the British fired the city of Pocahontas. I was drafted for 3 months marched from Rockingham County under Capt. Gage, several Regts.

Went from Pickering - party. Pickbridge Bedford From our & perhaps other country at same time. look All. Boyne, Mercantile & Matthew's are along. We marched to Richmond and thence down the James River. Lived out on time and returned home & thus ended my services. The Hon. Wm. M. Gorman wrote my declaration the statement here given is in substance the same as given to him August 26, 1835.
Wartup James M. M c Gorman
his John M c Gorman mark
a copy W. G. Singleton

Cabell Court House Va.
2 nd November 1840
Dear Sir
Herewith I send you the declaration of Catharine M c Comas the widow of John M c Comas dec d Late a pensioner of the united states
Hoping her papers are in such form as will authorize you to issue her certificate of pension for her benefit
I remain S r Sir
very respectfully
your ob td serv t
S. Thomburg
P.S. please let me hear as early as convenient for the old lady is quite needy
19.

6 in 1840 Dec 29/40 1840
free
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.
McComas
Inah Dec 29/40 Qa

644 29th N.W. Dec 29 1892
1892
Dear Sir,
J. L. Edwards Esq.
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.
Memoranda

Cabell Co House Va 21 st December 1840
Sir Sir
Enclosed you have a copy of the marriage bond of John M c Comas Certified by the Clerk of Montgomery County Court I hope this with the evidence accompanying the declaration of Catharine M c Comas (widow of John M c Comas) will entitle her to a pension under the Law.
Your early attention to this will confer a favour on the poor old widow
Very Respectfully
Your obt Servt Solomon Thornburg
J. L. Edwards Esq.